All South Manchester Swifts’ nestboxes have been made by the members of Heatons’ Men in Sheds. They deserve much more than the odd mentions we give them so I visited them at their HQ and met Terry Hewitt their secretary.
If you can picture the perfect shed for a bloke who likes making and mending things with a bit of pottering thrown in and multiply it a hundred times you will be some way to understanding the amazing set up that houses Heatons’ Men in Sheds. Beneath St Paul’s Church, Heaton Mersey is a huge labyrinth of tiny rooms and narrow corridors. Each little room has a purpose. Some have boxes and boxes of screws, nails, tacks, nuts, bolts and washers. Others are lined with holders for hand tools of every description and shelves with boxes of ‘things’. A few have some pretty sophisticated machinery: band saws, routers, power tools and 3D printers. There is also, very importantly, the room equipped with a kettle, microwave and mini dishwasher.
Men in Sheds is a terrific organisation which began in Australia in 1999. It met a need felt by men who had retired after long working lives involving colleagues and responsibilities. When someone retires or lives alone, it’s possible to become isolated and depressed, sometimes even leading to alcoholism or suicide. At MiS there is purpose and company. Working together on common projects, people can talk about all sorts of things; sometimes unloading problems and sometimes having a good laugh. People of any age and either sex can join too – it’s not a closed shop.
Terry showed me where all our nestboxes were cut out on a CNC router, screwed together and then treated. He told me more about the group. They focus mainly on woodwork tasks but there was evidence of other skills that members from many walks of life brought to the workshops such as IT and good management. Health and Safety is all important.
Amongst the projects they have tackled are outdoor noticeboards for twelve local churches, a massive sign for Heaton Chapel Railway Station, garden bird box kits for primary children to screw together in school, a massive gate with a cunning safety lock for a special school and, of course, 136 swift nest boxes.
Once a month some of the group attend the Heatons Sustainable Living Repair Café with a selection of tools and equipment, mending what they can and bringing larger problems back to their workshop.
Each MIS group can choose its own goals. Many do woodwork but some repair bikes, boats or classic cars. Others pursue gardening or photography.
Left – Martin and Graham using the router
Many organisations recognise the value of the group. Whilst a non-denominational, the Church provides them with a lot of support, and they have obtained grants from a variety of organisations, including, Lottery, Asda, Co-op, Trans Pennine Express and Stockport Homes to mention a few. Terry said that the personal benefits for him were satisfaction from completing projects, using his IT skills, male companionship, and having routine in his life. Both the members and the local community gain so much from Men in Sheds – good news all round, particularly for South Manchester Swifts.
For more information, ring Terry Hewitt on 07905 759003
National Men in Sheds https://menssheds.org.uk/
Right – Terry with the all-important router where the swift box shapes are cut out
Above and below – other Men in Sheds projects
