A Rossendale charity, aimed at supporting men with their mental health, is secure until 2030 after attracting £200,000 of National Lottery Funding.

The Men’s Shed based at Haslingden Community Link in Bury Road is open four days a week and offers various activities to support men in the community.

Offering woodworking, crafts, pyrography, laser engraving and model making, rooms are hired at The Link for social groups and a community garden has been developed on-site to grow fruit and vegetables.

Starting two years ago with a membership of zero, the charity now sees more than 1,500 people follow the project on Facebook and attracts more than 100 people to various sessions.

The new funding will allow the Men’s Shed to reach out to work with even more groups, with the charity focused on the South Asian and LGBTQA+ communities.

Men’s Shed Co-ordinator Andy Robinson said: “Our starting point is not to tell people what they want, but to ask them what they would like the project to do and then get volunteers to help run it.

“In Bacup, on a Monday, we have a breakfast club at the ABD Centre and then Tuesday to Friday we open the shed, which is in the car park of The Link.

“We also have a walking group doing short hour-long local walks for all – men and women - and a dementia friendly group at Jubilee Court in Haslingden for people living with dementia and their carers.”

After receiving requests, the project has also run a successful session teaching dads how to plait and style their daughter's hair.

Andy said a celebration event will be held next summer, when the funding starts, with smaller events being held for specific groups working with the project.

Men’s shed attendee Mark said: “I feel that coming to the shed has had a positive impact on my mental health.

“It gives me something I look forward to. I get to meet new people and I enjoy the social interaction. I also enjoy the fact we take part in projects for the community.”

Men’s Shed member Gavin said: “Before I found out about this initiative, I rarely went out except to fulfil basic functions such as shopping.

“Since attending shed sessions on a weekly basis for approximately the last 10 months, I have made new friends with like-minded men – friendships which extend outside of the shed sessions and which I know will continue for many years to come.”

Benefits are not just for young men and Celia, a resident from Jubilee Court helps men with dementia to do woodworking.

She said: “Physical participation in activities has boosted my well-being by interacting with people and helping those less able than myself and by so doing, helping them to increase their interest in the world around them.”

For more information visit Facebook Rossendale Men’s Sheds or contact Andy on 07517 118526.