COMMUNITY groups that help socially isolated men suffering with problems such as depression and bereavement could soon receive a welcome boost.

The National Sheds Grant Fund is inviting applications for grants of between £250 and £1,000 towards either setting a new centre of developing and existing shed further.

Bolton is currently home to five Men in Sheds groups, based in Farnworth, Breightmet, Bury Road, Tonge Moor and Harwood.

The groups provide a community workshop where mainly older men come together to work on projects from woodworking and joinery to gardening.

The Farnworth group is based at the Willow Hey project, at Doe Hey Grove is run by Bolton at Home in partnership with Age UK Bolton.

Chris Wood Community Development Officer Bolton at Home said the group which is working on projects for primary schools and old people’s homes, would benefit from new tools.

He said: “We have got some great blokes, who have all got close. They’ve all worked in different trades—construction, joinery, engineering - and it’s helped them because they have a sense of purpose and belonging again. And we have all these talented me on site. All we need to do is get the materials and the lads here have the skills.”

The Sheds Grand fund is run by older people’s charity the Royal Voluntary Service runs The National Sheds Grant Fund, with funding from the Asda Foundation.

Interested groups should visit royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk/sheds where they can download an application form. The deadline is September 24.