THE Beacon Community Menshed in Ipswich will become a shed with a difference after the Federal Government gave it more than $3,000 in funding to help establish the region’s first “Ladies’ Shed”.
The Shed meets every Wednesday at Beacon Community Baptist Church in Brassall and provides a range of opportunities for locals, whether it be fixing furniture, taking on a craft project, or lending a hand to local community groups.
It has just been awarded a $3,272 Federal Government grant, and President Colin Schultz and Secretary John Swanwick plan to use the funding to establish a new satellite shed at the Beacon Wellbeing Hub in Leichhardt, which will include women members.
The Ladies’ Shed would be one of only 50 in the country and the first of its kind in Ipswich, where women will receive tutoring and tips on using tools and DIY home maintenance skills.
The funding will go towards the purchase of power tools, batteries and other equipment for the new shed to help expand its activities, produce a wider range of products, and address health and safety issues.
The Wellbeing Hub in Leichhardt is a drop-in centre that offers food relief and emergency assistance to those in need, free or subsidised clothing, toys and furniture, counselling and budgeting services, and referrals for further help and other support in the local community.
It is run by Beacon Community Outreach Pastor Robert Howells and a number of the Men’s Shed members also volunteer at the hub.
Federal Member for Blair Shayne Neumann congratulated the Men’s Shed on its successful grant application and said it was a worthy recipient of the funding.
“I’m so pleased Beacon Community Menshed has received funding in the latest Men’s Shed grant round from the Albanese Labor Government.
“Beacon Community Church and their Wellbeing Hub make an incredible contribution to our local community, with a variety of programs catering to seniors, youths, and disadvantaged people right across Ipswich.
“The Men’s Shed is a wonderful community asset and it’s fantastic that they are being inclusive and looking to extend this to women in the community so they too can learn new skills.”
