A CHARITY which enables disadvantaged people to try their hand at carpentry and metalwork is opening its doors to the public.

For six months Burgess Hill Shed, known as BH-Shed, has been operating out of a craft workshop in Burnside Centre, Victoria Road.

The charity gives people the chance to learn new skills in a relaxed and social environment.

The workshop is equipped with a range of traditional and modern equipment and there are experts who can pass on their skills.

The group works on projects together and members learn techniques such as wood and light metalwork, joinery, turning, carving, whittling, marquetry, furniture renovation and more.

Member of the group, known as Shedders, will show off the result of their hard work at an event for the public on March 15.

They will display some of the pieces they have made at the Burnside Centre from 10am to 2.30pm.

The group started after the craft workshop received more than £10,000 in public funding last year.

Among the organisations to have given their support are Burgess Hill Town Council, Mid Sussex District Council and West Sussex County Council.

Eric Palmer, who is the workshop manager, said: “We want to give people the opportunity to learn new skills such as handicrafts and DIY.

“A lot of the members have retired so we have people who are ex-engineers or have worked with aircraft.

“We also have female members and members of a younger age.

“It is a real mixture of people from different backgrounds and that’s what makes it good.

“The project is about creating a community place where people can come and be active and do things they want to do.

“It is for people who haven’t got the space or the tools to do their own projects. But most importantly it is for for people who are lonely and socially isolated. We want to provide a place for people like this to come and talk to others and make friends.”

Anyone aged 18 or over can become a member or volunteer to help out.

The group also relies on the goodwill of local shops and tradespeople to donate materials and equipment.

Some of the projects are being sold to to raise revenue for the charity’s operating costs.

At present the group is also working on the refurbishment of an office and creating a new kitchen and a lounge.

The group is associated with the Men’s Shed Movement, which was founded in Australia in the 1990s.

For more details on how you can get involved, visit http: bhshed.org.uk.