FAQ's

WHAT IS A MEN's SHED?  Please note: We also welcome women members

Often when people retire, they suddenly find themselves at home with no involvement, commitment, or friendships like those they had at work.  Retirees have a wealth of life experiences and skills which can be put to great use even in retirement.  

Are you locking yourself away in your shed at the bottom of the garden?  
Is your daily routine simply gardening or sitting in front of the TV?  
Are you getting under your partner's feet or living on your own these days?
Or are you a younger person who needs to get out and do something practical?

Men's sheds were originally set up in Australia to bring men together to share their life skills with each other, teach each other new skills, socially do things together for themselves or the community as volunteers.  Women have also become involved.

We have our initial Men's Shed in Alton and are actively looking to develop the facilities. We invite you to become involved as much or as little as you wish.  Share your practical skills, become part of a project team, or simply come along and socialise initially while deciding what you would like to do.  
Call us on 01420 362530 or email us [email protected]

 

HOW do we communicate with members?

• Our preferred method is to communicate using a WhatsApp Group for instant updates and determinimg activity interest 
• Alternatively we can communicate using eMail although this results in a slower turnaround time
• For those not comfortable with modern technology, we can arrange to call your home phone line
• To avoid the cost of postage and delays, we are reluctant to post out literature, but may be able to drop it off.
   

WHAT type of communications will you receive?

• Invitations to meetings & offers to help with your skills on projects
• Information about projects & teams
• Information about activities at the Shed
• Invitations to Shed social functions

 

HOW can I explore Alton Men's Shed Membership?

• Email us at [email protected]
• Call Gordon on 01420 362530
• Come along to our next social at All Saints Parish Hall from 10:00am first Friday of each month
• Come by the Shed in Anstey Park and visit us weekdays between 10:00 and 12:00

 

DO I need to be an expert or skilled in something?

• NO
• Alton Men's Shed is open to all (18+) who have an interest in volunteering on community projects
• The Shed is a place to meet and enjoy meeting and working together with other like minded people
• Members will mentor each other to develop new interests and skills
• What you do is up to you, which might only be to chat over a coffee

 

DO I need to pay membership fees?

• YES - Our Annual subscription is currently £36, and  payable in April, through to the end of the following March.  
• A single payment is preferred, but talk confidentially with the Treasurer if this is a problem
• No attendance fees are charged
• For insurance purposes, active participants in the shed MUST BE PAID UP MEMBERS
• Prospective members are welcome to observe activities & meetings to determine their future interest in membership
• Shed tools, equipment and mentoring will be freely available.  
• Personal consumables will be at your own cost.  
• Sponsored project consumables will be funded by the Shed or through an arrangement with a client or third party

 

HOW does the Shed idea work?

• The premises have parking and good access
• No noise restrictions apply that might limit the opening hours
• Typically we open five days a week - mornings seem most popular
• Projects may not be an activity that occur at the Sheds, but on a site in the Alton area
• Mandatory health and safety training is required to be taken by all members
• Nobody will be permitted to work unaccompanied in the Shed for health and safety reasons
• Each member will be required to demonstrate competence on each item of equipment before use

 

What level of involvement will be expected of me?

• In general any member is able to be involved at the level of their own choosing, whether they want to learn a new skill or share their skills with others as a mentor,  or to be  a general ‘dogs body’ just helping others out.   
• As members you will have the choice to do as much or as little as you wish
• You can become involved in a variety of community projects - just let us know you are interested in.
• Projects are listed on the Shed notice boards, and discussed at Shedders general meetings.

 

How are sessions supervised?

• Every session will be supervised by an adequately skilled person for the tasks being undertaken
• All activities will have been risk assessed and appropriate health & safety precautions established
• Personal emergency medical details are securely held for use by a first-aider in the event of an accident
• All attendees are registered at each session in a day book
• All facilities must be left as you would expect to find them, in a tidy clean state

Is there a shed nearer me?

We have two operational sheds in Alton

If you feel there might be a shed closer to your home, check out the link below

http://menssheds.org.uk/find-a-shed/