Norfolk MensCraft and Norwich Men's Shed move forward

Norfolk charity MensCraft has moved out of the offices in Pitt Street, near Anglia Square in Norwich, which it has long shared with the Norwich Men's Shed.

MensCraft supports men facing challenges or experiencing difficulties with their mental health and founded the Norwich Men's Shed in 2013.

It was one of the first such organisations in the country, inspired by the success of Australian men's sheds - which stop men becoming isolated by giving them the chance to come together in a workshop.

But the two organisations have bid each other goodbye, after MensCraft moved to new offices in St John's Alley, Norwich.

"This is a bittersweet moment for us," said Tim Allard, development manager at MensCraft.

"Our new premises on the Maddermarket estate are more accessible and comfortable for our staff and for the men we support, but we are sad that we will no longer have that day-to-day connection with the Norwich Men's Shed team.

"We will continue to work collaboratively with them, though, and are keen to develop our work with all the Men's Sheds across Norfolk."

Norwich Men's Shed intends to expand its workshop (Image: Roberta Wood)

Tim Ridgley, a trustee of Norwich Men's Shed said: "MensCraft were the driving force behind the Norwich Men’s Shed, helping us set up, find premises and funding and got us in the position where we were able to fledge as an independent charity in our own right in 2017.

"In particular, we want to recognise the contribution of MensCraft’s Andy Wood, who was project manager in our early years and when we became our own charity, took on the role of trustee."

The Norwich Men’s Shed will take over the first-floor space on Pitt Street vacated by MensCraft.

That will enable the Men's Shed to expand its ground-floor workshop area, offer more bench spaces and grow its membership and income.