Men’s Sheds is a modern take on the shed in the back garden. It’s a space for men to meet up, connect together and create. Aimed at men who have time on their hands, it’s a fun place to be, and helps to reduce those feelings of loneliness and isolation. Each Men’s Shed is independently managed and offers a different experience to the next. We took our client to the shed in Farnworth to see what they had to offer.
Located on a disused allotment it forms part of the Willow Hey Community Project, which was initially set up to address food poverty and help the growing number of families using food banks. The well-established Men’s Sheds Project offers weekly, practical hands-on skills including wood working, landscaping, food growing and social sessions.
Anthony gave a tour of the site, which included an allotment, relaxation groups, cabin/den, lounge cabin, woodwork room, pyrography, music room and bee keeping site.
It’s common to find lots of expertise within the groups from ex-tradesmen sharing their skills. At Farnworth a woodwork mentor attends to observe and sign-off on new attendees woodworking skills. There are also woodworking training sessions on how to correctly use the equipment. Thursday nights is Men’s Camp Jam when you can bring your own instrument, have a go at playing one of theirs’ or sit around a camp fire, listen to music and have a good chat.
Men’s Sheds doesn’t only help its members. They can pull the wider community together on projects to build, fix and restore. Located throughout the UK, there should be one local to you. And if there isn’t there is always the option to set up a new group yourself.