By Eamonn Keyes

To the casual eye The Blide Trust seems to be no more than a doorway to a building on Kirkwall’s Victoria Street, but on entering and exiting through the back of the Trust it soon becomes clear that there is a lot more being hidden up the series of steps on the steep slopes leading down.

Workshops give rise to an extensive garden complex with several communal areas with benches, water features with bridge, and extensive gardens with beds, trellises and some greenhouses that have perhaps seen better days. 

There is huge potential for development and to that end Saturday June 1^st saw the successful Blide Trust Open Day and raising of the new shed. The shed sections had been transferred by Northwards  across from the Orkney Men’s Shed in Stromness to the Orkney Blide Trust in preparation for the  day, and members of the Stromness Men’s Shed did the hard work with the assembly on the day.

 Live music was provided on the day by Orkney Bluegrass Jam, and a wide selection of light food was available for those attending, with tea and coffee freely available.

The ongoing Bluegrass music was often punctuated by the sound of hammering, not always in time, as the Men’s Shed team showed their skill and expertise in rapidly erecting the shed, with it soon taking shape and being roofed.

 On completion, the honour of cutting the ribbon on the shed was bestowed on Orkney MSP Liam McArthur as the crowd cheered.

Clare Allison, the Blide Trust Service Director, thanked the Stromness Men’s Shed team for their excellent work as well as all present for attending the Open Day.  

The shed will help with storage of the many tools needed to start a new round of renovation for the Trust, including new facilities in the garden that can be used all year round, with power and heating. However, getting to work with members on bringing the gardens back into shape is the priority, and when this is done they will become a major part of working with members in order to promote wellbeing and help to assist in maintaining mental health.

This part of the Trust’s work is known as Purposeful Blide, where members can choose to volunteer their time at the Blide, supporting people on their way to recovery through activities like helping out in reception, in the café kitchen, working in the garden or performing admin tasks.

Roles are undertaken in a supported manner, enabling people to work towards their own goals and at their own pace. Social networks, friendships and confidence develop as people take the opportunity to improve and share existing skills and interests, learn new skills and create opportunities for their future.

The Blide Trust has a dedicated staff team with huge experience in dealing with social problems, mental health and learning disabilities, all working to improve their community here in Orkney.

The Blide Trust-  admin@blidetrust.org