homepage

The Dusty Shed team has been busy creating a new set of Community Library Boxes for St. Fagans Community Council. The council has commissioned six boxes in total, which will be installed across the village to give local people an easy, free way to share books, discover new reads, and enjoy a simple community resource […]

The Dusty Shed is 10! We celebrate 10 years of bringing people together, tackling loneliness and isolation The Dusty Shed is celebrating its 10th anniversary, marking a decade of supporting people in Ely and Caerau to build friendships, share skills, and find a sense of purpose. Set up to tackle loneliness and social isolation, the

In June 2024, Rose’s baby son, Lawin, sadly passed away. Rose held onto his cot bed, unable to part with it. Its value and the memories it held were something she couldn’t let go of. “It was in the garage, collecting dust,” Rose says. “I just couldn’t let it go.”  Over time, Rose began to

In December 2025, the Dusty Shed ran a community workshop introducing primary school children to basic woodworking skills through making clocks. Supported by National Lottery funding, the Dusty Shed has continued to strengthen local partnerships, share skills within the community, and tackle loneliness and isolation by bringing older people together through teamwork and shared purpose.

Since March 2024, the Dusty Shed has been supporting Tools With A Mission (TWAM), a UK charity that collects and refurbishes tools before sending them to communities in Africa. Over the past year, the Dusty Shed – like many Men’s Sheds across the UK – has been contacted by older people and families looking to

Community growing made easier for families and little ones to discover the joy of growing. Something exciting is growing at the CAER Heritage Centre! The team at The Dusty Shed were invited to design and build a set of brand-new two-tiered planters for our garden space – and they look fantastic. “They look great!” says

Back in July, Jill got in touch with us at The Dusty Shed. Her late husband, Leighton, had always loved carpentry. He spent hours in his shed making beautiful things — dolls’ houses, children’s toys, and wood-turned bowls. When Leighton sadly passed away in March, he left a few wishes close to his heart. One

On Tuesday 29th July, we were delighted to welcome Alex Barros-Curtis, the new Labour MP for Cardiff West, to The Dusty Shed. As part of his commitment to engaging with local communities, Alex has been visiting organisations and groups across the area to understand how he can best support grassroots initiatives. During his time with

With support from fellow Shed member Ian, Bob has been busy creating a flower hanger for his home. “What this place has done for me has been amazing,” Bob says. “Coming here has given me structure and routine. The camaraderie with the other men is brilliant — it feels like going to work again.” Bob

May 8, 2025 The Dusty Shed celebrates after receiving over £16,000 of National Lottery funding to combat loneliness and isolation for older people. The Dusty Shed, is today celebrating after being awarded £16,389 in National Lottery funding to support its work helping older people combat loneliness and social isolation. The group, based in Ely, Cardiff,