Every shed is unique, and that the location and type of building naturally influence the kinds of activities and facilities that can be offered. For example, Dunoon hosts some fantastic activities that we simply can’t accommodate due to the size of our premises and the health and safety constraints of operating within a listed building. Their shed focuses heavily on repair work—vehicles, motorcycles, and various other items—which we’ve chosen not to pursue. Instead, our members are more interested in creating bespoke items from scratch and working on commissioned projects, which better reflects the character and interests of our group.

Learning Outcomes

• Interacting with international visitors etc.
• How to grow our Shed further.
• Sustaining operations.

"During our visit to this particular shed, we initially hoped to gather ideas for expanding our own Men’s Shed. However, it quickly became apparent that the scale of their operation differs significantly from ours—not only in terms of the size of their premises, but also in the volume of members and the additional responsibilities involved in sub-letting parts of their space to external community groups and individuals. This approach helps them generate income to cover overheads and utility costs, but it also introduces a more commercial dynamic. The visit was valuable in helping us clarify our own direction. We’ve come to realise that this model doesn’t align with our vision. Our focus remains on fostering a close-knit, creative environment tailored to our members’ interests, rather than pursuing a larger, more commercially driven setup."