Community Impact

How a Little Shed in Rostrevor Became a Big Part of the Community

Rostrevor Men’s Shed is more than a workshop – it’s a community engine. From school gardens and remembrance projects to clean-ups, marshalling, mentoring and environmental work, our Shedders are helping make Rostrevor a better place to live, learn and belong.

At a Glance: Our Community Impact

🌿 Eco-School Projects
Raised beds, bird boxes and outdoor learning spaces for children.

🗺️ Community Spaces Improved
Benches, planters, heritage installations, notice boards and outdoor mini-libraries.

🧹 Annual Fairy Glen River Clean-Up
Protecting one of Rostrevor’s most loved natural spaces.

👟 Event Marshalling & Support
Darkness Into Light, local races and community fundraisers.

🏛️ Number 16 – Our New Community Centre
A fully refurbished, inclusive space open to everyone. We welcome groups of all ages and backgrounds, hosting children’s arts and crafts, mother and baby classes, speech and drama, tuition, yoga, mindfulness, crochet groups, games clubs for young adults, and much more. Number 16 is a home for the whole community.

Supporting Schools & the Next Generation

Our Shedders take great pride in supporting local schools and nurseries with practical, hands-on work that helps children learn and grow.

We have played a key role in Eco-Schools initiatives across the area by building:

  • Raised garden beds

  • Bird boxes

  • Outdoor learning spaces

We also helped a local nursery prepare for the new school year with a major clean-up and grounds restoration, ensuring young children returned to a bright, safe and welcoming environment.

Honouring Rostrevor’s History & Heritage

One of our most meaningful contributions has been preserving and honouring our community’s past.

We supported the Church of Ireland in commemorating the men of Rostrevor who lost their lives in the First World War — men from all sides of the community.

Our Shedders created:

  • Hand-crafted “Tommies” silhouettes, each representing a fallen local soldier

  • A brand-new church notice board

  • A beautiful outdoor mini library for parish and community use

These pieces now stand as lasting symbols of remembrance, respect and unity.

Keeping Rostrevor Beautiful

We are deeply committed to keeping our village clean, safe and welcoming for everyone.

Our Shedders regularly volunteer in:

  • Annual Fairy Glen river clean-ups

  • Roadside litter picks

  • Village improvement projects

  • Beach and riverbank clean-ups

These efforts help protect the natural spaces that make Rostrevor so special.

Supporting Local Events & Fundraisers

Whenever something important is happening in the village, our Shedders are there to lend a hand.

We proudly provide marshalling and logistics support for:

  • Darkness Into Light

  • Local 5K and 10K races

  • Charity fundraisers

  • Community events and celebrations

On race days, our Shed HQ becomes Race HQ — offering our space as a warm, welcoming base for organisers, volunteers, and participants. From coordinating logistics to providing hospitality and support, our Shed plays a central role in helping these events run smoothly and safely.

Craftsmanship for the Community

Through woodworking, metalwork and creative collaboration, our Shed has produced countless items that can now be found throughout Rostrevor.

We have created and restored:

  • Community benches

  • Public planters

  • Eco-garden structures

  • Information signs

  • Outdoor libraries

  • Remembrance silhouettes

  • School resources and learning spaces

These pieces are built to last — and built with pride.

Inspiring Sheds Across Ireland

Our impact has spread far beyond Rostrevor.

Men’s Sheds from:

  • County Down

  • Northern Ireland

  • The Republic of Ireland

visit us to learn about our projects, workshop layout, community partnerships and welcoming approach.

We openly share:

  • Advice

  • Project ideas

  • Organisational tips

  • Lessons learned

  • Our open-door philosophy

Rostrevor Men’s Shed has become a model of what a thriving, community-driven Shed can achieve.

Truly Inclusive Community Space

Rostrevor Men’s Shed is — and always will be — a place where everyone is welcome.
We proudly bring together men from all sides of the community in the North of Ireland, creating a space where backgrounds, traditions and differences are respected, but never used to divide.

The moment someone steps through our door, we leave all of that at the door.
What matters inside the Shed is friendship, respect, laughter and shared purpose.

Our commitment to inclusivity is reflected in the partnerships we build.
Even though we are based in a predominantly nationalist community, we work openly and warmly with people and groups from every tradition. One of our most meaningful collaborations was with the Church of Ireland, supporting their Armistice commemoration by creating Tommies to honour the local men — from all sides of the community — who never returned from the First World War.

For us, community means everyone.
We are proud to be a space where men stand shoulder to shoulder — not separated by differences, but connected by shared humanity, skills, stories and support.

Help Us Keep Making a Difference

Every project, clean-up and community partnership begins with a chat, a cup of tea and a bit of craic.
If you’d like to join us, partner with us or support our work, we’d love to hear from you.

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