A PROJECT aimed at connecting people through a community bus is revved up and ready to start thanks to more than £18,000 in funding.

Basingstoke Men’s Shed-in-a-Bus, is a project where members of the group have renovated a double decker bus in to a mobile Men’s Shed.

Men’s Sheds give people the opportunity to come together to socialise and use their skills to build and mend things.

The project has been backed by Hampshire County Council awarded a £18,220 grant to help get the bus on the road.

The scheme involves five Parish groups, each devoting time and money over the two-year pilot, to reach out to residents to make them, and their communities, more resilient.

Sourced from Stagecoach the double decker bus will be converted into a mobile shed, with a classroom-style space downstairs and a workshop upstairs. It will be piloted at five agreed locations – Hook, Church Crookham, Old Basing, Hartley Witney and Tadley.

Chairman of the Basingstoke Community Shed Group, Mike Brading, said: “We are very grateful to Hampshire County Council and our other supporters. We look forward to working with them to bring this new idea to communities around Basingstoke.”

The funds were allocated to the project at the county council’s executive member for countryside and rural affairs decision day meeting on September 19.

Councillor Edward Heron, member for countryside and rural affairs, said: “I’m pleased we can support this venture which follows the well-established, successful concept of ‘Men’s Sheds’, where people can meet to work on creative projects or mend things, using shared tools. Residents in rural communities can sometimes feel limited in opportunities to interact with others, build friendships, and learn and share skills and knowledge.

“The Parish and Town Council Investment Fund helps bridge these important gaps, encouraging organisations to collaborate and find new, innovative ways of working to increase everyone’s overall wellbeing.”

Men’s Sheds tackle social isolation by offering a shared space and opportunity to work together on projects.