Provide a space in your community where men can find meaning, friendship and belonging.
"Welcome to Men's Sheds on ChangeX. Shed by Shed, we're building a global movement of spaces where men can come together to find meaning, purpose, friendship and belonging. Here you can learn more about Men's Sheds and learn how to start or join a Shed in your local community. I'm looking forward to helping you get started!" - Phil Johnson, US Men's Sheds Association
As a leader you’ll need approximately 1 day a week to start and maintain a shed in your local community.
There are many different types of "Men's Sheds" and your Shed will be uniquely designed for your local area. Some sheds have their own dedicated building, others share with another community organization or some even have "Mobile Sheds" to meet the needs of men living in remote areas.
But all Sheds do have things in common and upon registration with the International Men's Sheds Organizations, Sheds agree to maintain an open door policy, be non-discriminatory, have a minimal membership or joining fee, ensure and observe safe work practices, aim to improving the wellbeing or all men and to support their community.
A Men's Shed is a vital community investment delivering programs and activities that foster community spirit, connections and contributions to building a more inclusive community and Country. Before getting started, there are some important issues to be considered:
Assessing the local environment
Based on how you've answered these questions you can begin to think of the aims and objectives of your Men's Shed. This will help when you begin to seek support locally.
Do you already have a location that would be ideally suited for a Men's Shed project? If not managed well, this step can be one of the hardest for Men's Sheds to get established. However, it is extremely important to put the men before the Shed. They need to invest and have ownership from the outset. It can be ineffective in having a Shed with no members – providing the Shed before community engagement may not sanction ownership for its members. The Men's Shed must always belong to the members involved and reflect their needs. Encourage the men and community to be involved in all stages of planning.
However, having a potential Shed/facility is a great start. Many Men's Sheds have targeted the refurbishment of an existing facility as their first major Shed project- this will guarantee active participation, teamwork and a sense of ownership from the start.
This is a very important step as the more community support you attract the easier the job will be. A wide variety of enthusiastic supporters can also provide a wide range of skills and experiences.
Often an initial "show of interest" meeting can progress the idea and will motivate people to get involved. By holding a public meeting you will not only find potential members but organizations and businesses who may want to support a Men's Shed and its activities within the community. They may be also able to supply information concerning the needs of the local area and be interested in partnering or sponsoring a Men's Shed within the community.
These supporters can also become potential members for the Shed and may also donate equipment and services. This is the ideal forum for the project to really start to gain momentum after having identified the potential needs of the community. From this initial meeting it is also possible to form a Steering Committee and get the community involved at an early stage.
It’s important to bill the meeting in terms of ‘Would you be interested in setting up and/or being part of a local Men’s Shed?’ This way you will not over commit yourself and others until the level of initial interest is clear and tangible, people will also feel part of the starting process and will be more willing to help out.
Having a person who is comfortable facilitating the business and process of the meeting will convey confidence to your audience and ensure that good participation happens. You should also have a person to keep notes of the meeting: the issues raised, suggestions made and additional information sought.
Very few people will refuse tea or coffee and something to nibble and it helps people to feel welcome and to mingle with others. So be prepared with some supplies and maybe even home baking to hand!
This meeting is the ideal occasion to recruit your first Interim Men's Shed Committee or Steering Committee:
1. Invite volunteers to establish a Steering Committee to advance the project. This may include volunteers with previous experience in working with project committees, Accounting, Secretarial and computer skills.
2. Try to meet again with the Steering Committee as soon as possible to maintain the momentum.
3. Be sure to get the names and contact details of all attendees for future reference-keep them informed of any progress and ask for help if required.
4. Set a date for the next meeting- in these early stages it is crucial to meet either formally or informally again in the near future to maintain the momentum and enthusiasm.
The newly formed working group or Steering Committee will guide the Association through its initial stages of establishment. By appointing a Steering Committee you can share the workload and work as a team with the same goals, moving in the same direction and utilising individual skills and experience. Define roles such as Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, and Publicity.
To ensure the sustainability of your shed, finding rent-free premises is critical. Most sheds across the Network have managed to find one so don’t be afraid to start looking!
The most important asset to have when looking for ‘a rent free premises’ is patience. It is easy to find premises if you are willing to pay commercial levels of rent and the group of men may become disillusioned if suitable premises are not identified quickly. However, it’s good to remember that the project you are setting up may last for several years and a little patience and persistence in the early stages may bring immense rewards in the years to come.
Some Sheds have “caretaker agreements” with their landlords where the Men from the Shed look after the building or surrounding area instead of paying rent.
Things to consider when looking for a premises:
Is there an existing building that could be used?
Sites that other Sheds have used:
Who to ask?
At this stage, you have a group of men, hopefully a premises and you're well on your way to getting started. Now is a good time to link in with the global network of Sheds around the World. Many countries now have national Shed Associations and for those who don't, the International Men's Shed Organization acts as the contact point and provides all the support, information and encouragement you need to make your Shed a Reality. John Evoy, who previously set up the Men's Sheds Association in Ireland manages the Internaitonal Men's Sheds Organization and he will be on hand to help and connect you with existing Shedders across the US.
Once you've registered to Start your Shed on ChangeX, John will be in touch to arrange a time to speak and help you get started.
Starting to get active in the community can not only keep the momentum of your group going but can be invaluable in promoting the Men's Shed. You can use these activities to raise some beneficial funds and support. It is never too early to start getting active. It is important to involve all members in interesting activities while you are planning for your Men's Shed. If you do not have a physical Men's Shed this should not deter you from meeting and undertaking social and community activities as a Men's Shed Group.
A great deal of valuable information can be gained by visiting as many Men's Sheds as possible. Members are usually very proud of their Shed- they will be welcomingand willing to offer help and advice. Shed visits are also great day out for the men!
Fundraising can be undertaken over the short and long term. Short term activities can be irregular, generate quick income and could include community BBQs, selling scrap metal, garage sales. Long term requires time, extensive planning and can generate better returns. This could include developing partnerships with local businesses and service clubs, major raffles to coincide with significant events such as Father's Day.
Speak with community organizations and make enquiries about potential work. Successful Men's Sheds have developed valuable partnerships with local organizations. Whilst your Men's Shed is being established, you can assist other community organizations with some of their projects? the local pre-school may need some play equipment or some raised garden beds? -the local Golf Club needs some seating benches on the course? - the local tennis courts or sporting fields may require Some refurbished seating?
Grants can be a valuable source of income for your Shed but applying for grants requires patience and perseverance. IMSO has a variety of resources that can assist you in your grant writing as you may need some funding for equipment, insurance or to undertake specific projects.
