May 6, 2015
Head for the sheds
Over the next 20 years the number of men over the age of 65 is projected to grow by almost 60%. The implications for our health and social care services of this demographic shift are well rehearsed as is the urgent need to develop more community led services and resources to reduce the burden on the state. One response to this challenge which seems a complete no brainer, is the men’s shed movement. Now building up a head of steam in Scotland, it can only be a matter of time before every community has one.
6/5/15
Men’s Sheds or communal workshops where men can get together to work on projects, do repair jobs or relax and enjoy each other’s company is an idea which is spreading globally. The health and social benefits to both individuals involved as well as the wider community are far reaching. A common theme in Sheds is men feeling useful and contributing again to their communities, learning and sharing skills, socialising and gaining information on health issues.
Men’s Sheds worldwide
The Men’s Shed movement began in Australia in the mid 1990s to promote social interaction and reduce depression and it is now established as part of Australian health infrastructure. Men are able to come together routinely around practical tasks, particularly if they have a designated place where tools and work in progress can be kept. It appeals to all men regardless of marital status, and to all ages, although the majority of ‘shedders’ are at or beyond retirement.
Many older men lose some sense of purpose when they have life changes, such as retirement or bereavement and become disengaged from their community. Often the generality of community activities on offer does not appeal, so some level of social isolation can occur. Men’s Sheds offer something new because men can work alongside others in a well equipped setting, share their skills without imposed demands, and be involved in community projects. Men’s Sheds are inclusive, supportive and participative communities. They are places where men can re-connect with their locality.
Heritage skills which might otherwise be lost can be handed on in the spirit of generosity. There are now more than 1000 Sheds in Australia, 233 in Ireland, and others in New Zealand and Canada with interest being expressed from South Korea and many other countries. Research worldwide points in particular to the many health and well-being benefits that such projects can bring.
The Shed concept was first realised in England by Age Concern Cheshire at Hartford in 2009, about the same time as the first Shed in Ireland. Now there are 150 Sheds displayed on the UK Men’s Shed website (Nov 2014), with many others being planned. They vary from groups which meet for a few hours each week in village halls and rooms in community centres to full-time projects with paid supervisors within industrial premises. Sheds are often found in rural locations and small towns with relatively few in large cities. They have been started by various means including their users, charities, voluntary organisations,village development trusts and by health authorities.
To help with the establishment of Men’s Sheds there are Men’s Shed Associations which pass on first hand expertise by collating information from the participants’ experiences. The Scottish men’s Sheds Association formed last year and can be accessed through their website