This movement began in Australia when men realised they could come together around practical tasks on a regular basis, particularly if they had a designated place or workshop where tools and work in progress could be stored. Many older men lose some sense of purpose with the loss of their work role, status, workmates, income etc and can find themselves disengaged from their community if the pub or sports is not their thing. Men with their own shed have often developed their skills and interests there but in a larger facility, with better or more equipment, with skills you can develop with others and jobs you can do for the community a Men's Shed offers something new. Finding a way of working, alongside others and with a purpose in view but without imposed demands can be exactly what many men need.
There are now more than 1000 Sheds in Australia, 180 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 health and well-being benefits of men coming together.
The UK experience.
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 over 550 Sheds open in the UK, with many others being planned. They vary from full-time projects with paid staff and occupying industrial premises to groups meeting in village halls and community centres for only a few hours a week. Some Sheds are in deeply rural locations, most are in small towns but considering their populations there are relatively few in large cities.
Men's Shed in Poole.
Poole Men's Shed started in October 2014 using premises kindly lent by the Marine Voluntary Service at New Harbour Road, Poole. In January 2015, a garage was made available at the Limelight Centre at Canford Heath, Poole.