Discovering Men’s Sheds was a one-day conference on Men in Shed initiatives looking at their positive effect in reducing social isolation among men in later life and improving older men’s general health and wellbeing.

Part of a growing, international movement of Men in Sheds, the conference featured three pilot Age UK Men in Sheds currently running in Kendal (Age UK South Lakeland), Blidworth (Age UK Nottingham & Nottinghamshire) and South London (Age UK Bromley and Greenwich).

Introduced as an alternative to mainstream day services, these pilot Age UK Sheds have been designed to appeal to older men less likely to make use of standard Age UK services.

Funded by the Sir Jules Thorn Charitable Trust Age UK has been providing: a Shed-like workshop space; tools; equipment and a paid co-ordinator (to support the running of each Shed) while all Shed-based activities have been left to Shed members to decide for themselves.

With activities ranging from woodworking and inter-generational skills sharing to simply socialising, Shed members have been able to retain day-to-day control and ownership in the running of their own Sheds.

The conference addressed a number of key issues raised by these pilot Men in Sheds: from relieving social isolation and empowering people’s sense of identity and purpose in later life – to addressing the often neglected health needs of older men through informal ‘shoulder to shoulder’ models of male sociability.

Underlining the value of projects dedicated specifically for older adult men the conference also highlighted the need for more grass routes projects to be designed, delivered and managed by project participants themselves.

For more information email Harvinder Channa on harvinder.channa@ageuk.org.uk or call 020 3033 1072.

Presentations

Speakers presenting included; Professor Barry Golding (School of Education, University of Ballarat) on the burgeoning, Australian Men Sheds movement, Professor John Field (Professor of Lifelong Learning, University of Stirling) on informal learning and wellbeing - as well as members of the Age UK pilot Sheds talking about the practicalities of how to set up and run a shed.

Download presentations from the event:

Barry Golding - why men’s sheds work in diverse communities (PDF 82KB)

John Field - informal learning, men's health and wellbeing (PDF 219KB)