IPB PRIDE OF PLACE JUDGES VISIT THE MEN’S SHED DOWNPATRICK

Judges from the prestigious ‘IPB Pride of Place Competition in association with Co-operation Ireland’visited the Men’s Shed Downpatrick on Tuesday 28 July 2015 to hear first-hand about the valuable work the project does.

The IPB Pride of Place Competition is an annual all-Ireland event aimed at celebrating the important contributions that voluntary organisations make to enhancing people's quality of life in their area.

The Men’s Shed Downpatrick, which was launched by Action Mental Health in October 2013 with funding from the Big Lottery Fund’s “Reaching Out: Connecting Older People” Programme, was entered in the annual competition by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.

The Pride of Place judges, Mr Blaise Treacy and Mr Terry O’Niadh, accompanied by Mr Maurice Inglis, Co-operation Ireland Pride of Place Co-ordinator, were officially welcomed to the Men’s Shed by the Chairperson of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, Councillor Naomi Bailie, and Mr Eoin McAnuff, Project Co-ordinator, Men’s Shed Project.

Commenting on the project, Councillor Bailie explained that “Members of the Men’s Shed come from different walks of life, but the thing that bonds them is that they are men with time on their hands and they are keen to do something constructive with that time. The Men’s Shed plays an important and integral role in helping men to once again become valued and valuable members of our community.”

The Men’s Shed is a larger version of the typical man’s garden shed in their garden. It is a place for men aged 60+ to meet and discuss issues, share skills and explore new interests, with the aim of promoting their own health and well-being whilst putting something back into the community. At present men can undertake a range of activities such as joinery, gardening, woodturning, art, crafts, cookery and IT.

During their visit, the judges received a presentation on the Men’s Shed which highlighted the work the project undertakes to engage and support men aged 60+ in the locality. Following the presentation, the judges were taken on a tour of the Men’s Shed during which they met and chatted with men who are involved in and benefitting greatly from the project and also representatives of voluntary and statutory organisations that support the Men’s Shed.

The judges’ visit provides the opportunity for the entrant to show case their work and explain why they should win a prestigious IPB Pride of Place Award. The judges award marks for: Impact on Community; Innovation; Sustainability; Local Leadership; Management; and Overall Impression.

The IPB Pride of Place Competition is run by Co-operation Ireland in partnership with the All-Island Local Authority Steering Forum, a forum which encourages strategic and sustainable approaches to cross-border co-operation by local authorities.

The winners will be announced at a gala dinner and awards ceremony which will be hosted later in the year by IPB Mutual Insurances Ltd and Co-operation Ireland.