The official opening of the latest premises for the Northern Men in Sheds group means they now have a permanent base in the grounds of Ramsey Cottage Hospital.

Chief Minister Howard Quayle was the guest of honour charged with carrying out the official opening, accompanied by representatives from a variety of organisations and community groups from across the north of the island.

A spokesman for the group said: ’The group has been meeting on a different site, also in the grounds of Ramsey Cottage Hospital, but the opening of the new shed means that it now has a permanent home kitted out with new woodworking and metal working tools and machinery.

’There has been a lot of interest from the local community, and members of the group will move in to the new shed before the end of August.’

Northern Men in Sheds provides men aged 55 and over with an opportunity to meet and use a workshop for creative projects involving metalwork, carpentry, and other skills. Alternatively, the members can just meet for a chat over a cup of tea or coffee or for a game of bridge.

Northern Men in Sheds was set up by the Isle of Man Live At Home Schemes charity in 2014. The idea behind was for a project to tackle social isolation and loneliness amongst older men.

The Isle of Man Live At Home Scheme is also investigating the possibility of launching Men in Sheds groups in the east and west of the island.

Northern Men in Sheds is part of the Northern Live At Home Scheme, which is one of five run by Isle of Man Live At Home Schemes. The others are in Laxey and Lonan, Western, Onchan, and Douglas. All of the schemes offer several services, including regular social groups, lunch clubs, film clubs, shopping clubs, men’s groups all with transport provided.

The charity also offers guidance on how old people can gain access to other support services, and it runs befriending initiatives in which volunteers make regular visits to old people to have a chat and a cup of tea, providing friendship and company.

The Men in Sheds concept began in Australia in the 1990s as a way of addressing the issue of social isolation among retired men.

The idea spread to the UK, and more recently to the Isle of Man, where it has proved to be popular and found enthusiastic support.