Tameside Striders’ present £357 donation to The Shed Tameside

Stalybridge Celtic Juniors in conjunction with Tameside Striders’ have handed over a £357 donation to The Shed Tameside after a sponsored walk-and-football fundraiser, boosting the community charity’s work tackling isolation and supporting mental health through woodwork, crafts and social activities.

Marking the occasion at The Shed’s Dukinfield premises, Mike Matthews, Shed Coordinator/Manager said it as a big day for the charity, which welcomes men Monday to Friday and women on Thursdays and Fridays. Mike said any donation is brilliant and helps keep services running for around 30–40 regular participants, with room for more.

The Shed brings together people of different ages and abilities, including those with disabilities, to mix, make and share skills through woodwork and other activities. Mike emphasised that the quality of the finished item matters less than the maker’s happiness, pieces can be “as rustic or as refined as they want”, with the key focus on people leaving feeling good about what they’ve achieved.

Trustee, Maria Bailey highlighted how important the space is for mental health, particularly as people get older and social circles shrink through bereavement, illness or dementia affecting partners. She said that anyone can drop in for a coffee, try making something, or volunteer to share skills

The £357 was raised by Stalybridge Celtic Juniors through an annual one-off walking football event that also involves Tameside Striders, a walking football group based in Denton. Garry Pearce, who is involved with both the juniors and the Striders, said the relaxed competition’s sole aim is to raise money for a local charity, with this year’s beneficiary being The Shed.

Gary added that participants don’t come for the quality of the game but for the mental health benefits, the cup of tea, and the banter, with birthday cakes, curry nights and Christmas parties part of the social fabric. The Denton group now has more than 90 registered players who meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and even those sidelined by injury or disability still turn up for “a brew and a natter”, creating what he called a “grumpy old men’s group” that members wouldn’t miss for the world !