Brief overview of SHEDNET social enterprise activities 2013 - 20220

1. SHEDNET
SHEDNET (Shed Network) is a pro-active support
organisation which will encourage and sustain the
growth of MEN SHEDS across Heads of the Valley
regions
INITIALLY FUNDED BY
THE FAIRWOOD TRUST
“Communities have the 'assets’
BUT
support is needed”

2. WHAT’S THE PROBLEM?
AN AGEING POPULATION
WITH INCREASING
LONELINESS AND ISOLATION
WHICH CAN HAVE A
DETRIMENTAL EFFECT
ON
PEOPLE’S HEALTH AND WELL-
BEING

3. GROWING PROBLEMS IN MEN’S
HEALTH
 Isolation, loneliness and depression are now looming as major
men’s health issues with the health impact equivalent to smoking 15
cigarettes per day
 1.2 million people in the UK are chronically lonely (The UK has been
classed as the loneliness country in Europe)
 Research shows the number of men aged over 64 living by
themselves is predicted to soar by 65 per cent by 2030
 People in Cwm Taf overall have the poorest health in Wales.
There is a clear link between how healthy you are and where you
live.
If nothing changes, a male born in the richest part of RCT in 2033
will live healthily for 20 years longer than a male born in the poorest
part.
Extract taken from RCT Single Integrated Plan 2013

4. EXISTING SOLUTIONS
- BEFRIENDING SERVICE
- COMMUNITY HUBS
- COMMUNITY TRANSPORT
AND
MEN SHEDS

5. WHAT ARE MEN SHEDS?
A Men’s Shed is a place where all men, regardless
of age, background, or ability can:
meet other men, socialise, get involved in activities and projects
and have fun
learn new skills through doing stuff together
help out in their communities
talk about things that are important to them
improve their own wellbeing by keeping physically, mentally and
socially active.

6. GROWTH OF MEN SHEDS TO 2013
The Men’s Sheds movement started in
Australia where there are 900 Men Sheds
while in the UK :
Ireland 400 plus
England 432 plus
Scotland 60 plus
Around 20 MEN SHEDS existed in Wales but there were
NONE in Heads Of The Valley Regions of Merthyr Tydfil;
Rhondda Cynon Taf; Caerphily; Bleanau Gwent and Torfaen
So SHEDNET was established to address this

7. SHEDNET: HOW DID IT ALL START?
IT STARTED WITH:
PORTH
MEN AND WOMEN
SHEDS

8. PORTH MEN SHED – WHAT DO THEY DO?

9. PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES

10. PORTH WOMEN SHED

11. SUCCESS BREEDS SUCCESS !
RCT CBC Love Where You Live Awards
Most Innovative Environmental Award
Winner

12. CRYSTAL TROPHY AWARD FINALIST
2016

13. OUR SHEDS BY 2016 - DO THEY WORK?
188 People engaged in SHEDS
4 Jobs created
7 Volunteers
2 Work placements offered
12 Shedders gaining employment
188 People feeling better in some
way

14. OUR SHEDS – DO THEY WORK?
“a middle-aged male amputee who had lost
focus due to his injury is now learning a new
skill in woodwork and taking on the role of
‘Shed Leader”
“2 older men who have recently undergone
hip replacements and thinking that their
sporting days were over taking up a new
sport in terms of golf.”
“an unemployed middle-aged lady who as a
volunteer helped establish the Women’s
Shed (the first in the UK) gaining employment
within the organisation as the Shed
Supervisor”

15. SHEDNET 2016 - 2020
The organisation set the goal of supporting 3 new
Men Sheds per year over the 5 year period.
Men Sheds are low cost, self-managed, sustainable
community groups so SHEDNET uses personal
development and community development
principles and processes to support Men Shed
development
SERVICES include with:
 start-up and with regulatory compliance
 with property identification & management
 Training; Coaching; Mentoring
 Finance a Funding
 Marketing & Engagement

16. SHEDNET 2016 - 2020
Over this period while supporting the development of Men
Sheds we found that many other groups are at risk of
suffering from the detrimental effects of loneliness and
isolation including:
 Women
 Carers
 Homeless
 Unemployed
 Young people
 Veterans …… and many more
- We now support all at risk groups to set up a SHED
that meets their needs using the model of a Men’s
Shed

17. TAFF VALE PRIMARY CARE PROJECT
Partnership with this Primary Care Cluster over a 3 year period
which helped to support the creation and development of 6
groups
 Pontypridd Walking Rugby: Walking Rugby group with 44 players
 Beddau and Tynant Community Library: Indoor Bowling group with
12 players
 Pontypridd Canal Group: Heritage Conservation group with 12
members
 Café 50: Walking Rugby and other activities for mainly men with 36
members
 GrowforIt: New Community Gardening Group
 Dewi Sant Men Shed: New Community Gardening Group

18. WE HAVE ALSO MANAGED 2 MEN SHED
FACILITIES OF OUR OWN OVER THE PERIOD
THE SHED Community Hub: closed in 2018
THE SHED Community Garden
AND ……………….

19. THE ONLINE SHED
In 2020 all our Sheds were forced to close
due to COVID-19
Our response was to create the highly
innovative ONLINE SHED providing a
digital response to engagement with our
SHEDDERS through COVID-19
www.medsheddigital.com