A County Durham project for older men is sharing knowledge about digital technology and tackling social isolation with the help of a four-figure grant from a regional employer.
The Norton Men’s Shed meets five mornings a week at the Norton Sports Complex, with members from across the surrounding area spending time together talking while undertaking a range of different practical activities of choice.
It is now launching ‘6 Over Six’, a new project which will provide access to a ‘Shed’ through embedded digital features in order to demonstrate the potential they offer for enhancing older people’s lives in different ways.
The project is being funded through a £1,192 grant from the County Durham-headquartered Banks Group, with the money being used to buy a range of different digital devices and equipment for Shedders to try out, learn on and borrow, as well as teaching and promotional materials for housebound local residents.
Separate discussion sessions will also be set up to help participants share knowledge and ideas about how they might use these technologies on an everyday basis, while plans for inviting local volunteers in to help members develop their digital skills are already in development.
Founded in 2022 by Graham Storer after he had moved to the area the year before, the Norton Men’s Shed has a primary focus on members’ mental health and well-being, and works closely with local NHS social prescribers to identify people who might benefit from spending time in a warm and welcoming environment.
The Norton Men’s Shed has just been shortlisted in the Health and Wellbeing category for the 2025 UK Men’s Sheds Association’s Men’s Shed Awards.
Graham Storer, who has previously set up four similar projects in North Yorkshire, says: “Social isolation is a huge issue, particularly for older people, and is becoming ever more prevalent, but we see the effectiveness of our group in tackling this problem every time we meet.
“The Shed concept is all about fellowship, inclusion and acceptance, and we try to provide a place where people can meet and work together with purpose, enjoy each other’s company and give back to others.
“Digital technology is all around us, but obviously isn’t something that older people have grown up with – and if you don’t know how to use it and don’t have people you can ask for help in making it work, it can remain a mystery.
“Our new project is designed to remove that mystery by giving small groups of members and people in the community who are housebound the chance to try out digital technologies in a supportive environment, to discuss how they might be able to use them and to ask any questions.
“Not only will it enable them to gain from these technologies, but it will also hopefully help them be aware of and avoid digital scams.
“We couldn’t have set this project up without Banks’ support and we hope it’s really going to open up lots of new opportunities for everyone who gets involved.”
Banks Homes is the business behind plans for a new residential development in nearby Redmarshall, which would see around 75 family homes being built on a site to the south of the village.
Kate Culverhouse, community relations manager at the Banks Group, adds: “The Norton Men’s Shed has clearly had a terrific community impact in just a few short years and we’re very happy to be part of the next phase of their drive to enhance the lives of local older people.”
For further information on the Norton Men’s Shed, please visit https://normens.org.uk/ or email nortonmensshed@gmail.com
The Banks Group’s community funds are independently managed by Point North (formerly the County Durham Community Foundation).
Anyone from a community close to a Banks Group project who is interested in applying for funding from the Banks Community Fund should contact the company via its website enquiry form (www.banksgroup.co.uk/contact-us/) to find out if their group or project is eligible.
