OPENING IN APRIL 2026
A non-discriminating evolution of Llandrindod Men's Shed, empowering creativity and community connection in the areas surrounding Llandrindod Wells.
Join us to share your interests, find new ones, create new items, and work shoulder to shoulder in small groups whilst making new friendships in our welcoming Makerspace and the adjoining Movement, Recreation and Culture Centre.
We can be open every day for morning, afternoon and evening sessions. A number of sessions each week will be designated as 'Hen's Shed' sessions, Men's Shed sessions and 'Family' sessions (where a parent can bring a youth with them)
Located in the heart of Llandrindod Wells, West Radnor Community Haven's Makerspace is your go-to destination for an active community shed experience. Our Makerspace (Community Shed) offers a welcoming environment where individuals from all walks of life can come together, forge meaningful connections, and enjoy working shoulder to shoulder on shared hobbies and interests. We pride ourselves on fostering a sense of belonging and camaraderie that enriches the lives of everyone involved.
Our active social club features a diverse range of activities and events tailored to meet the interests and needs of our community members. From weekly social gatherings and hobby groups to carpentry and knitting, there’s something for everyone at West Radnor Community Haven's Makerspace. Improve your DIY skills by sharing 'make and mend' tasks with experienced locals. We try hard to ensure that each session is engaging, inclusive, and fun, promoting both mental and physical well-being among our members. Some sessions will be geared to specific groups, such as our 'Hen's Shed' and 'Men's Shed' and 'Family' sessions but most are 'Shed4All' sessions.
What sets us apart is our deep commitment to the local community and our personalized approach to social engagement. We understand the unique character of the Llandrindod Wells area and the residents' very wide range of interests and strive to create a friendly atmosphere that reflects its rich heritage and community spirit.
By joining West Radnor Community Haven, you’re not just signing up for an active social club — you’re becoming part of a supportive and vibrant community that celebrates connection, diversity, and the sharing of skills and experience.
1 in 3 older residents in Powys live alone and many have transport difficulties if they wish to meet up with other who have the same or similar interests. The Haven's Mission is to help get those sharing interests to meet up regularly and share experiences and skills.
A recent survey showed there were over 50 ‘hobbies and interests’ that local residents followed, largely ‘alone’ since the Covid days. We want to help them get back together.We can accommodate more than one interest at a time in the workshop, and could help set up groups to meet in morning, afternoon or evening sessions throughout the full 7 day week.
Our Makerspace has a range of woodworking tools available for use, as well as sewing machines and has a desktop 3D printer, a Laser Engraver and a CNC wood router for carving signs etc.
We use the social facilities of the Movement, Recreation, and Culture Centre in Llandrindod Wells as a place to 'chill and chat' when not working in the workshop unit.
The Haven and Makerspace does not exclude those with mobility problems or those with early stage dementia, Parkinson's or similar disabling conditions.
The Haven's Makerspace is an evolution of the previous 'Llanddod Men's Shed' that does not discriminate but adheres to the 'shoulder to shoulder' method of learning new skills and building friendships and improving mental health
Engage in lively discussions and share your love of reading with our monthly book club meetings.
Turn wood or carve wood to make items for yourself, or for the community, or to raise funds for the Makerspace. We have a small group looking at making walking sticks
Join a small 'self-help' group of enthusiasts to look at how to get better photographs and improve their skills.
Join us every week for fun and friendly social gatherings that foster community spirit and new friendships - or perhaps use our facilities for your own group.
Explore your creativity with our hands-on arts and crafts workshops designed for all skill levels. Improve your skills or try new techniques with others to help you out.
There is a lot of local expertise in card making and paper crafts to be shared. Special occasion cards and Popup cards, origami and paper flower making
Crochet, knitting, Tapestry work and related interests can use the workshop to meet. Perhaps use our sewing machine or overlocker to make clothing for themselves or the house.
Use our 3D printers and Engravers to prototype your designs. Members may be able to borrow some devices, after their competency has been assured, to produce items at home
We have a wide range of hand and cordless carpentry power tools available for use by members in the Makerspace workshop and members with exepertise to show you how to use them
A self-help with tutorials group, learning how to design the items you want to make on our 3D Printers or Engravers and sharing experiences and tips
Share tips and tastes with others brewing their own beers and wines.
There used to be a local model flying club, We can provide a chance to talk aeromodelling, from choosing a model to flying sites. Our CNC laser cutter and 3D printer can help with producing parts for those building the planes themselves.
Making and using models boats, there used to be a thriving club in the town but Covid shut it down - we can create a meeting place and a place build for those who share the interest
Many members are glad to help others to use the internet and willing to pass on their knowledge one-to one. We have connected computers for this.
Sessions for men to work on small projects, upgrading skills by working with men with more experience or learning new skills together
Sessions where women can use the facilities to upgrade skills or learn new skills from other skilled and experienced women
Sessions where a parent can bring a child to start them on a shared interest in a safe space. Health and Safety demands that each child is supervised on a 1 to 1 basis by a parent.
The History of the Makerspace
West Radnor Community Haven is a registered charity, set up in December 2020 and was due to start operating in April 2021.
The pre-existing 'Llandrindod Wells Men's Shed' had sought to become a registered charity after a change of Trustees in late 2019 and a subsequent dramatic fall in membership.
In January 2020 2 new members joined , both willing to become Officers. In April 2020, these were asked to seek the Charity registration of the Men's Shed (for fundraising purposes).
Both had observed that there had been a very significant loss of members in the previous 6 months. Two ‘dominant’ recently appointed Officers strongly favoured concentrating on activities using woodworking machinery, contrary to its constitution, and at the expense of the Shed’s social aspects. The important 'mental health aspects' of the Sheds' activities appeared to have been largely ignored, and the result appeared to have been a loss of well over 50% of it’s members - leaving only 5 to continue.
A 'new' Charity Commission registration process, introduced in 2018, requires the setting up (and registration) of a 'new charity' with a unique name which then merges with the unregistered charity. It could then adopt the ‘old’ charity's name. The new charity was registered, as West Radnor Community Haven, following a lot of effort, in December 2020.
The Llandrindod Wells Men's Shed’s existing Constitution (and practices) were not compliant with Charity Commission requirements. There were only 5 members left at that time and the ‘diverging’ requirements for a Constitution created a difference of opinion between the 3 'old' members and the 2 ‘new’ members (who had been asked to register it). The proposal to merge was voted down 3 to 2.
When West Radnor Community Haven was registered it had been expected to both address this social aspect deficiency and to widen membership by becoming 'open to all'. Haven activities would be based on facilitating meetings where it's members can 'share activities and interests whilst doing work for community benefit and sharing conversation'.
There are problems, both in terms of Health and of Safety and in having 'production facilities', which inevitably generate significant noise and dust, within the meeting place. It was therefore proposed that meetings would be set up with 3 separated areas.
One would be a 'Craft Studio' that will be more targeted at art and craftwork,
One would be a 'Hobbies Workshop' where the activities are likely to be wood or metal assembly based and,
One (the most important constitutionally) would be a 'Common Room' where table games could be played, refreshments taken, and members could just relax and chat to each other.
In January 2021, Covid rules came into force and the use of Men's Shed workshops was forbidden. The Haven started holding 'Covid Compliant' active social meetings at several venues. Socially distanced activities such as quizzes and discussions were popular and it started a Jigsaw Lending Library that was popular, ending up with over 500 donated jigsaws in its catalogue. It had also obtained a 'mobile workshop' based on a Tow A Van trailer which was towed between venues.
Before Covid restrictions ended the Men's Shed workshop venue closed and the Haven started looking for its own permanent workshop. The Haven ran, successfully, at Nantmel for 2 years at before the owner passed away and the site became unavailable. Whilst there it ran a very successful Craft Fayre as a fundraiser. Having moved to the Crossgates Community Centre, where it also ran successfully for nearly 3 years, ran another successful Craft Fayre, and where it planned to set up a workshop, a change of management decided it no longer wished to have a workshop near it. From Crossgates, it moved to the British Legion Club and was trying to negotiate for a workshop there for 6 months. Eventually the landowner, Royal British Legion, vetoed the project.
Finally, the Haven Trustees identified the opportunity to site 'it's own' workshop adjacent to the MRC in Llandrindod Wells and is now working towards opening it in Spring 2026. The site meets all of the objectives laid down at the start of the Haven.
Currently, 3 of our 6 very long term members regularly meet at a home workshop and all of us meet up to discuss progress and decide priorities fairly regularly. Current interests are wine making, walking stick making and getting used to using a woodturning lathe - and of course trying to get progress on the Makerspace Project.
The Craft Studio Area
This well lit part and dust free area of the workshop is reserved for those who wish to share fabric and paper crafts with others and is equipped with a table and comfortable chairs. There are 2 sewing machines available for use, an overlocker and a ‘normal’ one. It can also be used for ‘table games’ such as Cards and word games. Part of the area is equipped as a ‘Design Studio’ for a 3D printer and a Laser cutter/engraver.
The Hobbies Workshop
This section of the workshop is separated from the craft area by a sliding door and contains our woodworking machines, power and hand tools and a Carpenters Bench. One section of workbench is height adjustable for wheelchair users. Bench fixed machines include a Sliding Compound Mitre Saw, Bandsaw, Pillar Drill, Belt Sander, Router Table and Lathe. A comprehensive array of cordless tools are available for use.
The ‘Chill and Chat' area in the adjacent MRC
Adjacent to the workshop are the premises of Movement Recreation and Culture, and Makerspace users have permission to use their social areas, refreshment facilities and hygiene facilities. These provide the opportunity ‘take a break’ from the workshop and to ‘chill and chat’ with other users in congenial surroundings. . There may be opportunities to use some of their ‘games tables’ at times.
Correspondence address: WRCH Secretary, 18 Holcombe Avenue, Llandrindod Wells, LD1 6DW
Meeting venue: Rear of Movement,Recreation and Culture, Oxford Road, Llandrindod Wells, LD1 6AF
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We have the potential to be open 7 days a week, with 3 sessions a day. The minimum group size is 2 for Health & Safety reasons.
Membership will be FREE for the first 6 months, then £5 per month payable by Standing Order.