A Co Fermanagh community initiative is helping men to come together and battle social isolation as the area emerges from Covid-19 restrictions.
The Men’s Shed Fermanagh group brings local men together to take part in activities such as carpentry and upholstery.
The group meets several times per week just outside Enniskillen and is mainly made up of men of 50 years old and over.
It is coordinated by mental health charity Action Mental Health, and its project officer David Lowe says it has become particularly important as a social outlet since the pandemic began.
“The best way to describe it is a club for older guys, they can get together and develop friendships and support networks,” David said.
“It just allows them somewhere to come out to, especially if they have got physical disabilities or other issues.
“If they have carers it can also give them a bit of respite for them to come in here for an hour or two.
“They are all over 50, but I’d say the average is about 70.”
The initiative has faced difficulties in recent times due to Covid-19 restrictions, David added.
Numbers have had to be limited as well as some of the activities the group would normally do.
He said: “There’s been a big problem because for a long time people couldn’t come in, we were closed from March 2020 until July and we worked outside in the garden.
“We have very restricted numbers, before we would have had 20 or more people in there all joking and having a laugh.
“Now it’s more limited and there are still plenty who are scared of coming in, as they are a vulnerable group.”
However, with restrictions continuing to ease and those in vulnerable groups slowly becoming more confident in socialising, David hopes the group can go from strength to strength.
“We run different classes now, everything from keeping fit to yoga and upholstery.
“People can come in and join in on the classes or work on their own projects.
“There’s a lot going on and it’s great for the guys to get together.”
