Frequently asked

Questions (FAQs)

We hope so – You can check by visiting the UKMSA Find-a-Shed page and entering the postcode or the town or village name. (You can access this page by entering findashed to most search engines) If there isn’t one nearby, why not start one. We’re here to help!

Start one! – The UK Men’s Sheds Association can help.

Men’s Sheds are well represented across the UK, with substantial numbers in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. There are many Men’s Sheds on the islands in the UK such as the Isles of Scilly, the Isle of Wight, the Orkneys & Shetlands and on the Channel Islands and Isle of Man. There are also a certain number of Regional Shed Networks.

Go to the Start a Shed page click on the yellow box marked REGISTER SHED, and complete the form – Addition to the Map is free, and just requires you to check the box “Include Shed on Find A Shed map?:”

We’re not sure, but this trend is not restricted to Men’s Sheds – Rural communities often have a stronger sense of community and social cohesion. In smaller towns and rural areas, individuals may be more familiar with their neighbours, fostering a supportive environment conducive to the establishment of community spaces like Men’s Sheds. There are other factors including Cultural and demographic variations such as higher population turnover in cities, availability of affordable space and reduced Community cohesion in urban areas. It could also be that Urban environments can be associated with higher stress levels and a faster pace of life. Men’s Sheds, with their focus on relaxation, community, and shared activities, may be more attractive to individuals in rural areas.

Please have a look at our Find a Shed page, to check where your nearest Men’s Shed is located. Any Sheds that are not yet open are listed as in development. If this is one of your nearest Sheds please contact them to offer your help and encouragement. If you have no Men’s Shed in your area, you could consider starting one yourself – See our Starting a Shed guide. The UKMSA don’t run Men’s Sheds, they are nearly all completely independent. The UKMSA is a support body for Men’s Sheds across the UK, enabling information sharing, communication and co-operation between Men’s Sheds.

Probably the toughest challenge for a Men’s shed is finding premises. This can be frustrating, but it is important to continue meeting (in a pub or café) whilst searching for premises. Starting a Men’s Shed involves several other considerations, and the challenges can vary based on local needs and circumstances. Forming a committed steering group, ensuring sufficient attendance, connecting with the community, embedding a wide health & safety culture amongst attedees and addressing funding are key challenges. Active collaboration and adaptability are crucial for success. Additionally, understanding that there is no “typical Shed” and that each community’s context differs significantly is essential. These unique challenges require flexibility, resilience, and a strong sense of community connection. But remember not all Sheds need a premises and can meet in a cafe or pub and work across projects in their community – the Shed is the people!

This varies dramatically – However, we think, the two smallest communities in the UK with Sheds are two islands in Orkney, Sanday (pop 500) and Westray (pop 600), both Sheds opening in 2023. UKMSA is committed to support a Shed in every community that wants one.

We support all Sheds, but in particular we can help you on your way to starting your own Shed. There are extensive guides in our website, we can help by putting you in touch with our local Ambassadors, local Sheds nearby and Regional Networks. Most successful Men’s Sheds have started by a small group of people forming around the idea and then refining it to suit local need, enthusiasms, ideas about who it will be for, how it will be organised and funded, how it will connect with the local community, and much else. There is no ‘typical Shed’

More general guidance on setting up an organisation is also often available locally through voluntary sector support organisations and sometimes from community development staff provided in local or county councils. Other resources are available, such as the National Council for Voluntary Organisation’s (NCVO) knowledge bank. NCVO membership is free for small organisations.

This is really a type of – How long is a piece of string – question. We know of one Men’s Shed that was as small as 4m x 5m (12 x 16ft) and successfully catered for six people, but more is better especially when considering storage of raw material and work-in-progress. Three Sheds that built their own sheds were 9m x 6m, 6m x 3.6m and 15m x 6m. respectively These are described in a UKMSA Podcast. But there are quite a few Sheds that don’t yet have premises, but still meet regularly in Pubs or Cafes. Don’t ignore smaller premises to get started, the premises will generate momentum, and may help you find large premises later. Don’t aim to move straight in to your “Forever Shed” from day 1.

Several Men’s Sheds have experienced burglaries and arson attacks, resulting in stolen tools and heating oil. Since most Sheds are open for only a few days a week, they are often left unoccupied and vulnerable. While it would be ideal for Shed premises to be secure by design, many are situated in adapted buildings, making this challenging. If your Shed is in an adapted premises, it would be beneficial to conduct a security check to identify vulnerable areas, potential entry points for trespassers, and opportunities for enhanced security. UKMSA also partners with Smartwater who provide discounts to support Sheds.

People are very generous, and many tools are donated. Some Shedders donate (or loan) their machine tools to their Shed. Many Men’s Shed buy some tools, helped by membership of the UKMSA, where they can receive sizeable discounts from tool suppliers including from Axminster Tools, MetalCraft, Triton Tools & Lumberjack Tools.

One of the key steps to setting up a Shed, is finding somewhere to meet and make friendships, use, and store tools and resources, and make numerous cups of tea! But there are quite a few Sheds that don’t yet have premises, and still meet regularly in Pubs or Cafes. Whilst Shed premises are important, Sheds are primarily about People not Premises. Here are some other options to think about – Hiring or using a room or someone’s garage, leasing an existing building or piece of land, renting a commercial or private building, buying a property, building your own Shed, or instal a shipping container, or just meet somewhere as a group socially while developing the Shed’s future home.

It’s important to remember that all members of your Shed are equal but every Shed needs leadership to help with the smooth running of your Shed. In the first instance a committee, usually made up of key members with useful skills and knowledge, are appointed from the membership. A typical committee will consist of a Chair, Treasurer and Secretary (as a minimum) Other roles could be assigned to members to support the running of the Shed. These roles should focus on membership, maintenance, publicity, health and safety, social events, health and welfare/wellbeing. Although these may or may not be committee members, there is a responsibility for some of those appointed, to be skilled people.

Several UK banks offer community or voluntary group bank accounts with free banking options. As offerings can change, it’s recommended to check with the specific banks for the most up-to-date information. Banks that offer free community banking include NatWest, Lloyds Bank, Santander, HSBC, Co-operative Bank, Barclays, and the Metro Bank. However, some of these banks do not always offer free banking to community groups from time to time. It is sometimes more successful if a member of the Shed approaches their own Bank to request a free Community account. When considering a bank for a community account, it’s essential to inquire about the specific terms and conditions of the free banking offer, as well as any fees that may apply after the initial period. The whole banking landscape is changing and the best source of advice and experience is from existing Sheds.

The running cost of the average volunteer-led Shed is often the premises costs plus £2-£4,000 a year. Some Sheds with a ‘peppercorn rent’ may find member contributions can cover all their running costs. Where there are significant recurring expenses, most Sheds find that a combination of member subscriptions, product sales, and local grants or donations is the way to cover the bills. See more details here.

The UKMSA is a registered charity that supports, facilitates and inspires Sheds, Shedders (the people who attend the Sheds), their supporters and the communities the Sheds serve across the UK to benefit health and wellbeing nationally. Our vision is for more happy and helathy men (and women) and we do this my supporting the growth and health of Sheds and promoting them. The individual Sheds across the UK are generally autonomous groups and self-determine their direction under common characteristics of Connecting, Creating and Conversing. More information on the UKMSA is available. The UKMSA does not run or manage any of the individual Men’s Sheds across the Country.

Yes – The UKMSA is registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation(CIO) The UKMSA was established as a CIO on 25 June 2015 (It was originally formally launched as an Unincorporated Charity in March 2013, although the UKMSA website went live in April 2011) . The CIO Charity registered number is 1162409. See full details of the UKMSA on the Charities Commission website. UKMSA was the first national organisation for Sheds in the UK.

There are 11 Trustees of the UK Men’s Sheds Association currently (2024). A well balanced team, five are long term members from Men’s Sheds, with others from the media, Government, Accountancy and other Charitable organisations such as the Royal Voluntary Service. All Countries in the UK are represented on the board of Trustees. The make up of Trustees will vary upon the needs of the organisation and those willing to make a difference to the charity. We have a healthy mix of people with corporate and third sector experience.

The Trustees delegate responsibilty for the day to day running of the charity to the Chief Executive Officer and the team of staff to support new and existing Sheds. Currently, the UKMSA has ten staff made up of a mixture of part time and full time staff . The UKMSA is supported by c40 volunteer Shed Ambassadors plus hundreds of Shed Leaders and Supervisors. See details of the UKMSA Team.

The UKMSA is a national organisation with remote staff and volunteers across the country. We don’t have an office anywhere but if you need to write to us, you can do so to our virtual office. Our address is UK Men’s Sheds Association, 49 Station Road, Polegate, East Sussex, BN26 6EA. You can also call, email or use our contact form to send us a message. Our team are normally available between 9am and 2.30pm, Monday to Friday. Phone: 0300 772 9626, or Email: admin@ukmsa.org.uk. Email is by far the easiest and most efficient way of contacting us.

The UKMSA has active Social Media Channels including a Facebook page, a Facebook Group, X (Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Podcasts. @UKMensSheds

Yes – The UKMSA newsletter is called “Shoulder to shoulder”, issued monthly, towards the end of every month, is free and can be subscribed to via the “Subscribe to our newsletter” form at the bottom of every page on the UKMSA website. View the archive of newsletters.

The Charter for Wellbeing in Craft and DIY is an expression of commitment to support the wellbeing of everyone involved in craft and DIY. This commitment is to Makers, Crafters, Artisans, DIYers, Bodgers, Doer-uppers, as well as the Shedders, Engineers, Manufacturers, Designers, Retailers, Publishers, Hauliers and to those who don’t yet know their lives could be transformed by becoming involved in Craft or DIY. The signatories pledge to:

Connect and look out for each other’s health and overall wellbeing

Create positive and safe environments for everyone
There is no charge for joining the Charter and it is essentially a commitment to promote wellbeing

Thanks for considering a donation to the UKMSA. Visit our Donate Now page, where you can enter amounts for a one-off or monthly donation. Your support will make a difference to transforming and saving lives and impact your community for the better.

Complete the form at the bottom of the “Start a Shed” page – Membership costs £30.00 per year, paid automatically as a recurring annual payment. Membership supports the growth of Men’s Sheds across the UK, champions the cause and has financial benefits for Sheds through the discounts available.

Membership costs £30.00 per year, paid automatically as a recurring annual payment. Complete the form at the bottom of the “Start a Shed” page, where you can pay via credit card or paypal.

There are some regional Shed Networks across the UK. These networks are a group of Sheds located in a geographical area of their own definition that connect and support each other. Regional Shed Networks champion partnership and communication amongst Sheds and can be a great way to amplify the voice of local Sheds as a collective. Each Regional Shed Network operates differently. Most have a chairperson and hold regular virtual or face-to-face meetings where Sheds can come together to share ideas and information.

Our Volunteer Ambassador programme champions grass-roots development and teams up experienced Shed leaders with like-minded peers who want to start Men’s Sheds in their own areas.

UKMSA Members can use the “Member of the UK Men’s Sheds Association” logo on their websites and documents. These logos are available to members. The Charity Registration number for the UKMSA should not be used on any Shed documents or websites. Sheds should use their own number.

We receive a lot of queries regarding this – We suggest that you review the “Wall of Wellbeing” which covers many of the Health & Wellbeing matters that are important to Men’s Sheds to see if your research project aligns. If they do, please contact us with full details about yourself, your organisation, where you are based, the research subject, timescales, and some details of how you want to engage with Men’s Sheds. Thanks for your interest in Men’s Sheds.

We do not have any specific areas on the UK Men’s Sheds Association Website for links, unless the organisation and the UKMSA agree to a level of partnership. We feature links to NHS or UK based not for profit organisations that give expert information or sources of support on Health & Wellbeing which are detailed on our “Wall of Wellbeing”. Please contact us if you have a specific suggestion for this. Thanks for your interest in Men’s Sheds.

The UKMSA has provided speakers or paticipants for a range of videos and TV programmes. We would need to know the date/time and logistics for the recording or live broadcast. We would need some background on you and your organisation. We would like to know the title of the video/programme, who else may be taking part, what areas you would like us to cover, and who are the other speakers (if this is relevant). If this is to be part of a series of your videos or programmes, please let us know the link to your previous videos. Thanks for your interest in Men’s Sheds.

We receive a lot of queries regarding this – We suggest that you review the “Wall of Wellbeing” which covers many of the Health & Wellbeing matters that are important to Men’s Sheds to see if your research project aligns. If they do, please contact us with full details about yourself, your organisation, where you are based, the research subject, timescales, and some details of how you want to engage with Men’s Sheds. Thanks for your interest in Men’s Sheds.

The UKMSA has provided a range of speakers for a range of Podcasts. We would need to know the date/time and logistics for the recording, and some background on you and your organisation. We would like to know the title of the podcast, who else may be attending, what areas you would like us to cover, and who are the other speakers (if this is relevant). If this is to be part of a series of your Podcasts, please let us know the link to your previous Podcasts. Thanks for your interest in Men’s Sheds.

The UKMSA receive many requests to provide speakers for online or face-to-face events. We are able to fulfil many of them. We need to know the date and time and venue for the event. We would like to know the title of the event, who may be attending, what areas you would like us to cover, and who are the other speakers (if relevant). Please let us know the size and make up expected for the audience. We don’t often charge for Speakers for online events, but always welcome donations. If this is a chargeable event for the audience, we may request a donation. If this is a face-to-face attendance for our Speaker, we may ask for travel expenses. Thanks for your interest in Men’s Sheds.

We occasionally accept advertisements to be included in our newsletter Shoulder-to-Shoulder. This is published in the last week of every month, is distributed via email, and on the website, gathering about 10,000 views per month. We do not accept political advertisements, and in general terms only advertisements aligned with UKMSA messages about the Men’s Shed movement. The content of the advertisement should be useful and interesting to the average Men’s Shed and their Shedders. The cost of the advertisement is £100 for a maximum of one A4 page, for insertion in one edition.

Many Men’s Sheds undertake a wide range of projects for their local communities. We suggest that you use our Find a Shed page, to get contact details for the Men’s Shed nearest to you, and then contact them to see if they can help.