Frequently asked

Questions (FAQs)

While precursors existed elsewhere, the Men’s Sheds movement officially began in the 1980s in Australia. Inspired by Australia’s success, Men’s Sheds started appearing in other countries: In New Zealand in 2005, Ireland in 2009 and in the UK from 2011. The movement has now reached Ireland, Canada, United States, Iceland, Japan, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Spain, Kenya and South Africa. There are several books written on the subject. It can be argued the need for Sheds was not previously necessary and has grown with the dissolution of other parts of our workplace and social groups such as working mans clubs – and so the rise of Men’s Sheds is necessary

Men’s Sheds are community spaces for men to connect, converse and create. The activities are often similar to those of garden sheds and garages , but for groups of men to enjoy together (many Sheds also have women members too). They help reduce loneliness and isolation, but most importantly, they’re fun. Find out more about them.

There are about 1100 today (Mar-2024), 900 in England, 100 each in Wales and Northern Ireland, and 200 in Scotland. We estimate nearly 33,000 Shedders benefitting every week. Whilst there will be a group of regular visitors to a given Shed, there is also a transient group and a group that feel that they belong to it, but might only visit every few weeks.

Most of the Sheds in the UK are run by the people that use them, in a bottom-up approach. This grassroots model can often bring about stronger feelings of fulfilment, ownership, belonging and achievement in the people that develop them, and may lead to better sustainability as they often don’t start with large cash injections. This isn’t always the case though. A small number of Sheds are run by organisations like Age UK where the Shed is run and organised by an external group; the latter model has recently been seen to be less sustainable.

Well, there are 6,800 Women’s Institutes across the UK – But they started in 1917. There are 1,400 McDonald’s restaurants, and 2,000 Greggs in the UK. We don’t see why there shouldn’t be more Sheds than Greggs or McDonalds. Based on the data from Australia, we could have 2,600 Sheds. So, our guess is that we will have between 2,500 and 7,000 Sheds at some stage.

Nearly all Men’s Sheds are independent and manage their own finances. Most are self-sustaining financially, based on members contributions, sales of goods they make or repair, and small donations from individuals for work undertaken. A very few Sheds are dependent on grant income to continue, but many Sheds will receive grant income to support specific activities or developments. The biggest cost is rent, but some landlords provide free rent or a token amount.

It is important to remember that Men’s Sheds do NOT undertake personal care nor perform the role of carer. However, Shedders do care about each other and depend on each other to share problems and to listen. “We CARE but are not CARERS”. If an individual requires a support worker or carer, they should always accompany them to the Shed and are responsible for them while they are there. Whilst Shedders are mostly volunteers and beneficiaries of their Shed, they are not health professionals. See the Wellbeing section. In some cases Sheds have capacity to manage more complex needs – but being open with the Shed is a must.

Specific attendance figures for Men’s Sheds in the UK every week are not readily available. Attendance numbers can vary widely depending on the size and popularity of individual Sheds. Men’s Sheds operate at the local level, and attendance figures may be specific to each shed. An estimate based on the average number of members per Shed and the number of Sheds open today would indicate that about 33,000 Shedders benefit from attending Men’s Sheds. This number grows exponentially when you consider the families and communities that Men’s Sheds support.

During the 1990s a small number of organisations in Australia began to appear that were focused on shed-based activity mainly or solely for men in a community setting. However, there is no evidence of Men’s Sheds in community settings by that name in newspaper articles until the late 1990s. In the UK, Cheshire was the site of the earliest ‘on the ground’ Men’s Shed. ‘Men in Sheds’ opened in Hartford (just west of Chester) two days a week in mid-2009. This was independently of and just preceding the Age Concern Men in Sheds initiative launched the same year.

You can get involved by visiting or joining your local Men’s Shed (click on find a shed). You could start a Men’s Shed if there isn’t one locally. You may like to volunteer to help your local Men’s Shed. There is often a need for skills such as legal, insurance, finance, IT, grant application, musical, secretarial, social media, video or film making, audio recording as well as all the craft skills. They may also be looking for Trustees, Workshop managers, or other people to help run and administer the Men’s Shed.

Men’s Sheds are called as such because they were originally established with a primary focus on providing a communal space for men. The term “Men’s Shed” reflects the idea of a physical workshop or communal area where men could gather, engage in activities, share skills, and build social connections. These spaces were designed to address social isolation, promote mental well-being, and provide an environment where men could pursue hobbies, learn new skills, and collaborate on projects. While the name may emphasise the historical focus on men, some Men’s Sheds today are becoming more inclusive, recognising the value of welcoming individuals of all genders. UKMSA continue with the term Men’s Sheds to emphasise the need for spaces for men in supporting positive wellbeing. Gender specific interventions have long been acknowledged as essential in supporting communities particularly when we consider domestic violence and suicide rates amongst men as two examples. Using ‘Men’ in the title also allows for a conversation around men’s heath and provides some men with an easier transition to engaging with a community group. We also advocate men only sessions, and indeed women only session where appropriate as part of a Shed delivering mixed sessions – although this is all at the discretion of a Shed, its capacity and own objectives.

Men’s Sheds are community spaces that aim to be inclusive and welcoming to men of various backgrounds and experiences. Many Sheds also accept Women members. While specific policies may vary from one Men’s Shed to another, the general idea is to create an environment where men can come together for socialisation, skill-sharing, and mutual support. Contact your local Men’s Shed for details. Many Sheds will have a code of conduct to protect their members. If a Shed has a waiting list why not contact UKMSA and we will help you set up a new Shed.

Most Men’s Sheds welcome visitors, and don’t charge for a visit, even if you just want to see what happens before joining. Best is to contact the Shed (Use Find-a-Shed) and ask them. If you take a pack of biscuits or a box of tea bags, you will be extremely well received (did we mention biscuits?).

This will vary from Shed to Shed. Best is to contact the Shed (Use Find-a-Shed) or review their website. Some Sheds open just one day per week, some open for 5 or more days per week. They are more likely to be open during the day (rather than the evening; although more Sheds are realising the impact of opening on evenings – capacity can be an issue).

This may differ from Shed to Shed. Find your nearest one using our Find a Shed tool and click the Sheds to find contact details. Give them a call and arrange a visit. If you get stuck, call us on 0300 772 9626.

It depends on the Shed, but because of the nature of the activities, you’ll usually need to be at least 18 (but some youth Sheds exist).

No, but many of the men that attend them are retired. This is because a life after employment can be difficult and men often feel that they’ve lost their sense of purpose and place in the world. They can miss the routine and camaraderie between colleagues that often comes with working life. This can lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation which can be dangerous for their health and wellbeing. However, recognising that age isn’t the only factor in loneliness and isolation, and that there is more to Men’s Sheds, for example sharing skills, informal learning and enjoyment. Some Sheds have younger members. Due to how they were established, some Sheds have minimum ages – but it is always worth a conversation – and if you are too young – let’s look at working with you setting up a younger Shed..

There are many Men’s Sheds in the UK with female members, but most Men’s Sheds exist for the benefits they bring to men’s health and wellbeing. Therefore, it’s down to each individual Shed whether they invite women, or have separate days for women to join in. One of the best things about Men’s Sheds is they facilitate conversation about subjects that men might usually find difficult to talk about. Some men find it easier to open up when it’s just men, but that’s not always the case. It is also important to recognise that men may be victims of some form of domestic abuse and mixed sessions may preclude some men from participating in a Shed, in the same way it might women. We advocate gender specific sessions as part of the make up of Sheds.

We don’t have precise figures on this currently. Based on samples we estimate that between 30% and 40% of Men’s Shed have women as part of the Shed. A significantly larger percentage of Men’s Shed have constitutions which states they are open for “Men and Women”, and many more that are open to “Not Exclusively Men”, or “Particularly but not exclusively Men”. Typically, as Sheds evolve over time they become more inclusive. Women are our greatest advocates.

No. Men’s Sheds are for all men with ‘time on their hands’. Whether it’s because your life has changed, you have a spare hour or are onshore for a few weeks etc. You can go to the Shed just to chat and have a cuppa, or play board games, or read or use a computer. Arts & Crafts are also popular. The range of activities is as broad as the members’ interests. If you want to learn a new skill or repair something you can usually find another Shedder to help you or give you advice.

Where a Men’s Shed does not hold men only or women only sessions, transgender has no bearing on participation in the Shed. Where there are gender specific sessions, such as male only and/or women only sessions a transgender man should be allowed to participate in men only sessions and transgender women should be allowed to participate in women only sessions.

Most Sheds are not open to under 18 year olds, although there are some Sheds specifically for younger attendees. These are run with organisers subject to the Sheds Safeguarding policy. Most Sheds will allow under 18s to visit, accompanied by an adult.

Shedders will help if another member wants to know something. You can be part of a team to share your knowledge or learn from others.

It’s worth checking with the Men’s Shed you are visiting (Use Find-a-Shed). Most will advise that you don’t need to bring any equipment or materials, but it’s best to wear something you don’t mind getting a bit mucky. Some Sheds will have a guide to appropriate clothing, especially if you are considering using power tools. Footwear should typically be substantial. Check with the Shed if the run all day sessions, Should you take a packed lunch with if you’re staying all day. Most Sheds have area where you can make hot drinks.

This will vary from Shed to Shed. (Use Find-a-Shed) We suggest you contact them, or review their website. Increasingly, membership for Men’s Sheds is growing, and some facilities have had to (reluctantly) close membership for the moment, because of the size of their facilities.

This will vary from Shed to Shed. We suggest you contact them (Use Find-a-Shed), or review their website. We have surveyed Sheds in the past, and most Sheds have some kind of annual membership, and then a session fee. Some Sheds will charge a higher annual fee, with no session charges. The average annual membership was assessed as £25 (but can vary from zero to £100), with session fees from nothing to £5. (Some Sheds will ask to pay what you can). Most Sheds welcome visitors free of charge to enable people to acquaint themselves with the Shed.

You don’t need any previous experience at all. There will be a member of the Shed to show you around the Shed and introduce you to machinery, plus other participants are willing to share their skills and knowledge. No Shedder will typically be able to operate machine tools without first receiving training and accreditation from a competent Shedder.

Women are allowed in Men’s Sheds where the members of that Shed feel they should or the Shed is set up to include women. Men’s Sheds are evolving to become more inclusive where it helps their members and the communities they serve. Originally established as spaces for men to connect, share skills, and tackle social isolation, some Sheds now recognise the importance of inclusivity and welcome women. The shift acknowledges that women may also benefit from the camaraderie, skills development, and sense of purpose that Men’s Sheds offer. As a result, some sheds have established sessions to accommodate both men and women, fostering a diverse and supportive community. UKMSA advocate gender specific sessions – but this is all at the discretion of a Shed.

There is no national programme regarding providing lifts to the Shed, but many Sheds do operate informal lift sharing schemes. Lift sharing offers cost savings, reduced carbon emissions, and alleviates traffic congestion. Shedders share rides, promoting sustainability, social connections, and a more efficient use of vehicles, contributing to a greener and more economical transportation system. Contact the Shed in question to see what arrangements they may make regarding transportation to the Shed.