A Whitley charity received a donation to help isolated men in the community..

Whitley Community Development Centre were presented with a £1,000 cheque from the John Sykes Foundation Covid-19 Relief Bill.

WCDA was established in 2013 working with local people for local people using Community Development principles.

The donation will be used to create a new group entitled the ‘Men’s Shed’, which will allow participants to exchange and gain skills, share life experiences, and share how they have been affected by events and circumstances they have found themselves in.

Vice Chair of Trustees at the Whitley Community Development Centre, Imke Wilson, said: “In March we were hit with Covid- 19 and things changed dramatically.

“The cafe closed along with all projects except for the Food Surplus project which increased in size providing food parcels to those in need across the Whitley community during the first lockdown.

“Later this developed into a pop up shop for people to collect food and personal care items.

“The work we have done from our base at the Community Cafe during this challenging time has further reinforced our title "the beating heart of Whitley’.

The Men’s Shed will provide a safe environment for eight participants for 12 weeks, including supporting them.

They will be able to gain support from each other as well as access vital services with assistance from the Community Development workers at Whitley CDA

Mrs Wilson continued: “Having worked with the most vulnerable isolated members of the community we have identified a number of groups we will support.

“One group are socially isolated men, many of older years but also some younger men who have little support within the community.

“They attended the Food Surplus daily and it has become apparent it is for social interaction and friendship rather than food.

“Through working on this project the men will have improved mental and physical health, feeling more linked in with their community.

John Sykes commented:  “With the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and increase in food and fuel bills we know that many people will be really struggling and experiencing financial hardship.

“We are very thankful to be able to support the ‘Men’s Shed’ and are delighted to see brilliant groups and organisations like the Whitley Community Development Association using the grant to reach out and change the lives of the people in their community for the better.

“We’re looking forward to seeing it up and running.”