Broadstairs Town Shed has won the Health and Wellbeing Award for 2025 from the UK Men’s Shed Association.
It was collected by Julie Kemp and Peter Stockwell, representing The Shed, at a ceremony in the Houses of Parliament yesterday (November 27).
Broadstairs Town Shed, first opened in 2014, in a small building in Pierremont Park.
It moved to what was originally The Broadstairs Tram Shed in 2016.
It provides a friendly place for older people of 50+ from across Thanet to meet, share a cuppa, and participate in woodworking, carpentry and arts projects for and with the community to help combat isolation and loneliness and encourage wellbeing.
Since 2023, it has been developing a programme of other activities to complement its core wood and metalworking activities and facilities.
One-off additional talks from external health experts, support in IT, legal and online safety experts, nutrition, and craft practitioners have developed into a full programme of activities and information sessions.
‘Maker Mondays’ cover everything from making music through mosaics, craft, creative writing and ‘Creative Fridays’ cover all forms of art mediums.
Peter Stockwell, a founder ‘Shed Head,’ said: “The wellbeing of members has always been at the heart of what the Shed is and does. Being able to open on Mondays and Fridays to welcome additional members and offer activities to compliment the woodworking which is so vital, has meant even more new friendships have formed and our support network and offer has grown even more.
“For me, the addition of bringing the joy of being able to make music together is very special too,”
Julie Kemp, the Shed’s ‘Community Connector’ who has helped develop the programme, added: “It’s a very proud day for us all. It’s a great development for The Shed and a testament to all the hard work, love and care that has gone into the project over the last 11 years and how it constantly evolves to meet member’s wishes and needs.
“So many people have helped support, champion, develop and then bring this additional programme to life. We would not be here without the faith and support that we have received from our kind and generous donors, funders and grant givers, so this is a thank you from us to all of them all too.
“We have to also thank everyone that supported us in our eight year journey to have a new roof and solar panels installed, Without them, the space would not be warm, safe and sustainable either, so none of this would have happened.”
Find Broadstairs Town Shed on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/broadstairstownshed
Fantastic news. This award is thoroughly well deserved and a credit to all involved.