THE Woolmer Men’s Shed in Bordon is celebrating its first birthday by opening a second session on Friday afternoons.

The Men’s Shed runs in a purpose-built workshop at Furniture Helpline and is a great place to meet and, at the same time, help a local charity by renovating donated furniture.

It has six regular members, which means the Tuesday session is now full.

However, from July 28 it will be open on Fridays too.

Miles Robinson, the newest member of the group, said: “I come to meet people. The Men’s Shed gets me out of the house.”

His parents spotted the workshop when they were visiting Furniture Helpline, at Hampshire House in Hampshire Road, in search of an electric armchair and suggested he join the group.

Both he and Clive Handy, another regular member, have well-equipped workshops of their own at home, but enjoy the Tuesday sessions to meet the others, to work together and to compare ideas on how to fix items of furniture.

Mr Handy likes to help others in the community and feels he is doing this directly by working with the charity to supply low-income families with furniture or raise charity funds.

Diane Page, Furniture Helpline’s operations manager, said: “The repairs are always to a very high standard. This means slightly damaged or worn furniture can be given a new lease of life and is saved from landfill.”

* Call Furniture Helpline’s Martin Dennison or Diane Page on 01420 489000.