New Zealand Men's Sheds

The West Franklin Community Mens Shed Trust is actively involved with the health and well being of men in the community. We currently have 45 subscribed members and 168 occasional users of the facility. The Counties Manukau Area Health Board is now referring more disabled persons to our establishment for active participation in Community projects and the Middlemore Hospitable Mental Health Agency has started bringing men suffering from Azheimers to us for practical instruction and peer association. The Shed was established 01/02/2008 for the health and well being of men in the community by providing a workshop and meeting facilities so that men of all ages could associate with each other in a friendly environment and do what men do in their sheds. Physical address: 1391 Waiuku Road, Pukeoware, Waiuku Postal address WFCMS, PO Box 454, Waiuku 2341 Ph 09 2358001 mob 021 15 15 808 wfmensshed@xtra.co.nz

We want to put info about your local shed on this web site? Please use the Feedback from at the left of this page to contact Donald and he will post it. We will also put info about it on a Google Map for you.

Want to start a shed? Contact us and we can tell you if anyone in your area is working on a shed now. Or we can tell others about you if you are working on one.

There is a discussion about Men’s Sheds (and other things blokey) on Handyman.co.nz, join in!

The Handyman has been set up by Olwen Williams. Apparently her bloke Fred, spends all his time in the shed or in the kitchen.

Our Vision is:

• Every community in Australia will have a men’s shed.
• To address the issues of men’s health (physical, emotional and social well-being) in the community.
• To engage the elderly, differently-abled, youth, veterans and other groups of men of the communities in both rural Australia and urban
• Australia, and to specifically address any issues of isolation, loneliness and depression;
• To support the social interaction of men in transitional periods (e.g. Redundancy, Bereavement, Retirement, Ill Health, Relocation, Respite Care);
• To share, disseminate and preserve the skills, abilities and interests that are relevant to the community.

Our Mission is:

• To provide the skill, expertise and resources to any community group to
• enable it to establish, effectively operate and build a sustainable men’s shed.
• To facilitate links between men and health-related agencies, family organisations and specialist health professionals within the community.
• To advocate the benefits and build partnerships between men’s sheds and the community.
• To demonstrate to men’s sheds how their operation can be cost neutral, that is, that its ongoing costs can be met or exceeded by its revenue.
• To initiate and disseminate research on topics of particular relevance to men and their men’s shed.
• To provide a strong national voice on men’s issues and men’s sheds.

13 October 2008

In Pursuing our Vision, We Commit to the Following Values:

• Compassion and empathy in serving men in all communities,
• Sincerity and devotion to improving of men’s health,
• Honesty and integrity in all our activities,
• Reliability and trustworthiness in delivering on our promises,
• Responsiveness to the needs of men, their families and their communities,
• Wisdom in applying technology and innovation to the improvement of men’s sheds,
• Respect for the value added by teamwork and participation to life-long learning,
• Appreciation of the value of contributions by partners and sponsors,
• Responsibility and generosity in giving back to the community.

We have received our copy of the Australian Men’s Sheds Association Newsletter – April 2009. There is further information about the 3rd National Men’s Shed Conference on the 24th and 25th August, 2009. The Conference has been moved to the Wrest Point Hotel in Hobart. This issue gives details on how to register through the ASMA website.

The theme for the 2009 National Men’s Shed Conference is “Where to from Here”? focusing on Shed management and self sustainability. Panel discussions will investigate current sustainable developments and individual papers will explain  sustainability evaluation tools and how Thriving Sheds are constantly Reinventing Themselves.  A workshop will investigate new activities for Sheds and these apply to Sheds in the Planning and Start up stages as well as established facilities. A workshop will discuss the information that Councils, Sponsors and Community groups require when a Shed is planned and real life examples will cover the birth from”Concept to Reality” and aspects of Training.

A key feature of Men’s Sheds is improving men’s health and there will be a special focus on this role of Sheds in relation to Men’s Health issues.

“Like Mushrooms” is the best way to describe the Men’s Shed projects in Canterbury. The most recent project under consideration is in Sumner. Others so far in various stages of development are based in:

• Riccarton
• St Albans
• Hei Hei
• New Brighton
• Oxford
• Ashburton
• Selwyn District

Contact The Canterbury Men’s Centre if you want to know more, or to get on our mailing list for our monthly Men’s Shed Hub meetings.

Men’s Sheds began in Australia. They offer a place for men to gather, to talk, to learn new skills and make friends.

The Canterbury Men’s Centre are conscious of the challenging times facing New Zealanders. Redundancy and financial pressures effect men’s ability to feel worthwhile. Men’s Sheds provide a place where men can get together cooperatively to be inspired and encouraged by each other.

There are currently no Men’s Sheds in Canterbury. Based on Australian research we anticipate men’s sheds in Canterbury will provide significant educational, health, mental health and social outcomes for men. We think that the time is right for them to really get going here. By facilitating start-ups, helping to deal with crisis and linking the enthusiastic individuals involved we can help to create a great place for men to be and to feel worthwhile.

Golding et al’s Men’s Sheds Study

Channel 9 Dunedin: Blokes Shed Movement Comes To New Zealand

July 10, 2008 - The Blokes Shed movement has its humble beginnings in Australia, but they called them Men’s Sheds… In New Zealand the movement is quite new, although the concept of older people looking after one another has been around a while.

Dominion Post: Men to get their own sharing shed

Older Wellington blokes could soon be bonding in a New Age garden shed in a busy suburban street, thanks to the example of our Ocker mates. Community care provider Wesley Care, with support from Wellington City Council, is scouring Newtown for premises to establish a “Men’s Shed”.

Men’s sheds in Australia: Learning through community contexts

3rd National Men’s Shed Conference

Venue

Brighton Civic Centre, Hobart, Tasmania

Dates

27/28 August 2009

Contact

Email:- bridegwatershed@bigpond.com Tel :- (03) 6263 5142 Fax :- (03) 6263 5142