A NEW project is hoping to provide a hub for residents to come together to tackle social isolation.

Charity organisation Hope in the Community is working alongside church leaders in Winton to facilitate Bournemouth’s first community shed.

Sheds across the country have proved to be a successful way to allow people to spend time together, while focusing on projects or tasks.

The concept in Winton is still in its early stages, with details on what the shed will offer and its location still to be finalised.

Residents are invited to attend one of two meetings this month to have their say on what they would like from the shed.

Rev James Sharp, pioneer minister at the Parish of Winton, Moordown and Charminster, said the shed could be a real boost for the community.

“We have found church and community organisations put on a lot of coffee mornings and gardening groups that tend to not offer something for a large proportion of residents,” he said.

“The community forum meetings will give us the opportunity to find out who is interested in the shed and what they would like it to offer.

“We are putting it out there to see if there is an appetite for it.”

The community meetings, which are open for all to attend, are taking place from 2pm to 3pm on Tuesday September 11 and Thursday, September 20 at Winton Salvation Army in Latimer Road.

Rev Sharp added: “The project is all about trying to tackle isolation.

“It is ridiculous for us as church leaders to put forward a community concept without talking to people in the community and to get the sense of what people would find useful.”

The project has been registered with the national Men’s Shed organisation, but it is hoped the project will be open to everyone, including people from outside of Winton.

For more information call 07752 697334 or email winton.shed@gmail.com.