The Men’s Shed idea and momentum started in Australia and has now spread worldwide. Costessey is set to introduce its own version of the movement, promoting social connections, skill-sharing and community projects. 

Men’s Sheds are similar to garden sheds – a place to pursue practical interests at leisure, to practice skills, and enjoy making and mending. The difference is that garden sheds and their activities are often solitary in nature while Men’s Sheds are the opposite. They’re about social connections and friendship building, sharing skills and knowledge, and of course a lot of laughter. Sheds are whatever the members (or Shedders as we call them) want them to be. Although labelled sheds, they often aren’t sheds at all. They can be empty offices, portable cabins, warehouses, garages, and in at least one case, a disused mortuary. Some Sheds are purpose-built workshops, but they rarely start out that way. Many don’t have premises at all in the beginning. Instead these form a group that meets regularly for the social connection, company and camaraderie until they can find somewhere to kit out with tools. 

Activities in Sheds vary greatly, but you can usually find woodworking, metalworking, repairing and restoring, electronics, model buildings or even car building in a typical Shed. Sheds typically attract older men, but many have younger members and women too. Whatever the activity, the essence of a Shed is not a building, but the connections and relationships between its members. Many Sheds get involved in community projects too – restoring village features, helping maintain parks and green spaces, and building things for schools, libraries and individuals in need.

What is happening with Costessey and District’s Community Shed (CDCS), where it will be, when it will open and how you can join in will be covered in the June/July issue of Handy Magazine.

If you want to register your interest and are thinking of joining the CDCS as a member please email costesseycommunityshed@gmail.com or call our membership secretary Andy Mc Robbie on 07738 427476