Men's Shed Project

At Lower Stoke Chapel we are working towards delivering a "Men's Shed" project in the near future. Helping us develop the vision and giving us vital advice are the founders of the Octopus Project in Medway. The team at The Octopus Project have a well equipped workshop that is used by members of the community, generally men of "a certain age!"  The Project aims to provide a place where conversations can happen, friendships can be established, and through physically creating something individuals wellbeing and emotional health can be improved.

Several of us visited the Octopus Project this month to see and hear how they started the project and have successfully run the workshop for over 10 years. The conversation gave us much to think about and helped us better understand how to make the vision at Lower Stoke a reality in the coming year. 

It is hoped that we will be able to offer a session a week for isolated men in the village to come and spend some creative time making, building, or repairing something of interest while sharing in a sense of community and conversation with others. The Octopus Foundation has generously offered to deliver three taster sessions later in the year to help get things started.

As the vision develops at Lower Stoke we'll post further updates and information. If you'd like to know more about The Octopus Project please click on their logo to visit their website. 

The Octopus Foundation works with those who are often on the periphery of mainstream service provision and can ‘fill the gap’ often left by over prescribed services.  We also work with those who just want to get out, meet new people and either try something new or revisit something old!

Our primary goal is to improve mental health and emotional wellbeing by building confidence, skills, independence and resilience of people who have or who are at higher risk of having health issues, by providing opportunities for them to come together, share experiences and give to others.  

We work collaboratively with local authority services, national charities and other charitable organisations which share a similar ethos; to support those who are often on the periphery of mainstream or popular service provision.  Organisations we work with include; Medway Council, Medway Maritime Hospital, Kent & Medway Armed Forces Network, Medway Social Isolation Network, Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI), ‘wHoo Cares’, WALT, Slough Fort, The Paramount Foundation and Kent Muslim Welfare Association.  We have built strong links within our community which is crucial to the success of our projects and our development moving forwards.