The Shed is a non-commercial, community-based organisation, which has been brought to Guernsey having been seen to work elsewhere in the world.

The idea to open one in Guernsey came from male focused charity MUG – which stands for Male Uprising Guernsey – and which has already been successful at encouraging a number of men to keep an eye on their health, and to talk about their lives and worries. 

MUG and Men’s Shed say it is simply a ‘community space for men to connect, chat and create things’, and it is based at the Sandpiper Vinery in St Peter’s, next to the greenhouse used by Taste Guernsey.

Above: The Men’s Shed is in St Peter’s.

The Shed is made up of a workspace area, where guys can go along and either share their existing talents or learn how to make and mend different things, using skills in woodwork, metalwork, arts and crafts, electronics and others.

It has been designed as a ‘safe space’, which will be open to every man in Guernsey, so they can go along and work on any project in a ‘welcoming and well-equipped workshop’.

Men are also welcome to just go along for a ‘chat, a bacon roll and a laugh with other men’.

men's shed

Pictured: The Men’s Shed – image from Men’s Shed Guernsey Facebook. 

Men’s Shed is a non-commercial, community-based organisation that operates around the world to promote social interaction between men with the aim of increasing quality of life. The initiative helps to reduce loneliness and isolation, by giving men a sense of purpose and the possibility of learning a new skill or sharing existing knowledge with other members.

MUG encourages men to be more open about their health concerns, and it is hoped the MUG Men’s Shed will encourage men to talk, standing shoulder to shoulder, whilst engaging in activities that would normally happen in a man’s own shed.

The men’s health charity has donated £15,000 towards materials for the shed’s roofing and toilet facilities, along with basic kitchen facilities, hot water and electricity.

Tony Tostevin, MUG Council Member said “The MUG Men shed is a great initiative. The more we can get men to open up about any health issue the better. We hope islanders will make use of the facility and meet new friends at the same time.”

The Guernsey Men’s Shed is due to open at 10:00 on Saturday 16 November. 

Pictured top: Image from the Men’s Shed Facebook.