Councillor raises £1,400 for Men’s Shed project after walking five marathons in month

A councillor has raised more than £1,400 for the Blackwood Men’s Sheds project after walking five marathons in a month.

Independent councillor Andrew Farina-Childs, who represents the Blackwood ward, was originally hoping to walk four marathons during March and raise £150 – but after “overwhelming” support from the community, decided to complete a fifth – smashing his fundraising target.

The Men’s Sheds project, based at Libanus Lifestyle, aims to encourage men to be more open about mental health, as statistically, they are less likely to discuss any problems they may have.

Cllr Farina-Childs said: “I went to visit the shed in Libanus and it was a beautiful thing. They still needed electricity and tools so I thought what better way to raise money than to get active.

“Over the past couple of years, we’ve all been stuck inside and it’s taken a toll on both our mental and physical wellbeing. Getting outdoors can go a long way to improving both.”

Speaking to Caerphilly Observer, Cllr Farina-Childs spoke about how one man who described himself as an introvert, found new joy through the project.

“This gentleman joined me at the shed one day and considered himself a bit of a bookworm but wanted to try something new.

“The next time I visited, this man was sawing wood and weeding the garden. It was fantastic to see.”

Cllr Farina-Childs continued: “People were coming from all over. The project is only in its early stages having started about six weeks ago. However it’s already having an impact.

With the £1,400 raised by Cllr Farina-Childs and a further £500 grant from Blackwood Town Council, the shed will hopefully have power and a wide range of tools in the coming weeks.

With the support of Karen James, volunteer and managing director of Libanus Lifestyle, Cllr Farina-Childs is looking to keep expanding the network being built in the community:

He said: “We are in discussions to do something for the ladies in the area. It has been an absolute pleasure up until this point to work with everyone at Libanus and I can’t thank them enough.

“I would encourage as many people as possible to get involved. Mental health is so important right now and this offers a great outlet.

“We have mindfulness sessions also, so even if getting hands on isn’t for you we still offer a wide range of support.”