A CHARITY is appealing for people of all ages to help them raise funds by upcycling donated furniture or making items to sell using donated wood.

The Community Shed is a friendly and welcoming hub of activity, in Belmont, next to the Age UK County Durham Superstore on Mandale Park.

Woodcraft activities take place on Thursday mornings 10am to 12noon where volunteers help create items such as bird boxes, bird feeders and garden furniture, which can be sold in the store.

On Friday mornings, 10am to 12.30pm, donated furniture such as wooden tables, chairs or cabinets, which may be dark wood, or worn, are painted and turned into attractive and modern furniture to sell.

Tony Kearney, aged 76, who has been coming every week to the shed since it opened in February, said: “I was an engineer and I still enjoy making things. This is a great place to come and socialise and it’s great to know that I am helping older people who need extra help at the same time.”

Development manager Christine Fletcher said: “The items produced in the Community Shed provide much needed funds to help us provide this service.”