A week-long exhibition of handcrafted items made by Poole Men’s Shed members opens at The Dolphin Shopping Centre on 26 July, bringing the group’s workshop creations into the heart of the town centre. Running daily from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM until 2 August, the free display in the GATHER community space aims to introduce more residents to a project that tackles loneliness through practical skill-sharing.
The group describes its shed as a larger version of the typical garden shed, where men can work on projects at their own pace in a friendly and inclusive venue. Members meet every Wednesday from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Limelights Centre on Learoyd Road, with annual membership costing £25 plus a £10 joining fee. Newcomers can attend up to three sessions before committing, giving them a chance to sample the atmosphere.
Founded around a decade ago as part of a movement that began in Australia, Poole Men’s Shed brings together men who might otherwise spend long stretches of the week alone. A 2023 survey by the UK Men’s Sheds Association found that 89% of regular attendees reported a decrease in depression, a figure the Poole group sees reflected in its own weekly sessions. The exhibition marks at least the third time the shed has taken over the GATHER space, which the shopping centre offers free of charge to charities and community groups.
Visitors walking through the centre, which houses more than 80 stores, will find a range of wooden gifts and crafts laid out in the dedicated event area. The pieces are built during those Wednesday morning gatherings at the Limelights Centre on Learoyd Road, where the shed holds UK Men’s Sheds Association membership number 49. For members, the exhibition offers a rare chance to display work that is normally tucked away inside a workshop, while passers-by get an unvarnished look at what happens when men pick up tools and start talking.
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