Care South’s Community Fund Donates £1,500 To Ringwood Men’s Shed

Residential and care at home provider and registered charity, Care South, has donated £1,500 to Ringwood Men’s Shed.

The charitable enterprise is the latest beneficiary of Care South’s Community Fund after being nominated by Emma Cotton, Home Manager of St Ives House care home based in Ringwood. The Care South Community Fund operated by the not-for-profit care provider gives back to community groups, services and organisations which directly benefit Care South’s care home residents, care at home clients or staff.

Members of Ringwood Men’s Shed are currently fundraising towards materials to build a new home  for their club, which is currently located in the former Scout Hut in Strides Lane. Once set up in their next location, members of the Men’s Shed will be supporting St Ives House residents with a number of initiatives aimed at enabling residents to socialise and get ‘hands on’ during creative handicraft activities.

Care South’s Community Fund donation was presented to Gordon Maxwell and Jo Burkin from Ringwood Men’s Shed by Simon Bird, CEO of Care South, and Natalie Graham, Deputy Manager of St Ives House.

Gordon said: “We are so grateful to Care South’s Community fund for this generous donation which will make a real difference in helping us to create a new home for our Men’s Shed. Our members love working with the local community and we look forward to supporting St Ives House residents on many projects in the future, encouraging them to get together to socialise, get creative and share skills.”

Since forming, Ringwood Men’s Shed has provided a meeting place for over 60 men and women, who have found friendship with like-minded people and a boost to their wellbeing.  The group make, repair and recycle items using existing skills – or while learning new ones – using a range of tools, including working on a variety of projects for the community.

Simon Bird, CEO of Care South, said:
“The Ringwood Men’s Shed is a wonderful example of how local groups can bring people together, share skills, and make a positive difference in the community. We are delighted to support their efforts through our Community Fund and look forward to seeing the fantastic projects they will create with our St Ives House residents.”