On Wednesday 31st October Mayfield Mens Shed hosted fellow Mens Shed members from across the city as the Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr. Mick Finn announced grant funding.
These grants will allow Men’s Sheds to purchase new equipment/tools for instance at the Glen/Ballyvolane/ Dublin Hill Men’s Shed who plan to set up a workshop to encourage further participation and Headway Men’s Shed who want to buy extra equipment to allow additional members to join their group, which currently has a waitlist of 10 men.
The funding is being provided following discussions with the Irish Men’s Shed Association. The Minister for Rural and Community Development announced the provision of €500,000 to support the work of Men’s Sheds throughout Ireland. Under this funding stream, Cork City Council was allocated €13,043 to distribute amongst the local Men’s Sheds. This capital funding provides small grants to individual Men’s Sheds in order to enable them to purchase equipment or to carry out minor works to improve their premises. The funding has been allocated to all affiliated Men’s Sheds in the City who applied for it.
Lord Mayor, Cllr Mick Finn said: “The emergence of the Men’s Sheds in recent years has been an extremely positive development for communities across Ireland. Men’s Sheds offer a safe, comfortable and inclusive environment where men of all ages can share skills, work on meaningful projects and connect with communities”.
Chairperson of the Cork City Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) Cllr. Fergal Dennehy welcomed the funding:
“I am delighted to welcome the Community Enhancement Programme – Men’s Shed Fund for Cork City. This programme will provide much needed additional funding across the city to enhance the value that Men’s Sheds provide to their local community’s health and wellbeing”.
Cork City LCDC awarded Community Enhancement Programme – Men’s Shed Fund grants to 8 Men’s Sheds in Cork City that are affiliated with the Irish Men’s Shed Association.
