Kingsbridge Mens Shed – Community projects for all

Kingsbridge and District Men’s Shed
Community projects for all!

We are carrying out projects and we would welcome you to give us a hand, experienced or not. Training/advice is readily to hand.

We are Meeting Mondays (1:30 for 2:00) and Thursdays (1:30 for 2:00). Anyone wishing to attend should either email us (kingsbridgeshedders@gmail.com)
or on facebook
(https://www.facebook.com/MSKingsbridge/)
or contact one of the management committee. who will in coordination with the other shed managers allow persons up to a 8 person level in each session. Extra Sessions will be planned based on numbers attending and the type of work/service required by managers.

What is a Men’s Shed?

Men’s Sheds are similar to garden sheds – a place to pursue practical interests at leisure, to practice skills and enjoy making and mending. The difference is that garden sheds and their activities are often solitary in nature while Men’s Sheds are the opposite. They’re about social connections and friendship building, sharing skills and knowledge, and of course a lot of laughter. Oh and its not just for Men, Women are very welcome to join in with us.

K&DMS was formed in 2016, with no premises, but a determination to bring a proven enterprise to the South Hams. In 2019 we are proud to announce that we now have a substantial shed. Actually more like a barn! …..and are looking forward to meeting new ‘shedders’ as the project develops.

Men’s sheds are an international initiative and the UK now has over 10000 so called ‘shedders’.

WHAT WE’VE BEEN DOING!

We have a suitable premises now and have adjusted its design to suit our objectives. We have been working with local initiatives, to offer practical support within our community and raise the profile of our initiative.

HELP TO THE COMMUNITY

The projects we have and are carrying out in 2024/2025 are as follows:-

A lantern to celebrate the end of WW2 which is now hanging on the flower bed by the bus station. Planters for the Small Kingsbridge light railway at their Ria End Station. A Ticket office for the railway representation opposite the Hospital. Planter covers for Duncombe Park Kingsbridge. 3 benches which have been made from recycled pallets. A series of large feet for South Huish council. Many birds nests, insect houses, butterfly houses, and a bird feeding table. We have manufactured bread boards from recycled oak doors. We are in the process of making a bouquet picture frame . We have a lot of personal projects , for instance a cat shelter and run, door frames for a toilet and shed, Doors of all sizes. gates of all sizes.

CHARITIES TOGETHER

We are delighted to have worked with other charities in the area.

We have built bird boxes and bat hotels for Kingsbridge in Bloom, together with stage props for KATS our local Am-Dram and even a Kart for the East Allington ‘Wacky Races’. Although the celebration was cancelled we built two pilgrims houses for the proposed display of the sail of the Mayflower 400 years ago.

We have built plant boxes for Kingsbridge Library, and Kingsbridge Age Concern in 2019/20 during lockdown release.

During 2020/21 we were closed for a considerable time, due to Covid, but now in 2022 we are back building renovating and restoring objects and structures in such a way, that it keeps us all occupied, but without loosing our concept of companionship, help and not being too stressed. Our latest endeavour is the construction of a bespoke mobile disability scooter housing, and many garden boxes and benches. We are building a selection of hedgehog houses and other garden and household objects. Other suggestions for items from which the South Hams community would benefit are welcome.

What we do

We now have all the tools and machinery needed to carry out a good variety of work. For instance we have a band saw, a mitre saw, a table saw, a pillar drill and a vast array of hand tools.

We have assembled plant boxes, benches, chairs, tables, bird boxes, wine holders, and have built a roof canopy and were about to build a wood store for the shed to give us more room to work.

We can design for most projects involving small scale wood assemblies.
Any new ideas are considered.

The things that we can help you with….

Do you need some plant boxes for your charity?
We can design most things in wood and make them.
How about a bird box?
Any structures to help you produce your themed event.
Benches renovations
Repair of display cabinets.
Any other project within our capability.

Crafty stuff
Just for you.
KART

Looking for a group of people to get constructive with? Want to develop or share your crafty talents?

Come and join us….we need you.
Refer
not just for you...
Do you know someone who may benefit from greater social contact, whilst becoming involved with hands on projects?
Project ideas
Throw us an idea.
We are always keen to discuss new project ideas to support the local community and our own fund raising needs.
Volunteer
plan an awesome event
Looking to get involved in a community project as a volunteer. We need people to help support, not just in the shed, but with all the really exciting stuff as well. Fund raising, IT, admin…..etc.

Meet the team

Final position of Library boxes made by these two.

Mens shed plant boxes

Charlie is smiling because he just made a bird nesting box

View of Mens Shed at the Mounts

Alan is removing 100 year old bolts

the people behind the events

Peter Richardson

Treasurer

Master of the paintbrush!

Richard Boulter

Trustee

General mediation and argument control.

Alan kirk

Chairman

He is also a working Member of the Men’s Shed. He runs a Code Club at Kingsbridge Library for Adults and Children and is an avid train driver and technician for the Kingsbridge and District light railway.

Alan Kirk

Management Committee Trustee and Project Finder

Go Getter.
Web site updater

Alan Brookfield-Parker

Member

Demolition and noise generator

Malcolm Short

Treasurer and Secretary

Wood Doctor

Paul Carney

Management Committee and Trustee

Show me a lathe and I’ll show you a wooden pen.

Hierarcy of Men’s Shed

Our Philosophy

We are all about offering a group for like minded people of all ages and backgrounds to come together to work and play.

…Actually some of us are not like minded at all.

But that’s OK – we can argue about it together,

Testimonials

what the community has noticed….

Kingsbridge in Bloom is in it’s 12th year as a ‘bloom’ town and has over that time played a significant role in keeping it vibrant and attractive. Without the support of the whole community we could not have achieved national gold status for Britain in Bloom. The Kingsbridge Mens Shed have helped us move forward with lots of support with signage,bug hotels, bird boxes and bee hives.

We would like to give our grateful thanks to your fantastic team and look forward to working with you in the future.

Graham PriceChairman - Kingsbridge in Bloom

Age UK Devon wholeheartedly support the aims of KMS to engage with the community to provide opportunities to learn and share skills in a friendly, welcoming environment.
KMS will play a vital role in the community through engaging with those who may feel isolated and AUKD and Age Concern Kingsbridge will be on hand to offer extended information, advice and other services to support their members.

Trish WarrenAgeUK Devon - Trish Warren Active in Later Life Manager

“The Men’s Shed have helped KATS recently by making some fantastic stage props for our productions. The working milk cart they made for Fiddler on The Roof was an absolute labour of love and gave the show a real feeling of authenticity. It’s been great fun to work with the group and they have been very generous with their time and with their expertise.”

Jill BrockKATS

In Action

A little bit of information about the things we do……

When we are not arguing over whether it could be metric or imperial.

Partners

great groups we work with….

Latest Events

Design for canopy

Bench renovated and Sold!

Some examples of latest work

We have just completed the complete reorganisation of the shed including new benches and reorganising our tool and work flow structure. New electricity sockets/lights and an emergency stop button have been installed for the safety of all. The above pictures shows the new layout . A dust extractor system will shortly follow. Additionally a large timber storage area will later be erected.

Various plant boxes have now been assembled and delivered to the library, and to Kingsbridge Age Concern.

We have renovated and sold a garden bench and have two others to assemble. We are in the process of the design of new projects.

A charitable neighbour has donated a shed. Four of us (Malcolm, Alan P Paul and Alan K.) went to dismantle it last Thursday and with the help of Alan P’s trailer got it back(lock stock and roof) to the K&D Mens shed. It is going to be used as a replacement shed for the Borehole on The Mounts site.

We have now provided a waterproof canopy to the shed, which will not only be a covering for our wood store , but also enable us to work outside (for dusty or noisy jobs or just because we like working outside) protected from the rain.

Kingsbridge Town Council have approved the use of planters around the entrances to the town. We hope to supply these, but are waiting on the Kingsbridge in bloom’s specifications.

We have nearly finished renovating one of two Dartmouth pedestrian benches. We also have a upgraded coffee table for sale.

Just last week(beginning of June 2021) we replaced our landlords shed around the borehole water supply, using parts of a donated shed.

The following jobs were inserted into the gaps where we could work during Covid :

Who wouldn’t want one of these in their garden or patio?

Repairs carried out to the Kingsbridge Light Railway.

A new Ventilator Grill for the Information Centre Kingsbridge

Dartmouth Bench brought back to life and ready for sale

We are now working for two days a week at the shed in 2022 and have completed or progressed the following jobs :-

Garden boxes made to fit into the Lime Kiln Kingsbridge

Smart Garden chairs ready for sale

Bench being prepared of Natural Burial Ground AG

Not just Woodwork . We master anything!

KATS sets being built (did them in one day!!)

Folding Tables

Burial Ground Bench complete

1st of Garden Boxes for West Alvington C of E Academy School

Two garden chairs power coated and completed (nearly …need excess bolt shanks grinding off)

Had fresh delivery of Pine wood during winter storms in February:-

20 Multi-use and multi-user folding tables built from scratch and delivered to Kingsbridge Age Concern.

Scooter Shed, Tested in Shed

Log Store completed ready for winter( Are we going to have one???)

Kingsbridge Show (What a wet day that was)

Book cases made delivered and installed

The construction of our new wood store

More pictures due.

Two Plaques were made for the Kingsbridge Lime Kiln:-

A really smart GWR bench is Manufactured:-

From this:-

To This

And for 2022 we transformed a run down table into a Christmas table for a family gathering.

Our Next Project is to build a Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Vehicle for our local theatrical group known as MAD . Pictures of the build will appear here soon. (Malborough Amateur Dramatic) Group.

New pictures will be added soon

There have been a lot of projects in hand , carried out and in the pipeline in 2023 and the descriptions will appear here soon

Bench for KATS

Bird Boxes

For de birds!

Kingsbridge in Bloom

The new sign!

Kingsbridge Show

Our Great Supporters

local businesses and others that have supported us and our aims!

Get in touch

Get in touch if you are interested in joining us.

we would love to hear from you

EMAIL

kingsbridgeshedders@gmail.com

MEN’S SHED
THE MOUNTS, KINGSBRIDGE
DEVON

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Kingsbridge and District Men’s Shed