Sheds for Life is an exciting new initiative from the Irish Men’s Sheds Association, with the aim of supporting the physical and mental health and wellbeing of its members.

Men’s participation in sheds is a secondary indicator of their health and wellbeing as it leads to a reduction in a sense of isolation, an increase in social support, improved access to services and improved understanding of mental and physical health and wellbeing.

Sheds for Life will provide a positive and holistic approach to men’s health that embraces and builds on the strengths of the existing, safe, health-enhancing and supportive environment of the Men’s Shed. The Sheds for Life initiative will work to promote men’s health by working in partnership with statutory, voluntary and community organisations as well as the members themselves. This will strengthen the men’s knowledge, awareness and behaviours towards health.

Sheds for Life seeks to provide programmes, resources and signposting for members of Men’s Sheds on health issues that matter most to them.

Sheds for Life partners are the Irish Heart Foundation, Diabetes Ireland, Get Ireland Walking, Seil Blue Ireland and Hidden Hearing. For more information, please contact the IMSA office on 01-891 6150.

Living well, Being well Diabetes

Programme for Men’s Sheds

Diabetes Ireland is excited to be working with Men’s Sheds. This month they are visiting Men’s Sheds in Co Westmeath.

Well done to all the Men’s Sheds members from Moate Men’s Shed and Castlepollard Men’s Shed who took part in Diabetes Ireland’s Living Well, Being Well diabetes programme.

Diabetes Ireland has also visited Kilbeggan and Mullingar Men’s Sheds. Please contact the IMSA office for more details.

Cardonagh Men’s Shed

The Men’s Shed in Carndonagh, Co Donegal, is making a horse trap. The wheels were restored and on Saturday 7 January the members of the shed re-hooped the cart. This was done by heating the hoops and putting them on and cooling them down.

Le Chéile Mallow Men’s Shed

Le Chéile Mallow Men’s Shed made 30 bat boxes and 10 bird boxes, which are part of a nature programme involving children from schools in the Doneraile area.

The relevant boxes will be put in place after the children and teachers of Canon Shetland NS have been explained the reasoning behind the making and placing of these “homes” in the right places for the benefit of the bats and the different birds.

Le Chéile Mallow Men’s Shed is delighted to be part of this initiative and looks forward to being able to be of assistance to groups such as those mentioned, or any group working to improve the community in which they are all a part of.

Dungarvan Men’s Shed

Joe O’Reilly and Aidan McCarthy are planning and designing tables for public areas. These tables will be used during the next West Waterford Festival of Food. This is another project being undertaken by the shed and no doubt the tables will enhance the experience of Dungarvan for both locals and visitors. The tables are being made from old pallets, so another recycling product is created by shed members. Well done Joe and Aidan.