Aiming to fight social exclusion and strengthen the communities around VINCI businesses, the VINCI UK Foundation has awarded the Ballaghaderreen Men’s Shed in County Roscommon £3,358 for laptops to introduce technology-shy members to the internet and get people involved in amateur filmmaking.

“The Men’s Shed has become a place where the older members of society can come and reconnect with old friends, make new ones, learn and teach new skills. This grant will allow us to introduce members to various courses or skills and help them to use online facilities such as farm registration sites, email and the internet,” explained David O’Gara from Ballaghadereen Men’s Shed.

Beyond the financial contribution, Danny Ryan, a communications coordinator from VINCI Energies UK & RoI, will assist the members with some of the technical skills they need to make their own local history films, such as planning and editing. He will also produce new promotional materials to help the shed expand its membership.

“I was born in Ballaghaderreen and I care about the town so it’s great to be able to help the residents in this way, including my uncles who use the shed regularly,” he said.

The Ballaghadereen Men’s Shed is a place when men of all ages and from all backgrounds can go to connect with each other and participate in leisure activities that help them develop new skills and friendships and boost their mental health and wellbeing.

The VINCI UK Foundation has previously supported the organisation with a £3,000 donation to renovate the ground floor of the shed and equip it as a workshop, where members can take classes in woodwork and other skills.

“Many of the members live in isolated parts of the parish and might not otherwise get the chance to socialise regularly. The Ballaghaderreen Men’s Shed has become vital to the community as a place where men can go to have a bit of craic and learn something new so I’m thrilled to be able to support them again through the VINCI UK Foundation,” Danny continued.

The VINCI UK Foundation was founded in 2016 with the mission to strengthen communities by improving access to training, employment, housing, healthcare, mobility, and leisure activities for society’s most disadvantaged and vulnerable people.

Since then, the VINCI UK Foundation has combined almost £1.4 million in financial support with the practical skills and expertise of VINCI employees to help over 200 charities or community projects championing social inclusion across the UK and Republic of Ireland.

Find out more about the Ballaghaderreen Men’s Shed and the VINCI UK Foundation.