Haven Pharmacy and Irish Men’s Sheds announce multi-year partnership
The men’s sheds movement has received a further boost with the news that IndePharm is to team up with the Irish Men’s Sheds Association in a multi-year partnership.
The IndePharm group of pharmacies is well-known in towns and villages throughout Ireland under its brand name of Haven Pharmacies. All members of the IndePharm co-operative are working pharmacists embedded in their own local communities – many for generations.
The announcement was made jointly by IndePharm Chairman, Keith Brennan, and Irish Men’s Sheds CEO, Barry Sheridan, at IndePharm’s recent AGM in Kilkenny. “Our co-operative ethos is to help to improve the health and well-being of patients and customers in our local communities. Irish Mens Sheds complements this through its programme of activities focused on men meeting to improve their own wellbeing by keeping physically, mentally and socially active” said Keith Brennan.
Barry Sheridan added, “’The IMSA is delighted to partner with IndePharm. This is a practical, mutually beneficial partnership with one key focus – working together to deliver better health to communities throughout Ireland. While our member sheds cater specifically to men, the knock-on benefits to families and communities are huge, and this partnership can only strengthen those gains. Men’s sheds are grassroots, member-focused and rooted firmly in communities, so there’s an obvious synergy with IndePharm. This partnership has real potential to build on the strengths of both organisations to the benefit of Irish society as a whole’.
Edel Byrne, Health & Wellbeing Coordinator for the Irish Men’s Sheds Association, also welcomed the partnership, saying “Health and wellness have emerged as key priorities for our sheds in recent years, and this partnership will allow us to build on and deepen the existing health benefits of men’s sheds that become more apparent to our shedders every day”.
The link-up conicides with a period of mutual growth for both IndePharm and the Irish Men’s Sheds Association, with IndePharm aiming to significantly enlarge its existing network of 53 Haven outlets over the next few years, as part of an ambitious programme of expansion aimed at delivering increased footfall to its pharmacy stores.
IndePharm will provide central funding and advisory services to Irish Mens Sheds and this will be supported by Haven Pharmacies in local communities through the promotion of Health and Wellness awareness initiatives. The development of strong local ties with men’s sheds members and their families will be actively encouraged and supported.
