On 9 March 2026, a social group for retired and semi-retired men in Teesdale, County Durham, was awarded new funding to help members stay active and connected. Durham County Council grant will help the group purchase better tools for their workshop.
Three local councillors provided a total of £425 through their discretionary budgets to support the Teesdale Shed. Councillor Chris Foote-Wood contributed £200, Councillor Jasmine Fox gave £125, and Councillor Richard Bell provided £100.
The group added £105.98 of their own money to the grant to buy new powered woodworking equipment. This investment allows the members to take on more complex crafting projects during their regular meetings.
Teesdale Shed currently has more than 25 members and meets every fortnight at the TCR Hub in Barnard Castle. The group provides a space for older men to socialise and share skills, which helps to reduce feelings of isolation in the community.
About this article: This story was put together with the help of AI tools and checked by a real person on our team. We're a small crew trying to cover as much of the UK as we can on a limited budget. We're getting better every day - but we're not perfect yet. If something looks off, let us know. You're part of the process.
