Frequenty Asked Questions

CONNECT, CONVERSE, CREATE

Men’s Sheds FAQ

MAKING FRIENDS

LEARNING

SHARING SKILLS

What are Men’s or Community Sheds?

Community spaces for people to connect, converse and create, with activities that are often similar to those of garden sheds, but for groups to enjoy together. They provide an opportunity for conversation amongst peers which might otherwise be difficult to instigate. They help to reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation, most importantly, they’re fun.

Find out more about them.

Who runs Aylsham Community Shed?

Most of the Sheds in the UK are, like ours, run by the people that use them, in a bottom-up approach. This grassroots model can often bring about stronger feelings of fulfilment and achievement in the members that develop them, and lead to better sustainability as they often don’t start with large cash injections. This isn’t always the case though. A small number of Sheds are run by organisations like local Age UK branches and have been around for some years.

Is Aylsham Community Shed just for older people?

No, although most of the people that attend are not working full time. This is because a life after full employment can be difficult and people often feel that they’ve lost their sense of purpose and place in the world. They can miss the routine and camaraderie between colleagues that often comes with working life. This can lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation which can have consequences for their health and wellbeing. However, age isn’t the only factor in loneliness and isolation. There is more to attending a Shed than this. We share skills, foster informal learning and manage projects together. Aylsham Community Shed also welcomes younger members.

Can women join?

Yes, women are welcome. It is our policy at Aylsham Community Shed that membership is open to all members of the public.

How old do you have to be?

Because of the nature of the activities, you’ll usually need to be at least 18 for our insurance to cover you.

How do I join Aylsham Community Shed?

Just get in touch via our Contact Us page and we will take you through our joining process and arrange a tour of our facilities, introducing you to some of our members. You can then decide if it is for you and we will arrange for suitable introductory briefings designed to keep everyone safe. Alternatively, if you already have knowledge of the shed and wish to join, you can click on the ‘Join Us’ menu item above to go straight to the membership form.

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