1. Restoring the Soul of Society
One volunteer at a time….

4. GPs are seeing 1-5 people a day suffering with loneliness
A range of damaging health impacts such as heart disease, strokes and Alzheimer’s
That around 200,000 older people have not had a conversation with a friend or relative in more than a month

6. “the distressing feeling associated with the perceived absence of satisfying social relationships.”
Peplau and Perlman

7. “we feel disconnected”
We experience loneliness when:
“we feel disconnected”
“lacking a sense of true belonging”
Brene Brown – Braving the Wilderness

8. “The posterior superior temporal sulcus (pSTS) – is a single region of the brain activated during social interaction and which was smaller in those feeling lonely”
Bahrami Duchaine and Banissy

10. How I stumbled across the Men’s Shed movement…

11. “men don’t talk face-to face; they talk shoulder-to-shoulder”.
The Men’s Sheds model originated in Australia in the 1990s, after a number of issues were raised about men’s health. In Australian culture, there was little encouragement of men of all ages to socialise and discuss their feelings and wellbeing. Sheds were established to advise and improve the overall health of all men.
The Slogan for men’s sheds is “Shoulder to Shoulder”, shortened from “Men don’t talk face to face, they talk shoulder to shoulder.
3 differences to Aus to UK:
Bigger premises
More sunshine
BBQs big feature, instead of cups of tea
Gov backing..
Strictly NO women!
There are now over 900 Sheds across Australia, with 1000s of active members. The Men’s Shed movement has also since spread across the UK, USA, Canada, Finland, New Zealand and Greece

13. 500 Sheds Open
140+
In development

14. Cambridgeshire sheds x8

16. 1. Understanding Motivation
2. Giving recognition
3. Being professional
4. Sense of Fun

17. 1. Understanding Motivation

21. 2. Giving recognition

22. Recognition:
Last evening at a ceremony held in Diss Corn Hall, Poringland and District Mens Shed were named as the Community Group of The Year. This is a great achievement for us and we are really chuffed!  To be recognised in this way by our own community is especially pleasing and a strong indicator that we are achieving what we set out to do only four years ago. However, I am very mindful that our group would probably not exist were it not  for the support that you have given our project, for which we are very grateful. This accolade will assist us with gaining grants for the construction of our new Shed, meaning we will be in an even better position to continue providing a service to our community. My only regret is that, owing to being on holiday in the South Downs National Park, I was unable to attend the ceremony - but I'm still smiling from ear to ear.

24. Recognition

25. 3. Being professional

26. Professionalism Vs playfulness

27. 4. Having fun!

33. Thank you Kate.Gordon@ukmsa.org.uk