Community Mens Shed

The Canterbury Men’s Centre originally set up the www.mensshed.org.nz  site to provide  minimal support for men to find local sheds around the country. We hope the site mentioned above does a much better job of this.

We suggest that if you want post info about your shed or want to put your hand up to find other guys to start a shed that you contact the other site.

You’ll find the flyer here for the inaugural national conference for any of you that care to attend.

Menzshed conference 2010 (PDF, 168KB)

(from Neil Bruce)

Greetings all, presently a steering group of four is preparing, on behalf of sheds already established, an inaugural conference of men’s sheds in Masterton from April 9-11th. This conference has principally been organised to assist new sheds through establishment options, to provide a network of sheds for members to support and visit each other, to prevent unnecessary duplication, to learn collectively as we combine our energies, expertise and experience to seek solutions to problems and to achieve new goals and break new ground. The Masterton shed has shown what is possible to achieve and we would like to share their story along with your stories at this conference. There are some critical areas we all need good information about, Insurance, Public Liability, Safety in the Shed, First Aid, and we need to find the best ways to sustainably fund sheds and their activities. It is important to have local and national government representatives aware of concerns we have and how these concerns can be best addressed in the community.

The theme “Let the Shedding Begin” has at least four foci; awareness raising for the wider community, including local and national politicians, inspirational stories of the benefits of shedding for individuals and communities, tools and ideas to equip shed advocates grow the physical shed presence in each community, and discussion about the formation of a National Association that can advocate and promote the positive values that emerge from the Community Men’s Shed model.

There will be other things to emerge – new friendships, enjoyment, learning, humour, contacts and projects. And what about health, wellbeing and innovation?

You all have so much to offer and if you wish to join in this conference – please contact Peter McNeur peter.mcneur@waireap.org.nz for more information

Cheers Neil

In my report to my sponsors, I have summarised at the end what issues are likely to be important and at the stage we are at in Hamilton, these centre around Insurance, Safety, and FINANCE. Critical to the successful operation of the shed I found overseas and in our own situation, is the role of coordinator. Because of the responsibilities and operation of the shed, this really needs to be possibly a paid position – I am not saying that volunteers can or should not do this. Tthe successful operation of a shed frequently revolves around a wonderful people person who has a good knowledge experience and understanding of people and trade related skills, practices including safety. Often this person has to be available during the day when many shed enthusiasts are in full time employ. Enough……

All sheds will be different but there are many issues that will result in lively discussion

Please find enclosed the report for my sponsors following the Australian Conference held last month.

I make a suggestion that we try and coordinate a type of video conference meeting firstly done through schools or agencies who have a video conferencing facility.

I will explore with my principal today what the logistical bits are and wonder if we threw that ball into your court Trevor for guidance (Oxford Area School) as a teacher using video conferencing already and maybe you could target some time next week before the school holidays as a time for some of us to attempt to connect nationally. Dare I say this might be better done one evening ?
In addition to that, it would be good to have some web central clearing point and I am aware that Don Pettitt and Gund Wehsling from our Shed and Arthur (West Franklin) have all been active in this area.

I appreciate the contacts you have made with me recently and I will try and get this invitation to as many of you as I can. While I send this from my home computer could you please reply via my work email br@melville-high.school.nz

If you are happy for me to share your contact details from here with each other then I will do so. I am not sure whether I have made contact with someone from Alexandra or Wanaka yet – if you know those people please forward this to them.

PS I have really only circulated this to those who have responded to me with particular sheds in development or up and running that I know about – 21 contacts so far.

Regards Neil

Neil Bruce (Dr)
166 Morrinsville Road
Newstead RD4
Hamilton 3284
NEW ZEALAND

ph +64 7 8560054
Fx +64 7 8560054
mob +64 21 1545026

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.

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

• 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.