Trim Women’s Shed opening its doors to new members

Thwarted by onset of Covid three years ago, Trim group is preparing for enrolment days

The newly formed Trim Women's Shed will hold two enrolment dates later this month after getting a phenomenal response when it recently launched its social media presence.

Initial efforts to get a women's shed up and running in the town were thwarted by the arrival of Covid but three years on, Trim Women's Shed is preparing to welcome new members.

One of the founding committee members Caroline Smith said now more than ever it is needed and is a great way for women to start socialising and mixing again after the lockdowns of Covid.

The first enrolment day will take place on 24th March in Sally Rogers from 11am to 1pm, with a second day on Sunday, 26th March from 11am to 1pm in the Knightsbrook. There will be a raffle on both days, as well as refreshments and goodies. A number of the programme facilitators will attend on the Sunday to showcase some of the programmes that will be available.

Caroline is currently undertaking the Women's Development Programme in the Trim Family Resource Centre along with eight other women and explained that the idea grew from there.

"We were sitting chatting one of the days and we started talking about setting up a Women's Shed. One of the women, Mags, tried to set one up before and had met with the Men's Shed but then Covid struck and it got knocked on the head.

"A few of us were chatting and wondering would it be worth trying to get it up and running. Covid has settled so maybe we could look at it again.

"In the last three weeks it has grown legs, arms, wings, you name it. We are now a fully established women's shed with a committee. We have been working hard on the administration part making sure we have all out t's crossed and i’s dotted and are planning our enrolment days."

Caroline explained that a lot of the women doing the Women's Development programme did so as they felt the impact of Covid on their self esteem and self confidence, and some feeling isolation and missing interaction.

"For those two-and-a-half hours, twice a week, we had so much fun. We would do so many different things and it reintroduced us to the whole idea of socialising again," said Caroline.

She added that they had got a lot of messages from people who were really interested in joining and said they were feeling lonely and isolated. It will be a great opportunity to meet new people.

The facebook page only went up on 19th February and already there has been a huge amount of interest from people looking to join or help out.

Caroline said among their first ideas, they are arranging to have the community garda come in and talk to the group and are going to set up a walking group and book club, starting with things that won't cost much to set up.

They have also had a local jewellery maker and make-up artist offer to help out.

"We are starting out with small things to get us going. It takes a lot of planning and we want to do it effectively and we also need funding. We will be having our first fundraiser, a bucket collection on 11th March.

Trim Women's Shed is open to all women to join, once they are over 18.