Mens Shed - A Community Development Project
A Community Development Project
“Men Don’t Talk Face To Face, They Talk Shoulder To Shoulder.” Mick Osborne
Athy CDP Worker
Introduction:
“I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work the more I live.”
George Bernard Shaw Nobel Prize Winner
A Men’s Shed, in the Community Development sense, is basically an updated version of the shed in the backyard. It was initially inspired by the observations that while women tend to congregate purposefully over a cup of tea for a chat to network and solve not only their most intimate personal problems, but also the problems of the world, men veer more towards gathering in the shed over manly DIY activities, and may or may not venture into a conversation in passing about what is actually on their minds. Men’s Sheds are essentially an interactive social club for all men over the age of 16, where the general idea is to address a genuine need and gap within the local community. To date, research suggests that they are attracting a lot of positive attention and responses from their targeted community members. (www.mensshed.org)
For the purposes of this research project, the author will examine the Athy Men’s Shed, a hugely popular local community development project. The reason Athy Men’s Shed was chosen as the focus of this project is because in the short time since it has been established, it has become one of the most successful local community development projects in Athy, going from strength to strength and evolving into a hugely popular resource.
Aims & Objectives
The aim of this research project is to take a brief look at the origins of Men’s Sheds. It will then go on to investigate the Athy Men’s Shed and ascertain why and how it came about, who it is aimed at and what
“Men Don’t Talk Face To Face, They Talk Shoulder To Shoulder.” Mick Osborne
Athy CDP Worker
Introduction:
“I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work the more I live.”
George Bernard Shaw Nobel Prize Winner
A Men’s Shed, in the Community Development sense, is basically an updated version of the shed in the backyard. It was initially inspired by the observations that while women tend to congregate purposefully over a cup of tea for a chat to network and solve not only their most intimate personal problems, but also the problems of the world, men veer more towards gathering in the shed over manly DIY activities, and may or may not venture into a conversation in passing about what is actually on their minds. Men’s Sheds are essentially an interactive social club for all men over the age of 16, where the general idea is to address a genuine need and gap within the local community. To date, research suggests that they are attracting a lot of positive attention and responses from their targeted community members. (www.mensshed.org)
For the purposes of this research project, the author will examine the Athy Men’s Shed, a hugely popular local community development project. The reason Athy Men’s Shed was chosen as the focus of this project is because in the short time since it has been established, it has become one of the most successful local community development projects in Athy, going from strength to strength and evolving into a hugely popular resource.
Aims & Objectives
The aim of this research project is to take a brief look at the origins of Men’s Sheds. It will then go on to investigate the Athy Men’s Shed and ascertain why and how it came about, who it is aimed at and what
References: CM5: Introduction to Programmes, Community Studies, Handout 3, Certificate in Community Development and Leadership Course, NUIM 2012, Michael Kenny Draft: Standards for Quality Community Work – A Statement of Values and Principles by the Community Workers Co-Operative Community Development in Ireland – The Role of Community Development in tackling poverty. http://www.cebsd.org/social_14.htm A List of Research That Informs Men’s Shed Based Practice, November 2011 Draft. Compiled by Barry Golding, University of Ballarat, Australia, with assistance from Anthony Brown, University of Western Sydney. Ref: http://www.mensshed.org/SiteFiles/mensshed2011org/ShedResearchRefs.pdf Athy Community Men’s Shed, Co. Kildare. www.athymensshed.org/about-us.html http://www.countykildarelp.ie www.athymensshed.weebly.com www.facebook.com/athymensshed