Carrickfergus Men’s Shed Group Seeking New Premises

East Antrim MLA, Stewart Dickson, has backed the local community group, Carrickfergus Men’s shed, in their search for new premises.

The group fulfills a valuable role for the local community, giving men of all ages, but particularly from the age of 40 and above, the chance to meet up with other men and be part of a group that can give them a sense of camaraderie.

Statistics taken from the NINIS NISRA website show that the number of men in Carrickfergus older than 40 is in excess of 9000, and the amount of prescriptions for anti-depressants for men in Carrickfergus has been steadily rising, increasing from the 135 in 2012 to 146 in 2014. Additionally some estimates put the figure for this year at 156.

These figures emphasise the need for groups such as the Men’s Shed in Carrickfergus.

Members of the group have expressed its positive impact saying:

“To be able to come to the Shed and work and help others gives me a great deal of satisfaction. I feel a sense of worth and love the way all the men work together”

“It gives me a reason to get up in the morning…I really feel good working with and helping chaps who often feel isolated in the community”

Mr Dickson is appealing to anyone who may be able to help the group in their search for premises to contact Carrickfergus Men’s Shed.

Contact details are available on their website here