The ChangeX 100 social enterprise project wants Irish people to launch 100 new community projects in 100 days. Changex. org contains an online toolkit for setting up the local projects and groups: from GIY groups to Fáilte Isteach classes. Here, members of the Men’s Shed movement share their experiences
Julia Hildebrand
The Men's Shed is a place where men can meet, pursue hobbies, share knowledge or just have a cuppa together. "There is nothing as good for someone's wellbeing like being in company of others and having a nice time. In the shed men can spend their time productively in the company of other men, by making it easy for them to talk freely about issues and feelings that affect them in a safe environment – an outlet that many men don't have in our society," says John Evoy, the founder of the Irish Men's Shed Association.
“Unlike women, most men are reluctant to talk about their emotions and that means that they usually don’t ask for help. Probably because of this many men are less healthy than women, they drink more, take more risks and they suffer more from isolation, loneliness and depression. Men’s Shed gives a man that safe and busy environment where he can find many of these things in an atmosphere of friendship.”
To date there are around 262 Men’s Sheds around Ireland. One of them is in Dungarvan. Michael Cass set it up together with two friends. “I never imagined I could be unemployed one day. But when everything collapsed in this country that’s exactly what happened and I had to rethink my whole life.”
Cass lost his job in 2009 after he had worked as a manager and consultant in the food industry for 20 years. Two years later, still nothing had changed about his situation so he decided he needed to do something about it, not just for him, but also for more men in Dungarvan who had found themselves in similar situations.
“I wanted to build a place for us to go to in the morning, to meet, talk to each other and also share knowledge and experiences.” When he found out about the Men’s Shed he was delighted. “That was exactly what I was looking for, and the whole concept was already there. With the support of the Irish Men’s Shed Association it was much easier to realise my idea.”
Sheds provide all sorts of activities - whatever knowledge the men who are participating bring in, be woodwork, carpentry, gardening, computer work but also activities like yoga, walking or cycle tours.
“When I walked into the shed for the first time and I saw all the bicycles I was heaven,” describes Pierce McLaughlin from Athy. He has been going to the Athy shed since its launch in 2011, while suffering from mental health issues.
“Working on the bikes was my way back into life. The shed really brought me on myself,” he says. Working on bikes was something he had always loved doing but had totally forgot about until he joined the shed and got totally absorbed again.
For the St Patrick’s Day parade McLaughlin pimped up a Harley Davidson bike, but he also gained a lot of new skills, and he is now on the committee of the Athy shed. One of the most important experiences for him was meeting other men who had been suffering from mental health problems as well. “I hadn’t realised before that so many men would have the same issues,” he says.
Most sheds are started in small teams. Step one is always to find a suitable location. The Dungarvan Men’s Shed for example is located on premises provided by the Waterford Wexford Education Training Board. They were glad to get that help but Cass is sure that every community has such a place that could be used and that it’s always worth looking for one.
“The shed would work anywhere and there should be one everywhere. Starting this is like pushing through an open door. If you feel like this is needed, there are definitely more people who think that way too. It just needs one or two people who have the courage to start it.”
How to start a Men’s Shed
Step-by-step guide to starting a Men's Shed: www.changex.org/irish-men-s-sheds
