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 Email, 
• For those with mobile phones we are happy to send brief SMS messages or WhatsApp.
• For those not comfortable with modern technology, we can arrange to call your home phone line
• To avoid the cost of postage, 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 & requests to help with your skills
• 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 meeting (See Events List on this web site)

 

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 working together with other like minded people
• Members will mentor each other to develop new interests and skills

 

DO I need to pay membership fees?

• YES - Annual subscription are currently £30, and are payable in April, through to the end of the following March.  Subscriptions may be adjusted annually in the order of £15 to £30.
      - A single payment is preferred, but talk confidentially with the Treasurer if this is a problem
• No attendance fees are charged, but nominal donations towards the cost of tea, coffee & biscuits is expected
• 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 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?

• We have new and larger premises from which to operate, with extended opening hours
• The premises have good access and no noise restrictions to limit the opening hours
• Typically we open five days a week - mornings seem most popular
• Projects may not be an activity that occurs at the Shed, but on a site in the Alton area
• 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 out etc.   
• 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 these.  They will be listed on the Shed notice board, 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
• Arrangements have been made with both local health centres for use of their minor injury services
• All facilities must be left as you would expect to find them, in a tidy clean state

Is there a shed nearer me?

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

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