The Who, What, When, Where & more

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Who?                                                         

The Men’s Shed is not a place; it is people, so-called Shedders, who come regularly once or twice a week. It is not a club for people who simply want to have fun using exciting equipment. Nor is it a drop in for occasional visits.

It is for men (and women) who need something to belong to and contribute to because they are at some kind of a loss or have experienced it personally in the past.

Thus, there is at the core of a Shed something that most if not all Shedders understand from different personal experiences. They naturally provide mutual support to one another in testing times. Working together provides distraction to sometimes troubled minds.

What constitutes being at a loss? Feeling lonely, isolated, insignificant, without purpose and depressed comes in various packages when life events impact. Bereavement from a partner, loss of job, relationship breakdown, illness, disability, loss of job, retirement, moving to a new place, worry about family, first stages of dementia – the list is open ended and personal, of course.

When?

It’s a simple question but one with several answers. Here goes . . . .                   

1. You can enquire about joining the Shed from mid-January 2022. The concept was given an airing at St. Mary’s Christmas Fayre in November with a display and the flyer pictured below available. In the third week of January there will be a staffed display over 3 days (Tuesday – Thursday, 10.30am – 2.30pm). Come and chat then or call Graham Storer on 07763 656627.
   
   Norton Shed1

2. The Shed will start somewhat under the radar with some pioneer Shedders working on the premises that will accommodate the Shed.  The premises have not been used for some years so there’s junk to dispose of, walls and ceilings to be repaired, storage “cells” to be constructed, a kitchen and toilets to be refurbished, internal window shutters to be made and work on power & lighting circuits.

   No small task but one that Shedders can work on together whether skilled or unskilled. We’ll happily accept help from tradespeople in any form also! As well as a Shed, the project is creating an asset to benefit the community more widely.

   Can we do it? Yes we can! (in the words of Bob the Builder). We hope to start work in January on a 4 month plan to accomplish it.

3. Once the premises are sorted out a little, there can be activity to equip Norton Shed with workbenches, tools and equipment. Some items may need to be purchased, but we believe there will also be community donations in kind.

4. Apart from the activity (and some learning on the job!) there will be a social dimension too. Perhaps meeting somewhere like the corner of a café!  

5. The intention is to have a Shed Opening with some invited guests in late April. After that, with the reinstatement work behind us, the Shed proper will be in place to welcome further Shedders. Initially one morning a week but becoming two by September.

Where?

We have the offer of a large prefabricated shed (small “s”) at St Michael & All Saints Church on the southern edge of Norton. It will be shared with some compatible other activities in other parts of the building. It has seen better times but it is watertight and has all required utilities connected.

Shared use is welcomed in terms of efficient use of resources but also for the sense of added community when it happens. Sheds do not usually have kitchens, only corners with kettles! These premises will have a kitchen that can be used to house a kettle but also an oven, hob and fridge. Some Shedders bake – bread making has a following – hence we can include baking as part of the Shed.

However, there may also be a separate activity dealing with more general cooking and healthy eating. One kitchen, at least two uses!

One third of the premises will be given over to storage of equipment for activities that already use the church premises. Therefore the Shed will again cross paths with others and maybe offer help at times.  It’s the way people discover one another.

What?

Another obvious question but again one with several levels of answer.

Once the preliminary work of shed refurbishment is well advanced, the “what” will be whatever individuals singly or in groups want to do. The core activities in most Sheds is making, refurbishing, repairing, restoring and upcycling “stuff” using tools, equipment and materials purchased, donated or supplied and cadged.

Oh, and people’s ideas and suggestions too!

Tools – hammers, hand saws, electric drills, screwdrivers, spanners, levels, tapes . . . . .

Equipment – wood lathe, chop saw, table saw, stand drill, planer/thicknesser, band saw . . . .

Materials – screws, wood of all sorts, craft items, items to refurbish, a good range of odds and ends that might come in handy

Ideas – there’s a world of things people have made and a google search or a book will reveal many. Requests from the community (schools) are helpful stimuli to get going with making.

Things are made but friendships forged also.

Shoulder to shoulder is how men often relate, doing something. Atmosphere is created too which is where (well meaning) banter plays an important part.

At a deeper level is the change a Shed can make to a person, simply by being in a place, amongst others and stimulated by “creative distraction”.  Shedders come from varied backgrounds, life experiences and talents to share BUT they all have appreciation of what it is to be at a loss. To be down. To lack motivation. To hide from people to avoid explaining how they feel inside.

Doing something requiring some focus is very therapeutic. Working with others works. Interaction happens without thinking. Shedders take interest in each other’s wellbeing. Just being there for someone else is enough when they are struggling inside.

There are some remarkable Shedders with remarkable stories and outcomes. Confidence returned, purpose rediscovered, having a shared goal, learning a new skill and refreshing the “can do” spirit.

Sheds become a supportive family, open not closed, to receiving others who are different – such as the person with dementia, the anxious person, the one restricted physically and even the highly skilled with the patience to teach others!

Sheds often work collaboratively with agencies and organisations trying to help people rediscover a sense of belonging to something. By being inclusive as a Shed we can help each other. These usually long term referral partners are part of our “what” also.

It is called community.  It is voluntary. It is rewarding. It is fun. It is a Shed. 

Why?

The Shed is not a service. It does not have “qualified” mental health professionals leading (or amateur ones!). It is no more complicated than individuals, not exclusively men, who come together voluntarily in joint enterprise to do good to one another and for as yet unknown newcomers.

The “why” is not always realised at the start, but new Shedders learn from what they see. How the Shed cares about its members, or rather the members care for each other.

It is easy to see why the idea of communal sheds (from Australia) works because they have very flat organisational structures with literally everybody contributing as they are able – even the person with developing dementia. The Shed is a very equal society – the banter and leg-pulling that goes on (as in former workplaces) is a great leveller and embracer of all. 

How?

Sheds develop from scratch organically, usually evolving around those who come forward in the early weeks. People join one-by-one in response to need. Sheds do not work for all men or women but they work for many. Word of mouth rather than recruitment strategies work well.

In terms of promotion, postcards distributed with details of the Shed and this website which will gradually tell the story of the evolving Shed and Shedders. These will help the referral agencies too.

However, the crunch. Some start-up money is needed. In the region of £5000 for the first 12 – 18 months. There are no overheads of staff costs and once the Shed is fully launched Shedders will contribute session subs.

Applications to grant making bodies necessitate there being a constitution defining the Shed’s purpose, charitable objects, trustees and the way the Shed is to be managed. Having named trustees permits opening a bank account in the Shed’s name. These are all required before an application for funding can be submitted.

One application is in process currently (December 2021)