Broadstairs Town Shed has celebrated its reopening and the installation of a new roof and solar panels.
The Town Shed, which is a volunteer project for the over 50s aimed at combatting loneliness and isolation through woodworking, metalcraft and art, opened in May 2014 at Pierremont Park with six members.
In 2015 it moved to the old Broadstairs Tram Shed at Oakwood Industrial Estate and over the years the growing number of Shedders have filled, patched and repaired the roof alongside a massive fundraising effort -Raise the Roof- to pay for a new one.
Earlier this year the Shed was awarded £110,000 from the government’s Community Ownership Fund towards its Raise the Roof campaign, meaning after more than six years of full-on fundraising the target was within reach.
The group, which now has more than 200 members and was awarded both UK Men’s Shed Association National Shed of The Year and ‘Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service’ in 2022, finally saw work begin this year.
Shortly after its 10th anniversary celebrations in May this year, the Town Shed closed for three months for the works to take place.
Yesterday (October 1) Shedders were finally able to return and celebrated with a special reopening ceremony which included a ribbon-cutting and buffet.
A spokesperson said: “After three months of not being able to welcome members to be part of our Shed family and do what we do best, we are finally open again.
“With a new roof, super insulation and solar panels being installed, we came together to celebrate.
“A fabulous thank you to everyone that helped us get here.”
The Broadstairs Town Shed is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays, 10am to 3pm, and also now on Fridays for Art in the Shed.
The team also has ’Nourish and ‘Flourish health and wellbeing workshops and sessions monthly and has worked on 20 collaborative projects since 2023 with other local community organisations and schools.
