Herefordshire men's charity receives funding boost
National Highways has donated £9,000 to Ross-on-Wye Men’s Shed through a grant
A Herefordshire men's charity has said it is "really grateful" to have been given thousands of pounds in funding which has helped them to purchase new tools and improve their working space.
£9,000 has been donated to Ross-on-Wye Men’s Shed by National Highways, who are carrying out repairs on the A40 at Leys Bend following a rockfall.
The group aims to contribute to the community by giving people a chance to come for some companionship and learn new skills, while working to repair, renovate, make and recycle items in their facility.
Through the funding, it has been able to get a power lathe and dust extractor as well as a CNC (Computer Numerical Control) router, which automates the likes of cutting and engraving, and lay down new flooring in the refreshment area of their workshop.
Mark Gunn, Secretary of Ross-on-Wye Men’s Shed, said: “We’re really grateful for the donation of additional funds by National Highways as it has allowed us to purchase resources that would otherwise be out of our financial grasp.
"The provision of new flooring really improves the refreshment area for members and the lathe and CNC machine really enhance the capabilities of what we are able to undertake for the local community.”
Funding came form the National Highways’ Community Legacy Fund, which aims to create positive change by integrating community legacy work into daily operations and collaborating with its supply chain.
On the donation to the charity, National Highways route manager, Joseph Walmsley, said: "We are always very grateful for people’s patience and understanding when we are working in or near their communities, which is why it is important to us to try to give a little something back to those communities when we can.
“The Men’s Club is doing a fantastic job supporting the local community as well as offering companionship for those who attend and teaching them new skills and we were very happy to help out with a grant from our Community Legacy Fund.
“We are also grateful to our contractors Morgan Sindall for highlighting this very worthy cause and helping organise the donation."
A contraflow remains in place on the A40 at Leys Bend after a rockfall back in February 2024 forced the partial closure of the road.
National Highways have been working on the area since, with a patterning of steel bolts and steel mesh currently being installed across the stretch of slope affected by the rockfall to improve the long-term safety of the location and help prevent further rockfalls.