In pictures: Halstead Community Shed in Fenn Road

The Halstead Community Shed, in Fenn Road, completed its first phase of building work and invited select groups to start using some of its facilities earlier this month.

The Halstead Community Shed Trust was formed in 2022 and its ambition is to set up a facility in the town that the community can utilise.

Since taking over the former site of the St John Ambulance station, phase one of work has seen the installation of two separate training rooms that come with interactive, multipurpose screens.

Welcoming - The Halstead Community Shed's entrance (Image: Newsquest)

Inside - The larger of the two rooms (Image: Newsquest)

Welcoming - The second smaller room (Image: Newsquest)

Fitness groups, a free NHS hearing aid maintenance service, and more, all have booked in slots to use the space.

The smaller room of the pair has built in sensory lighting and the trustees hope to offer the space to groups that work with SEND children in the future.

All eight trustees want to make the building as accessible to the community as possible, so phase one has also seen an allotment added to the garden area with raised flowerbeds for individuals that are disabled.

The building’s kitchen, office, and disabled toilets have all been refurbished, LED lighting has been installed, and all flooring within the building is now anti-slip.

Amazing - The community shed's garden and allotment area (Image: Newsquest)

Area - The building's kitchen (Image: Newsquest)

For the trustees only - the building's office space (Image: Newsquest)

In the future, the shed is looking to install 26 solar panels which in peak conditions would generate 12 kilowatts of energy an hour, which the trust believes is more than sufficient to power the building.

Outside there is a tanker which collects rainwater which the trust is looking to upgrade to 20,000 litres, which would help used by the allotment holders outside of the site.

Phase two of the project, which is still underway, is dedicated to the trust’s aim of providing a space that focuses on loneliness and isolation in men.

The large garage area will act as the men’s shed and will have various power tools, work benches and much more added, giving men a space to socialise and open-up.

Work in progress - The garage area which will be home to the men's shed (Image: Newsquest)

Coming along - An image of the inside garage space (Image: Newsquest)

Team members - Trustees Alan Jackson, 62, and Kevin Pryke, 61 (Image: Newsquest)

Trustee and project leader, Kevin Pryke shared his thanks to every organisation and individual that has helped the community shed get to where it is at the moment.

He said: “The most important thing is that this project would not have got off the ground without the help and support of the Halstead Community Fund as it funded the project.

“We’ve also been given support by Eastlight Homes with our initial running costs.

“And thanks to the trustees who have put in time and effort to get the project where we are today, we will continue until we get the project fully up and running.”