Be Safe Be Well (formerly known as Ageing Well Roe Valley) was established in January 2000. The objectives of Be Safe Be Well are to promote the following purposes within the boundaries of the Causeway Coast and Glens local authority, for the following public benefit, the care, health, well being, welfare, interest, advancement, education and social inclusion of;
- men;
- vulnerable adults
- women;
- young people, particularly those that are considered to be disaffected or at risk;
- children and adults with a learning or physical disability ;
- older people
Be Safe Be Well has successfully delivered many different types of projects since its formation in 2000 , including the completion of a £1.2M Big Lottery Fund Safe and Well project 2010-2016. The objectives of that project were to improve the health and well being of older people, adults with special needs and men via 6 distinct projects. The projects included, Safe Home (which provided elderly victims of crime with security equipment and advice in their home), benefits advice for older people, inter-generational projects aimed at addressing the issue of elderly victims of antisocial behaviour, the provision of activities for 90 adults with learning disability which encouraged independence and well being.
During this project we also embarked on a pilot mens shed project, to address the issue of isolation of men in our area. Such was the success of the mens shed project in Foreglen, we opened a second mens shed project in Limavady with the support of local community organisations. Be Safe Be Well was granted £500K The National Lottery Community Fund to develop the two existing sheds and open a third shed in Portstewart in September 2016. We currently provide four Mens Shed projects in Coleraine (Ballysally ) Foreglen, Limavady town and Portstewart .
The Mens Sheds project offers a safe, relaxed and positive environment where men aged 25+ can meet to socialise, strengthen their existing skills, learn new skills, share company and have a project to work on. The sheds currently benefit over 185 men who are retired or unemployed. We also welcome members who may be suffering from a mental health issue, physical disability or have a mild learning disability. See ‘Our Sheds’ page for further details regarding opening days and times.
We offer the following types of activities which have been agreed by the members, woodworking, lazer cut wood crafting, archery, gardening, archery, one to one counselling, cooking, pottery, art, health and nutrition information, music sessions, computer training, horticulture training, various exercise classes and projects, day trips plus, pool, darts and a relaxing reading area.
Be Safe Be Well Mens Sheds are managed by the Be Safe Be Well Committee and staff, which includes some of our shed members. The day to day activities are managed via our steering (Limavady and Foreglen) and steering group (Portstewart) which includes 6 member representatives.
We are a registered charity with the Charities Commission of Northern Ireland : NIC103319
We are a member of the Irish Mens Shed Association
