What does a Shed do and Who can be a Shedder?

Dear Reader,

The purpose of this piece is to explain more about the opportunities, limitations, ambitions of the Norton Shed for individual men and women. It is very much about individuals and their “jigsaw piece” fit into the overall jigsaw that is theirs. It hopefully will help other organisations (and particularly those who might want to propose people to be members). The Shed is physically small (a safe active max of 10 present) but this means that relationships develop quickly. The Shed is run by the Shedders and that means having sufficient responsible Shedders to help any not so able.

What does a Shed do and Who can be a Shedder? Two seemingly simple questions that that have no simple answers! Drawing on experience of Whitby Sheds and now the Norton Shed, here are Graham’s thoughts on these and related matters.

What a Shed does is dependent on the context in which the word is used –

  • The Shed does voluntary. Every Shedder combines the role of volunteer helping the Shed and a beneficiary of it! Nobody is paid and the Shed is independent although belonging to the UK Men’s Shed Association.
  • If the doing is about what the Shedders’ hands do (the physical work’) then it can be almost anything that is considered sufficiently safe in terms of normal DIY level risks, taking account of the individuals capabilities. It is what might be done in someone’s garage or garden shed but in a communal Shed. Could a Shedder be hurt? Yes, but the risk and consequences are low. There is a lot of choice. Last Friday we were putting up an external awning using a power drill and ladder plus an octogenarian working on a fast rotating lathe with sharp chisels. He has been a hobby wood turner for many years and does not need to be stood over! Just needs a safe environment to work in – commensurate with his garage set up.

    Skills to share.

  • The next context is the Shedders themselves. The Shed does them good. It provides good company, little enforced routine, lots of banter, lots of free choice and the opportunity to use the mind constructively. Independence and also a feel (genuine) of responsibility to the other Shedders as a group. Family.
  • The Shed helps work through life events of mental health/depression, bereavement, lack or loss of work, loss of confidence and social contact etc. etc. All the stuff on the back of our postcards. The Shedders run the Shed and do its management involving all Shedders to one degree or another. It is NOT a class like school but more like “work” used to be.
  • The Shed does community too and benefits/enjoys relationships with other parts of the local community – sometimes helping others practically. Sheds do not want to be islands, cut off. In Norton, we have the benefit of relationships with the staff at the Sports Charity and gradually with some of the sports clubs there. We have done work for the Cricket Club and the Football Club. They have helped us too.
  • The Shed does creative activity involving skills (old and newly learnt) and the brain. Some Shedders are more suited to one or the other creativity and there are some who seem to balance the two. Calling on each others talents. Shedders create the atmosphere which is one of the most important outcomes that builds sustainability.
  • The Shed does excitement too and lifts the spirits.
  • The Shed does NOT do personal care nor perform the role of carer. However Shedders do care about each other and depend on each other really. The Shed does not offer “lifts”

So, who can be a Shedder?

  • The first thing to note is that the Shed is a place as well as the people! The place we use is a Portakabin and numbers of attenders are limited by that space. A normal level of 8 to max 10 is the general limit which happens also to be a good number from the point of view of social interaction. Getting to know each other.
  • A Staithes Shedder who entered a Care Home as the Covid-19 long lockdown began. A good mind still but needing encouragent. He does the same for us.

    Generally speaking, a Shedder will have a “need” for a Shed for mental wellbeing and certainly an appreciation from life of the damage that isolation can lead to such as depression. If they know about the “black dog” as Churchill called it then they will work together to avoid the rocks.

  • Being a woman is no bar (!) nor being disabled in some way. We are soon building an access ramp to allow a person who is mainly wheelchair confined to come in. In Whitby district Sheds we’ve had all sorts of individuals. The Shed is an active place and those who attend must want to do something. One Whitby Shed had two men who only wanted to play dominoes in the end as they became older. It is a matter of careful assessment and the Shedder having some determination to improve their lot AND that of the group as a whole.
  • It does require being a regular attender, on a once a week basis (with exceptions of course). The Shed is like club. It is not a drop-in activity.
  • So, the main thing is that a person fits in and takes the rough with the smooth to a degree. It’s what families do.
  • The Shed tries to assess with a prospective Shedder all the Shed and personal limitations involved (in the above) and then have a bit of a plan for how the person will become an active part of the Shed. Even someone with dementia developing can be remarkably independent which their family will appreciate.

Some other angles

  • Older age and what comes with it (retirement and maybe ill health) ideally needs to be thought about and to some degree planned for. If a person makes no friends outside the home tor work and has no hobby interests or involved with others will find older life difficult.
  • Care Homes focus on being carers that primarily keep people safe physically and provide some stimulation, generally in group activities. It is a challenge because what some like, others don’t and the resources are limited. Men in particular suffer because the environments tend to be female staffed. This is not easy as several Shedders have explained as they go into care for reasons of physical frailty. They long for the stimulation that a Shed “seems” to offer but capacity is not there. Our “Care Home” Shedders have normally been active Shedders before going into care.
  • This ia group of Norton Scouts and parents working on clearance. Getting together is so beneficial for old, young and in-between

    About 4 years ago the Whitby district Sheds suggested that care homes might send a car load each to a Shed (the Whitby Shed is in the same Scouting complex as a large hall) and work between them what staffing level was needed between them. The suggestion was that some Shedders and indeed others might provide some practical things to do – the proverbial Bird Boxes for instance. It would be a very different atmosphere. However, the suggestion led to nothing because in part of staffing issues and problems co-ordination if circumstances changed on one day (a mini crisis!)..

  • A recent telephone conversation with an elderly gentleman living on his own revealed other problems. He had been given several telephone number to call to look for an activity to do. Little guidance on what they were or where they were – for a man largely housebound. From a Shed point of view it was mission impossible. But we talked and talked because he was reluctant to lose the opportunity to speak to someone. What he needs is a place to go/be taken to to simply be with others. A melting pot (what a good title!) for people to just be together for a couple of hours with tea and biscuits.  He had a hunger for company. The food he needs is for his spirit! Another kind of food bank.
  • It is hoped that all the above will help show why a Shed is not some kind of Swiss Army knife for all. It is largely preventive/corrective action for mental health.
  • A real success in Whitby and Norton is association with what is now known as GP Social Prescriber Link Workers (WOW!) who simply act as a knowledgeable bridge between GPs’ “prescriptions for help”  and activities (like the Shed). In Whitby it was NYCC Living Well originally and here in Norton it is the Social Prescriber team. They know the patient (a bit) and know Sheds and other activities. Hopefully match makers!  All elements doing what they can for people.

One Comment:

  1. Could I have some information about where & when you meet & a contact number please to discuss a particular circumstance?

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