Subject: Setting up a men's shed

Hi priceless,

Just to clarify, is the purpose of the men's shed similar to the aims of those run by Age UK?

Hi Tom yes the very same I have asked for assistance from Age Uk but they are hopeless also from mens health forum don`t even respond so looks as if it`s down to me! Derek

Hi priceless, I've put a call out for advice for you via twitter, hopefully it'll generate some help. Could you share a little more information about where you are in the country and what help you need. 

Thanks I am in Plumpton E/SX BN8 I have had experience of a LTD co but can`t get my head round not for profit org.were do I start?Derek

Hi priceless,

message from IrishSheds via twitter:

"hi it's my job to help! I'll message you my details; feel free to pass them on! email me at info@menssheds.ie or go to www.menssheds.ie"

Hi I have been in touch with the irish shed men but they don`t seem to be able to assist an english setup, still wanting info do I go club charity limited coop? any assistance please 

We've put out another call out via Twitter to see if we can find someone to help.... Fingers crossed.

Hi  I am a Community Planning Officer working with a community in Westhill, Aberdeenshire to set up a Men's Shed.  We have a steering group of ten volunteers and have begun a community asset transfer process to take over a small former library building from the Council for our base.  We set up a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation but there is the equivalent in England through the Charity Commission with great assistance from our local Council for Voluntary Services - again you should have one near you.  Whilst on holiday in Cheshire a couple of years ago I called into the Shed at Hartford which is one of the Age Concern ones and it gave me the inspiration to take it back to Aberdeenshire.  We do not have the backing of such an organisation and are very much starting small and growing the shed organically - it will have to be run entirely by volunteers as we will not be in a position to have paid staff.  Two of our members recently attended the Men's Shed conference in Leicester run by NIACE so it would be worth contacting them as they will have details of other sheds in England.  We have just set up a blog on http://www.westhill.org.uk/blogs/mens-shed and site on http://www.westhillmensshed.co.uk/ which may help and which has our contact details on if you want to have a chat