Cala Homes Supports Oakley Men's Shed with £750 Donation for Tool Upgrades
Cala Homes (Southern) has generously donated £750 to Oakley Men's Shed, a non-profit organisation dedicated to fostering community connections through practical skills. This funding has allowed the group to purchase essential tools, including a new chainsaw and router, which are crucial for their ongoing community projects.
Enhancing Community Projects with New Equipment
Over the years, Oakley Men's Shed members have actively contributed to various community initiatives, such as repairing items, fixing communal spaces, and installing noticeboards and duck houses. However, their busy schedule meant their tools were in need of an upgrade. With Cala's donation, they were able to replace their old chainsaw and acquire a new router, significantly improving their capabilities.
This new equipment has made a substantial difference, enabling members to utilise a previously unused router table. As a result, they can now enjoy learning new skills and completing projects with higher quality, enhancing their contributions to the local area.
The Role of Men's Sheds in Building Community
The UK Men's Sheds Association supports adults in creating dedicated spaces where they can pursue practical interests while building social connections, friendships, and sharing knowledge. With over 1,500 sheds across the UK, the Oakley location was founded in May 2018 to help retirees build connections and share skills. Since then, it has played a vital role in combating loneliness and fostering community across Hampshire.
Community Pledge Initiative at Worting Park
This donation is part of Cala's Community Pledge initiative at its Worting Park development in Basingstoke. The Community Pledge includes tailored measures to address specific community needs, such as donations, volunteering, learning programmes, and support initiatives, demonstrating Cala's commitment to investing in local communities.
Voices from the Community
Eric Askew, Chair at Oakley Men's Shed, expressed his gratitude: "On behalf of the members, I want to thank Cala for their generous donation. A community group like ours relies on the support of surrounding businesses to ensure we can continue to give back to our community through repairs and projects that allow us to showcase our creativity across the village."
He added: "Now that we have access to improved equipment, we can provide members with the right tools to learn new skills and produce higher-quality projects — just in time to craft a new noticeboard at the village pond and prepare for village events. Our shed is much more than a workspace; it's a welcoming hub where people can learn new skills and build connections with like-minded individuals. It's been fantastic to watch our group grow over the past eight years, and we're really looking forward to what this year holds for us."
Hannah Moody, Marketing Manager at Cala Homes (Southern), commented: "At Cala Homes, we're passionate about investing in the community we develop in to support residents and provide them with access to support, be that environmental, social or skills-based, via our Community Pledge. It's fantastic to hear that our donation has helped locals develop new skills and will continue to support the village with many useful projects."
She continued: "Initiatives such as Men's Shed are especially meaningful to us because they are community groups that some of our colleagues might join, allowing us to continue contributing and connecting with those in our industry. It's wonderful that people have access to a practical space where they can forge items, develop skills, and lifelong friendships through shared interests."
