TEDDINGTON’S OWN COMMUNITY WORKSHOP IS BOOMING
See James May video here: https://sheddington.org/sheddington/assets/video/jamesmayvideo
It sounds more like a TV soap opera such as Emmerdale or Benidorm but SHEDDINGTON sits at the heart of the Teddington community as a repair shop dedicated to the three M’s – Meeting, Making and Mending.
This amazingly discrete and charitable enterprise, all run by volunteers, provides a space for young and old alike to meet and develop their practical skills, and is a vital lifeline for some. Many have the well-honed skills of traditional craftsman or craftswoman who can turn their hand to everything and anything.
Sheddington’s HQ – a former wooden scout hut in the grounds of St Mark’s Church in Teddington – is a labyrinth of workshops and Aladdin’s Cave of tools which offer carpentry and woodwork, metalwork, electrical repairs and welding to tackle anything which might need repairing or restoring.
Patron James May, who co-presented Top Gear describes Sheddington as a ‘community workshop’ with various activities that are ‘good for mending the soul’. Local MP Munira Wilson is also a Patron.
It also has its own garden with a healthy growth of produce which is maintained by the members and will be harvested by them at the right time.
The shed concept dates back to a tradition in Australia where it was generally thought men were not good at talking about their issues and often retreated to their sheds as a sanctuary, perhaps the modern day equivalent of a man-cave.
“We are a shed but we are not a men’s shed,” says Sheddington’s secretary Bruce, who is eager to emphasise that Sheddington has female members too.
Members are asked for a donation of £75 a year which helps fund the upkeep and pay the utility bills for the charity. Members can use the workshops freely and work on their own projects as well as doing repairs for others. but a All repair jobs are done free of charge, except where replacement parts have to be purchased but a voluntary donation is encouraged.
Before work begins to restore or repair any particular item an assessment is made as to whether the work is achievable or is it ‘beyond economic repair’ meaning the job may not be possible. (Unlike TV’s Repair Shop Sheddington steers clear of soft furnishing and teddy bears!)
The committee of eight which run Sheddington – it was originally founded by a local GP Chris Manning five years ago – has a code of conduct and a robust health and safety regime to ensure individual competence with the various tools.
Sheddington is crying out for more volunteers who may wish to rekindle their craft skills from a historic career and has plenty of capacity to take on more jobs.
The Sheddington website says; “We are a friendly and down-to-earth charity focused on making and mending, located at the St. Mark’s Community Hub in the heart of Teddington, Middlesex.
“As a registered charity we are committed to serving our local community and making a positive impact on people’s lives.
“Sheddington has well-equipped workshops for repairs and construction projects, a welcoming social space featuring a fitted kitchen, and a delightful community garden. We offer a place where people can connect, collaborate, engage in constructive activities, and have a great time together.
Opening times are:
Saturdays 10.30 AM to 2.00 PM: Join us for tea, coffee and a chat, plus quick fixes and gardening
Tuesdays 10.30 AM to 3.00 PM: Making, mending and gardening
Wednesdays 10.30 AM to 3.00 PM: Making, mending and gardening
Thursdays 10.30 AM to 3.00 PM: Making and mending and gardening
Bruce adds: “At the moment, we are particularly in need of volunteers with repair skills or folk who would like to learn about repairing as we are struggling to keep up with the demand! If you are interested to help with this or indeed to volunteer in other ways please get in touch. You can visit us on site to discuss, or contact us via email at: admin@sheddington.org
“In terms of financial support, Sheddington receives help from a number of organisations including Richmond Borough, Hampton Fund, the NHS, and the National Lottery. We are very grateful for this.”