Shed Manual Info & Examples

A Shed manual, is there such a glorious document? Yes, but we also know that as Sheds evolve so will a Shed Manual. From 2017 we collaborated with Glasgow Caledonian University as part of their four year Sheds for Sustainability research project which ended in 2021 with the publishing of a Shed Toolkit.
We will continue to keep adding documents to the ever expanding ‘manual’ which are also Scotland specific – available in our Resource Library. The first Shed in Scotland was in Westhill, Aberdeenshire (www.westhillmensshed.co.uk) which luckily for us Shedders and Shed supporters have a few men who have great vision, community spirit and kindness. They decided from the beginning in 2013 to create several documents along the way of creating this first shed, not only for themselves but they knew it was going to be successful and others would benefit. How right they were which has been replicated by other Sheds through the years including our own documents.

Our Resources section is available to our individual members. It is free to join individually and once we have processed your application, furnished you with your own personal log in details you can access them.  There really is a shed load of helpful documents just waiting for you.

If after you have seen all the resource information available to you in this section of the member’s area and you have created a resource which would help others in the Shed Movement, please feel free to send it to us for possible inclusion in the Resource Library (info@scottishmsa.org.uk). Our Association is a grass roots one and together we are the power that drives and sustains it.

A variety of examples below which are available to individual members in our members resource section. To gain access, become a member.

How do you run a Men’s Shed – Westhill Men’s Shed
Men’s Shed Constitution Template – Scottish Men’s Sheds Association
Shed Tool Kit – GCU
Introduction to Starting a Men’s Shed – the view from Westhill – Westhill Men’s Shed
Health and Safety Templates – Scottish Men’s Sheds Association
Basic Workshop Equipment and template to make your own Work Bench – Kirkintilloch Men’s Shed
Men’s Shed – A Beginners Kitchen book – Whittlesea Men’s Shed
Westhill Men’s Shed Workshop Operations Manual – Westhill Men’s Shed
Social Return on Investment: Westhill Men’s Shed – Scottish Men’s Sheds Association
Men’s Sheds in Australia – Effects on Physical Health and Mental Well-Being – Beyond Blue

If however you still want more information the ’Big Daddy’ guide to Sheds must come from the home of Sheds, Australia.

We have reached an agreement with the Australian Men’s Sheds Association (AMSA) that all paid up SMSA SHED MEMBERSHIPS of £25 per annum will be supplied direct online access per Shed to:

The AMSA Interactive Manual: this is the quintessential guide for developing and operational Men’s Sheds. It provides a clear, concise and user friendly format to simplify the process in starting and operating a Men’s Shed. Since its release in July 2012, 5200+ copies have been downloaded from across Australia and internationally.

The manual is supported by a diverse range of resources and ongoing information and advice provided by the Australian Men’s Shed Association.

The new manual has two distinct sections:

‘How to Start’ a Men’s Shed
– from the initial idea through to building and funding.

‘How to Run’ a Men’s Shed
– providing information and documentation typically necessary for the successful operations and sustainability of a Shed.

Join as a Full Member Shed with all the other benefits as well as this one: online access for the AMSA interactive Shed manual, please send a cheque for £25 to:

Scottish Men’s Sheds Association
Wester Mains,
Campfield,
Aberdeenshire,
AB31 4DR

Your payment of £25 makes your Shed a Full member of SMSA for a year or part thereof (1 April-31 March) and gives full access to all the  SMSA Shed Member benefits. (see ‘Join SMSA’ for full list of Shed benefits).