What about Men’s Sheds
Men’s Sheds are successfully reaching a community with needs.
A report funded by The National Vocational Education and Training Research and Evaluation (NVETRE) Program states, “Men’s sheds organisations are typically located in shed or workshop-type spaces in communitysettings that provide opportunities for regular hands-on activity by groups deliberately and mainlycomprising men. They have recently proliferated across parts of southern Australia with higherproportions of older men not in work.
“Men’s sheds are particularly successful in attracting older men that have proved difficult toengage through conventional health, employment, education and training initiatives. Many ofthese older men are facing issues associated with significant change, including ageing, health,retirement, isolation, unemployment, disability and separation.
“They provide mateship and a sense of belonging through positive and therapeutic informalactivities and experiences with other men. Men’s sheds achieve positive health, happiness andwellbeing outcomes for men who participate, as well as for their partners, families andcommunities.
“Men’s sheds confirm the preferences of older men for hands-on, practical learning styles,more similar to those found in adult and community education (ACE) compared with thosein formal education settings.
“Men’s sheds have more to do with producing non-vocational benefits and rarely provide directvocational pathways to future paid work.
“Being heavily reliant on volunteers, men’s sheds often struggle to cope with the initial costs,regulations and complexities associated with establishing a safe working environment andprocuring funding to assist with coordination and supervision of participants. Despite thelimitations in funding, men’s sheds have grown in number; however, the impact on futuregrowth and sustainability is uncertain.”
If you would like to read the full report, go to the following address – unfortunately this is a complicated process –
Men’s Sheds tend to cater for older retired men
1There are many costs and regulations involved – although grants are available to help establish these.
2They require a large amount of space.
3There needs to be a number of volunteers involved.
4They are run on a regular basis, mostly 3-4 days per week, during the day when our men are probably at work.
However, if your corps has the resources for a Men’s Shed, and see it as a viable part of your ministry, if you have the necessary permissions, policies, procedures, etc, there would be nothing to stop you organising one. In fact, there are corps already operating Men’s Sheds.
A useful website is - This lists the contents of a manual -Setting Up a Men’s Shed
A Comprehensive guide by Ted Donnelly & Ruth van Herk prepared for UnitingCare Ageing Northern Sydney RegionLane Cove Community Men's Shed.