Press release
Minister Humphreys announces €800,000 to support Men’s Sheds
From Department of Rural and Community Development
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Rural and Community Development
Published on
Last updated on
Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, has today announced funding of €800,000 to support Men’s Sheds.
The initiative will see grants of €2,000 provided to over 400 Men’s Sheds nationwide to assist them with running costs such as electricity or insurance bills.
Minister Humphreys made the announcement during a visit to the Dublin 12 Men’s Shed in Kimmage in Dublin’s South Inner City on Wednesday.
The individual grants will be distributed to the over 400 Men’s Sheds via its representative body, the Irish Men’s Sheds Association (IMSA).
Announcing the €800,000 in funding today, Minister Humphreys said:
“Our Men’s Sheds provide an absolutely invaluable service in communities the length and breadth of the country. They help tackle isolation and provide a welcoming and comfortable space for men to come together and socialise. And as we enter the winter period, the supports that our Men’s Sheds provide are even more important. So I’m delighted to be in a position to support our Men’s Sheds with funding of over €800,000. This will assist our Men’s Sheds with grants of €2,000, which they can use to cover their running costs or carry out small improvements at their premises.”
The Minister continued:
“Our Men’s Sheds have gone from being a small organisation just a few years ago to a national representative body with over 400 members. I was delighted to meet representatives of the Irish Men’s Sheds Association, including CEO Enda Egan, to discuss Government’s ongoing support for Men’s Sheds. I know that like any voluntary organisation, Men’s Sheds are facing larger bills due to the cost of living. And so I hope this funding will assist them over the winter months and help bring our Men’s Sheds from strength to strength.”
The Minister concluded:
“This announcement today builds on the €100,000 I recently set aside for Women’s Sheds, which will also see grants of €2,000 provided. I know that the number of Women’s Sheds being set up across the country is on the rise – and that’s a fantastic development. And I welcome the fact too that the IMSA have committed to assisting the Women’s Sheds in building a similar successful organisation.”
Also welcoming the funding, Enda Egan, CEO of the Irish Men’s Sheds Association, said:
“We are delighted with today’s announcement and we’re grateful to Minister Humphreys for her ongoing support for the sheds. Men’s Sheds have really come into their own in recent years and it’s such a boost for us in the Irish Men’s Sheds Association to know that we can use this funding to help our members with their utility and materials bills through this winter. This funding will help towards the sustainability of Sheds as many struggle to reopen after COVID-19; Shed members up and down the country, and their communities will benefit greatly from this funding and I know that the support from Minister Humphreys is much appreciated.”
The Irish Men’s Sheds Association supports Ireland’s network of 400 Men’s Sheds.
The Irish Men’s Sheds Association was formed in 2011. However, the Men’s Shed movement originally started in Australia which inspired their Irish counterparts to begin their own movement.
The Men’s Sheds movement had its birth in Tipperary where the first Men’s Shed was formed. Following the formation of the first shed in Ireland, the shed movement began to grow rapidly, with there now being over 400 sheds registered with the Irish Men’s Sheds Association and at least 12,000 men visiting a shed every week.
Over the past decade, Men’s Sheds have become a vital part of Ireland’s community infrastructure. Sheds offer men an opportunity to meet in a supportive, collaborative space, improve their health and wellbeing, and contribute to their communities.
The Association has also received government and European recognition of their contribution to Ireland. In 2018, the Association received the European Citizen’s Award after being nominated by Irish MEPs.
Irish Men’s Sheds Association: