What is a Shed and what are

Shedders?

A Shed is a community workspace, like a typical shed in your garden, but bigger and better equipped. Looe Shedders aim to provide a really big shed, where our male and female members, known as Shedders, will have space to meet like-minded people and find new friends to enrich their lives. A space with lots of facilities for making stuff - anything from greeting cards, crochet toys, stained glass ornaments and bird boxes to community projects such as as the playground bus we built for Looe Primary School. A space where Shedders can learn new skills, where their previous knowledge can be put to good use, or where they can just sit and chat in a friendly, social environment. A space that helps tackle social isolation and loneliness by giving people a new purpose in life, by making them feel useful again, by helping Looe Sedders become an even greater force for good in the community.

Where is your shed?

For Crafters - At the moment, our craft section meets in St Martin's Community hall, Looe on the second Saturday of the month with Ad Hoc meetings notified by WhatsApp. Repair Cafe - This also runs in the Hall on the second Saturday of the month . Big Tools - Meet every Saturday 10am to 1pm in the Hillcrest Garage Workshop adjacent to the Hillcrest Nursing Home. However after spending five years looking for a permanent home, the wonderful Chemin Neuf Community at Sclerder Abbey has offered us land to build a purpose-built, eco-friendly workshop. See THIS PAGE for details. A home that’s warm, green, and built to last.

Why a Shed in Looe?

There is an ongoing need for a place that enables local people to develop new interests and some practical skills, with the added benefit of delivering some tangible benefits to our community. Satisfying this helps to offset the negative impact of loneliness and isolation on individual health and wellbeing our community spaces enable lasting friendships to be formed, as new interests and skills are provided by members sharing their know-how in well equipped workshops. Looe Shedders was formed to help deliver such benefits and a permenant home will provide even better facilities.

Is there any benefit to the local

community?

Community projects: We have several in the pipeline following the delivery of a playground bus to Looe Primary School. Check out our Community Projects pages for more information Partnering other community organisations: Examples include helping the Kernow Health Mental Wellbeing project develop its plot at Looe Allotments, helping Looe Pioneers and Looe Sea Swimmers develop carnival floats, helping marshal Looe’s New Year’s Eve firework display. Looe Repair Cafe: Mending household items brought in by the public, free of charge, although we do accept donations.

Who can Join? Is it just for Men?

Anyone who lives in Looe and surrounding areas are welcome. Although some Sheds are for Men only, Looe Shedders welcome both men and women, but because of the nature of our activities, you will need to be at least 18. But most of the people that attend are either retired or approaching retirement. This is because a life after employment can be difficult and people often feel that they’ve lost their sense of purpose and place in the world. They can miss the routine and camaraderie between colleagues that often comes with working life and this can lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation which can be dangerous for their health and wellbeing. However, recognising that age isn’t the only factor in loneliness and isolation, and that there is more to a Shed, for example sharing skills, informal learning and enjoyment, Looe shed welcomes younger members.

What sort of activities are on offer?

Our activities include a lot of chatting, cups of tea and coffee and occasional social events. But what makes Shedders different from other social groups in Looe is that we also work together in various ways, including: Making stuff: We make practical, crafted items for community benefit — from repairs and upcycling to bespoke projects for schools, care homes, and local groups. We build planters, benches, bird boxes, signage and small furniture, and also create hand‑crafted pieces using stencilling, pyrography, painting and other decorative techniques. Our work blends creativity, shared skills and meaningful contribution to the local community. Learning new skills: Members sharing their knowledge. This covers a wide range of topics - our members come from all walks of life - but a specific example is our training programme for ensuring that people know how to set up and use tools safely. Housekeeping: Much of this relates to the large amount of tools donated to Looe Shedders. They need checking, renovating, sorting, and storing so they can be found easily. Repair Cafe: Members try and mend broken household items brought in by the public. Much of it is electrical so Shedders with a technology background tend to undertake this work. Sourcing Materials: We use recycled materials on our projects whenever possible. Finding it takes some effort, as does re-purposing it.

How do I join?

You can come to one of our monthly meetings and complete a membership application form, or you can fill in the online application form Here

Will I need to know anything?

Not at all, no need for any particular skills or expertise. However, if you do have any skills or experience that you would like to share, that would be good too.

Will I have to make things?

Not if you don't want to. If you enjoy watching or just chatting, that's fine as our Shed is intended to be as much a social space as a workshop.