Starting up a Shed

Starting up a Men's Shed

A major Aim of the Association is to help organisations who wish to set up a Men's Shed and this information is given free with no "Advisor" fees. There are now over 200 "Sheds" in Australia and their experience is available through the Association with free information, advice, templates, introductions to other "Sheds" plus a lot of "mateship" in the follow up period.

This experience has been gathered together in a 91 page Manual "Setting up a Men's Shed" and copies can be obtained through the Association. The Table of Contents of this Manual are given below.

TABLE OF CONTENTS …………………………………..……………………	1
BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON "MEN'S SHEDS"………………………	5
1 - INTRODUCTION ……………………………………………………………	6
2 - STAGES INVOLVED IN PLANNING A "SHED" …………………………	7
Researching/Evaluation stage ………………………………………..	8
Planning stage ………………………………………………………….	9
Start up & Running stage ………………………………………………	10
3 - INITIAL SUGGESTION …………………………………………………….	11
4 - DISCUSSIONS WITH LOCAL COMMUNITY GROUPS ……………….	12
5 - VISIT OTHER SHEDS OR POSSIBLE PARTNERS ……………………	13
6 - FIND SPONSORS ………………………………………………………….	14
Help available from Auspicing Sponsors …………………………….	14
Insurance ………………………………………………………..	14
Sponsorship & Donations ……………………………………..	14
Funding ………………………………………………………….	14
Advice ……………………………………………………………	14
7 - FIND POSSIBLE LOCATION ……………………………………………..	15
General Requirements …………………………………………………	15
The Building …………………………………………………………….	15
8 - INVESTIGATE FUNDING …………………………………………………	17
Current situation for funding …………………………………………..	17
Funding Plan …………………………………………………………….	18
Fundraising Sources ……………………………………………………	18
Fund-raising events …………………………………………….	18
Trading income ………………………………………………….	18
Partnership funding …………………………………………….	18
Grant Funding …………………………………………………..	19
Applying for Grant funding ……………………………………………	19
Prepare in advance …………………………………………….	19
What the grant maker wants to know …………………………	19
Data is vital for your submission ………………………………	20
Sources for data ………………………………………………...	20
Making the Funding Application ………………………………………	20
Strategic Partnerships ………………………………………….	21
How to find grants ………………………………………………………	21
Sources of Funding …………………………………………….	21
How much money is needed? …………………………………………	23

9 - INVESTIGATE INSURANCE ………………………………………………	25
Public & Products Liability Insurance …………………………………	25
Personal Accident - Volunteer Workers Insurance ………………….	26
Association and Officials Liability ……………………………………..	26
10 - PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF INITIAL PLANS ……………………………	27
Factors relating to the Men ……………………………………………	27
What is the Age range? ………………………………………………..	27
Local area factors ………………………………………………………	27
Establish contacts with local groups ………………………………….	28
11 - DEFINE AIMS, ACTIVITIES, & MEMBERSHIP POLICY ……………..	29
12 - APPOINT CO-ORDINATOR ……………………………………………..	30
Key Requirements of position …………………………………………	30
Hospitality & Welcome …………………………………………	30
Administrative skills …………………………………………….	30
Finances …………………………………………………………	30
Fundraising ………………………………………………………	30
Occupational health & safety ………………………………….	31
Shed Policies and Procedures ………………………………..	31
Publicity ………………………………………………………….	31
Liaises with Shed Supervisor & Members ……………………	31
Information circulator …………………………………………..	31
Liaises with outside groups ……………………………………	31
13 - SET UP SMALL STEERING COMMITTEE …………………………….	32
14 - CONFIRM LOCATION ……………………………………………………	33
15 - CONFIRM FUNDING ……………………………………………………..	34
16 - FIND EXPERIENCED SUPERVISORS & TRAINERS ……………….	35
Supervisor/Trainer function ……………………………………………	35
Hospitality ……………………………………………………….	35
Teaching …………………………………………………………	35
Occupational health & safety ………………………………….	35
Maintenance …………………………………………………….	36
Security ………………………………………………………….	36
Finances …………………………………………………………	36
17 - PUBLICISE GROUP ……………………………………………………..	37
How to get known ………………………………………………………	37
Using the media ………………………………………………………...	37
How to contact the media ……………………………………...	38
What to include in your press release ………………………..	38
18 - RECRUIT MEMBERS …………………………………………………….	39
Initial Recruitment Pamphlet ………………………………………….	39

19 - SET UP WORKSHOP MANAGEMENT GROUP ………………………	44
20 - DEFINE PROCEDURES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ………………….	45
Procedures to be defined ………………………………………………	45
Security of Shed ………………………………………………..	45
Housekeeping …………………………………………………..	45
Maintenance of machines ……………………………………..	45
Induction and training ………………………………………….	45
Control of jobs …………………………………………………..	46
Disputes and grievances ………………………………………	46
Communications ………………………………………………..	46
Finance ………………………………………………………….	46
Safety …………………………………………………………….	46
Administration …………………………………………………..	46
21 - ESTABLISH OH & S PROCEDURES …………………………………..	47
Responsibilities for OH&S ……………………………………………..	47
Responsibilities of the Host Organisation ……………………	47
Responsibilities of the Shed members ……………………….	47
Make a commitment to safety …………………………………………	48
Safety Signs on Machines …………………………………………….	50
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) ……………………………….	50
Create a safe working area using OH&S procedures ………………	50
Step 1 - Spot the Hazard ………………………………………	51
Step 2 - Assess the Risk ……………………………………….	52
Step 3 - Fix the Problem ……………………………………….	53
Control Measures ……………………………………………….	54
Finding safety solutions ………………………………………..	54
Step 4 - Evaluate Results ……………………………………..	55
22 - PURCHASE TOOLS AND MATERIALS ………………………………..	56
23 - SET UP WORKSHOP EQUIPMENT ……………………………………	57
24 - MEMBERS TRAINING AND EVALUATION ……………………………	58
Induction of new members …………………………………………….	58
Explain your Shed ………………………………………………	58
Introduce the key people and explain their roles ……………	58
Show the Shed facilities ……………………………………….	58
Explain the policies and procedures ………………………….	58
Explain your workplace health and safety ……………………	58
Show your workplace health and safety facilities ……………	59
Explain your training ……………………………………………	59
Machine operating training …………………………………………….	59
25 - PUBLIC OPENING ………………………………………………………..	61

APPENDICES …………………………………………………………………..	62
INDUCTION CHECKLIST ……………………………………………………..	63
RECORD OF SAFETY INSTRUCTION ……………………………………...	64
GRIEVANCE POLICY ………………………………………………………….	65
EQUIPMENT & TOOL LIST ……………………………………………………	66
RISK ASSESSMENT SHEET …………………………………………………	68
RISK ANALYSIS THINKING PROMPTS …………………………………….	69
RISK ANALYSIS - RISK ASSESSMENT MATRIX ………………………….	70
MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET ………………………………………….	71
WORKSHOP FIRST AID KIT …………………………………………………	74
GENERAL SAFETY RULES …………………………………………………..	75
"DO NOT OPERATE" …………………………………………………………	76
CIRCULAR SAW BENCH ……………………………………………………..	77
SLIDE COMPOUND SAW …………………………………………………….	78
SMALL COMPOUND SAW ……………………………………………………	79
BAND SAW ……………………………………………………………………..	80
TABLE SCROLL SAW …………………………………………………………	81
ROUTER BENCH ………………………………………………………………	82
DRILL PRESS …………………………………………………………………..	83
BELT SANDER & DISC GRINDER …………………………………………..	84
WOOD LATHE ………………………………………………………………….	85
SPINDLE MOULDER ………………………………………………………….	86
PLANER/THICKNESSER ……………………………………………………..	87
PLANER/JOINTER ……………………………………………………………..	88
MINI MILLING DRILLING MACHINE …………………………………………	89
PANBRAKE/FOLDER/GUILLLOTINE & ROLL ……………………………..	90
METAL LATHE ………………………………………………………………….	91

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