The Tool Shed (Ecology Centre) Lee Brown

Lee Brown presented a detailed and informative talk about the projects being carried out in the Tool Shed to the Club members on 28 February.

The Ecology Centre’s purpose is to ‘actively use nature and the environment as a tool to improve the quality of life’.  This is certainly reflected in The Tool Shed. Old tools are brought into the tool shed and refurbished by volunteers. These volunteers are retired men who are seeing themselves as useful again in their retirement. There is a main volunteer day on Wednesday 9.30 am to 3pm (lunch Included). The Tool Shed is located on the east side of Kinghorn Loch, Kinghorn at the Ecology Centre.

There is a group of disabled men making bird boxes with the help of the volunteers.

Some of the refurbished tools are sent to Malawi where disabled people from Malawi are trained to use the tools and in fact set up their own businesses which develops their own self-esteem, enables them to support their own families and become once again a useful part of their community. Singer sewing machines are also refurbished. Malawi women are making their own clothes and some have started up their own village businesses.

The Tool Shed Is dementia friendly. It has links with many other associations e.g. The Scottish Men’s Shed, Global Concern Trust, North Eden Outreach.

There was a suggestion that there could be a drop off point for old tools at Recycling Points.

Thanks to Grace for this contribution