Lonely, at a loose end? Join the shed gang
THERE is much in the media about the psychological harm caused by loneliness, which itself is caused by many factors, notably retirement, unemployment and bereavement. The Mail highlighted the harmful effect of retirement on men, not only on their health, but also on their wives and partners. There are, undoubtedly, various solutions to the problem and all require the introduction of a new interest to fill the void created by retirement or the loss of employment. One specific solution is the creation of Men’s Sheds, which many people may not know about. Men’s Sheds are friendly workshops where men can gather and work together, share tools and resources and interact socially with others in a similar position. The emphasis is on friendliness and inclusion, and it’s meant to appeal to men of all ages. Each shed is autonomous and self-sufficient, as all the members have to do is raise enough money to pay the overheads. The Men’s Sheds initiative started in Australia in 1996 as a result of the disappearance of older men from community life. When a man retires from work, for example, he loses a significant social network and as a consequence can experience poor health and lower life expectancy. To date, about 2,000 sheds have been formed in Australia, 200 in Ireland, 15 in England and six in Wales. The Scottish Men’s Sheds Association also launches next month and one is up and running at Westhill, in Aberdeen. New members with special skills and the time to spare are always welcome to come to our Swansea group and work on projects of their own choosing, or to offer new ideas, even non-practical ones, to help the group to prosper and grow.
JOHN O’BRIEN, Sketty, Swansea.