Blair Dingwall
People in an Aberdeenshire town have joined forces to tackle social isolation and loneliness by creating the region’s latest men’s shed.
The Banchory Men’s Shed will be based in the town’s Royal British Legion in Ramsay Road.
Unused space in the building next to its indoor bowls area has been chosen for the group’s HQ.
The men’s shed will feature a workshop equipped with machinery and tools for construction projects and a social area for members to chat or play cards.
An area in the Royal British Legion’s garden will be home to a polytunnel for members to grow plants and vegetables.
Men’s sheds promote health and wellbeing by giving people a space to socialise and work on DIY ventures.
The first one in Scotland was set up at Westhill, while Inverurie Men’s Shed has recently opened its doors and others are being created in Ellon and Portlethen.
Banchory Men’s Shed member, John Jeffries, said the group was aiming to attract people of all ages and create a “comradeship” among them.
He said: “It is going to be really, really good.
“We have a bit of a head-start in that we have premises. I think a lot of people who worked in the oil industry came up here in their youth, leaving all their friends and family.
“They got separated from all of these friends and some we know are feeling a bit isolated and a bit down.”
Mr Jeffries added the Banchory Men’s Shed would lend a helping hand to veterans of recent conflicts in the Middle East.
The 75-year-old retired Royal Navy engineer said: “We’re hoping to help servicemen coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan, we know they have got their own problems.
“We are open to all men of 18 years and over with no upper age limit. We would like to attract younger men who find themselves unemployed and build their confidence by working here.”
The group has applied for planning permission for the work at the Royal British Legion.