Men's Sheds have now established themselves in the UK as a worthwhile addition to community support.

The journey to the Shed…

 

Join it.

It all begins with a thought or an idea. Maybe you want to connect and socialise more with like-minded people in your local area, in a friendly and safe environment. Pop in during opening hours or get in touch through our Contact Us page. Opening days, fees and how to join are on our About Our Shed page.

Build it.

Build, talk and connect with others in a safe space with expertise and facilities to pursue hobbies, crafts and other creative activities whether they be individual or community based projects.

Grow it.

Sheds help men to maintain and strengthen social links and support them to remain integral and useful members of their growing local community in changing circumstances. Help us grow!

 

Sell it.

Be part of commissioned projects in the local community helping monetise and support various other community based projects.

Style it.

Acquire and utilise design, creation and workshop skills together in a safe environment and realise your own ideas on current and future commissions and project work.

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Share it.

Men’s Shed community members have shared positive impacts on well-being in relation to vitality, physical health, energy levels and improved relationships through increased social contact. Like, Follow and Share on Facebook

 
 

The Mental Health Initiative

• 21% of men over 65 claimed they would socialise more if they had a group they could go to and learn a new skill.

•81% said they would prefer to socialise around a common interest.

•39% would feel more comfortable in a group with other men.

Source: RVS

The history of Men's Sheds

Happy & Healthy Men

Connection, conversation and creation: that's what joining a Men's Shed is all about.

Men's Sheds encourage people to come together to make, repair and repurpose, supporting projects in their local communities.

Improving wellbeing, reducing loneliness and combatting social isolation.

History of Men's Sheds

  • Roots in late 1970's/early 1980's in Australia among former miners.

  • Retired or non-working men poorly provided for compared to women. Macho culture.

  • Consequences for physical and mental health.

  • National Men's Health Conference, Australia, 1995: need to promote social interaction and reduce depressive illness among males.

  • First two Sheds by that name opened in 1998.

  • 'Shed' chosen as name: traditionally a place where men make and repair things.

  • Social, friendship and health aspects seen as equally important.

  • Australian Men's Shed association formed in 2006-7 to promote and support sheds nationwide, government funded.

  • Irish Men's Shed Association formed 2011, first in N Hemisphere. UK MSA formed 2013.

  • Many more world-wide, mainly in English-speaking countries.

  • Sheds may be about work, recreation, education or health and well-being, ideally some combination of those.

  • 'Virtual' sheds exist for widely scattered communities and across national borders.

  • Not necessarily only for men!

For info on Men's Sheds UK see menssheds.org.uk.

Where it all began

The men's shed movement originated in Australia. One of the precursors of the movement began in the 1980s in Broken Hill, New South Wales, involving former miners. Another was the Albury Manual Activities Centre, also known as "Albury Men's Shed", which opened in 1978.

The first shed for men was founded by Maxine Chaseling in 1993 at The Heritage Club in Goolwa, South Australia, a day centre for older people where she was the coordinator. She came up with the idea after her own father became depressed and felt stuck at home following a heart attack. The only thing that seemed to give him purpose was working in his shed. At the Heritage Club, the men's mental health improved, along with their happiness.

The first men's shed by that name opened in Tongala, Victoria, on 26 July 1998, followed by the Lane Cove Community Shed in New South Wales that December. These communal sheds were inspired by backyard sheds, where a man would go to restore furniture or fix a lawn mower.

The Australian Men's Shed Association was established in 2007 and is funded by the federal government. The Irish Men's Sheds Association followed in 2011, the first in the Northern Hemisphere, then the UK Men's Shed Association in 2013 and the Scottish Men's Sheds Association in 2015. By 2023 there were over 900 men's sheds across the UK.

Source: Wikipedia, "Men's shed"