The Men in Sheds project in Port Erin is getting a bigger workplace, thanks to a grant from the Manx Lottery Trust.

Men in Sheds is run by Southern Community Initiatives and started in March 2010, based in a double garage and dedicated woodworking shed off Castletown Road. Since then, the workshop has helped other charitable, voluntary, cultural and faith organisations.

The projects undertaken by members of Men in Sheds have included making stage props for local dance and drama groups, repairing benches for Southlands Residential Home, signage for Scout huts and churches and a huge Easter egg for the Isle of Man Steam Railway.

Graham Hall, chairman of Men in Sheds, said: ’We are so grateful to Manx Lottery Trust for helping us with this project. The shed extension will allow us to support more organisations, as well as taking on other individual projects, and it will also provide much-needed storage.’

Shed coordinator Les Shires added: ’We regularly have around 20 members in the shed each day, most of them working on community projects. Members come from all walks of life, meeting like-minded people, or just to chat and have a cuppa.’

Work on the extension is under way, with the new facilities expected to be open by the end of the month.

Lulu Gillow, Manx Lottery Trust chair, added: ’We are delighted to be able to support such a worthwhile project.’