Our Background

Looe Shedders is inspired by the "Men’s Sheds" movement that originated in Australia around 25 years ago and has since become a global phenomenon with thousands of "Sheds" worldwide. These community spaces are designed for meetings, learning, and socializing, and also offer workshops where individuals can make new friends, develop new skills, and work on projects that benefit the entire community. As of September 2023, there were 1,130 Men’s Sheds in the UK, with approximately 30,000 people attending a shed each week. Looe Shedders held our first meeting in February 2021 and quickly registered as a Community Interest Company (CIC). On June 24th, 2024, we transitioned to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) with charity number 1208819.

Our Objectives

Our mission is to combat loneliness and isolation by providing a welcoming community space where individuals can forge new friendships and find new purpose in life. We engage in various activities, from crafting items to undertaking projects for local organizations like schools and care homes. We are also committed to environmental sustainability, using recycled materials for our projects whenever possible and repairing items that might otherwise be discarded.

Member of UK Men’s Sheds

Association

Looe Shedders is a member of the Association. See “The Need” for the Association’s evidence on Men’s Sheds, to the UK Parliament.

Early Obstacles We Overcame

Our journey began just as the Covid pandemic forced us to switch to virtual Zoom meetings. Once in- person meetings resumed, the Parish Church Council (PCC) generously offered us the opportunity to build our own premises on the "Donkey Field" next to St. Martin's Community Hall at a peppercorn rent. We also started meeting in the Hall and, in return, began assisting with its maintenance and the upkeep of its gardens. As word spread about our existence, our membership grew, and we started receiving donations of tools and equipment from the local community. This led to storage challenges, which we addressed by purchasing two storage units (Chacons) and obtaining permission to place them in the hall car park. Unfortunately the Donkey Field arrangement requires the approval of Cornwall Diocese, which will reputedly take many years, which leaves us still without a proper home.

Our Current Situation

Membership

We currently have 61 registered members and 150 Facebook followers.

Member Benefits

Being a Shedder has a significant impact on our members mental well-being through social connections and shared activities. They benefit from: • Increased self-esteem and purpose • Enhanced emotional resilience • Skill development through creative projects • A positive sense of identity and belonging • Improved overall life satisfaction and our supportive community in Looe plays a substantial role in these positive outcomes.

Membership Fees

Members currently pay £2 per session or £36 per annum, which includes tea/coffee and biscuits. In cases of known financial hardship, the fee may be waived. Our criteria for joining require members to be over 18 years old. People with mental and/or physical issues may be accepted, provided the condition is not too severe and does not exceed our operational capabilities.

What Our Members Say

"When I retired, I thought it was a shame that all my skills and experience would no longer be useful, but with Shedders, I can use them and share them with others." Leo “A great opportunity not only to meet new people and make new friends, but also a chance to learn many new skills as well as get involved with projects that benefit the local community.” Mary “It’s helped me find a way to make use of the skills and knowledge I’ve built up over my working life.” Peter “I thoroughly enjoyed my first community project with my new Shedder friends. We had a great morning tackling a local job that desperately needed doing for our Church Hall.” Paula “It’s amazing how much we get done, considering how much time members spend chatting.” Chris

Available Working Spaces

We currently use St. Martin’s Community Hall for clean activities and a “tin shack” next to the hall for timber storage. Tools, equipment, and materials are stored in two Chacons (ex-Royal Navy storage units) in the car park. We also have a gazebo for urgent mucky work in bad weather, which is also useful at car boot sales.

Our Tools & Equipment

Over the years, we have received significant donations of tools and equipment, although not all in the best condition. Surplus items were renovated and offered for donations. We also purchased a small number of new key tools as needed. All tools are recorded, marked, safety-checked, and PAT tested.

Health & Safety

We have created several Risk Assessments to accompany our training material. One of our members, a St Johns First Aider, is designated as our First Aider.

Training

For small tools (screwdrivers, hammers, etc.), we offer self-certification training, provided the trainee can demonstrate competence. Larger tools require face-to-face training on a one-to- one or one-to-two basis. Members trained with either method are subject to ongoing evaluation until our training team confirms competence.

Local Support and Challenges

Looe Shedders is recognized as a positive force in our community, partly due to the projects we undertake for schools, care homes, and other organizations. • Our Repair Cafe, recycling ethos, and efforts to tackle loneliness and isolation bolster our image as "good guys." • We enjoy robust local support, with many goodwill mentions on social media. • Local GP surgeries refer patients with special needs to us, and local people often donate tools and materials. • We frequently receive community project requests, a lot more than we can handle in our current homeless circumstances, so unfortunately, we're obliged to turn away some of them, denying those community elements their benefits. Our support extends to local politicians: “The momentum you are building in support of those in the community is wonderful to see,” writes Anna Gelderd, the MP for South East Cornwall. And “I would encourage any man, or woman, who is looking for a way to connect with others locally, get creative and learn some new skills to contact Looe Shedders. This organisation is a much needed first for Looe and our community,” says Looe Councillor Armand Toms.