Every Tuesday, a group of 24 young men with intellectual disabilities arrive at Menzshed Waimea ready to get busy with their hands and minds making wooden creations.
“It is the highlight of their week coming here,” says member Tony Cutten.
“They enjoy working with the older men and doing something physical, as well as showing what they are capable of doing,” he says.
The men have been attending for the past six years, and during the year they each work on three projects that can be taken home or gifted to someone of their choice upon completion.
The sessions require parental and carer assistance as well as nine members from the Menzshed.
“Alan Kissell started it up years ago and we have kept it going as it has a great community aspect and is rewarding for all involved,” says Tony.
Recently, some of the group stepped outside their comfort zone and assisted in collecting and splitting the wood from the wood-chopping competitions held at the Nelson A&P Show. The firewood has then been sold, with the profits raised going back into the Menzshed.
Four-legged wooden pot-plant holders were the last project for 2023 and many of the young men chose to gift one to a family member on Christmas Day.
The young men told the Nelson App that they were “extremely proud and happy” with what they had created and achieved during the year.
