Start a Shed
Think your community needs a Men’s Shed? Here’s a few tips to get you started.
Start a Shed
Men’s Sheds are great sources of goodwill, support for men and help to build community spirit. To ensure that your men’s shed has the best chance of getting off the ground and thriving we advise that you take the following steps.
1. Gauge interest in a men’s shed in your area
Before proceeding too far, the depth of interest in a shed should be tested by arranging a short article in the local newspapers. If there is a positive response, proceed to the next stage which is to organize a well-advertised public meeting.
2. Public meeting and suggested advertising for the event
The most successful meetings of late have been convened by City or Local Government Councils, working in partnership with a community service clubs such as Rotary or Lions. Councils have provided a venue, finance advertising and pamphlets and the clubs have run the meeting.
Representative from our office attends generally to present information on different Sheds in WA and how they work and to answer any questions from the floor.
3. Desirable outcomes of a public meeting
Ideally at the end of the meeting you will have a:
- Steering Committee established
- A date/time set for the Steering Committee’s initial meeting
- List of persons and their contact details who wish to keep informed about the Shed.
4. Next Steps
Most Men’s Sheds have the legal status of an incorporated association. Details on how to apply are available on the Department of Commerce website.
You can access a template constitution for a Men’s Shed that meets the requirements of the WA Department of Commerce, the Australian Charities and Not-for-profit Commission and the Australian Taxation Office, on our Documents for Sheds web page.
Useful contacts when starting a shed
Funding
Your local council – A great place to start when seeking assistance setting up a Men’s Shed is your local council. They will often be able to provide assistance in one form or another. They will likely have other contacts and avenues that you may not be aware of. To find contact details for your council. Visit the WALGA (WA Local Government Association) website.
Lotterywest Grants – Lotterywest work with community organisations that are providing services, support and inspiration to people throughout WA. Their Grants team is happy to share their experience and can offer a sounding board, additional contacts, as well as ideas and advice.
Department of Veteran’s Affairs Grants – DVA may provide assistance to a shed that has some members of the veteran community. This includes family members of veterans plus veterans from allied countries.
Royalties for Regions – Country Sheds could seek funding from Royalties for Regions
Australian Men’s Shed Association – The Australian Men’s Shed Association operates a grant program with funds from the Department of Health.
Service Clubs – Service clubs will often adopt a shed as a project in order to get it established.
Insurance
You need to have adequate insurance prior to commencing operations. The following have policies that cater for Sheds:
Australian Men’s Shed Association
You may also wish to obtain quotes from other companies.
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