Limerick to pioneer new wellbeing initiative
Ten Men’s Shed groups across Limerick City and County will help pioneer an entirely new approach to men’s wellbeing by taking part in the ‘Sheds for Life’ initiative for the next ten weeks.
The scheme, organised by the Irish Men’s Sheds Association, will see over 120 members receive expert health and wellbeing advice and resources from major national organisations such as the Irish Heart Foundation, Siel Bleu Ireland, the HSE, Mental Health Ireland, Diabetes Ireland and many other ‘Sheds for Life’ partners.
Edel Byrne, Health and Wellbeing Manager of the Irish Men’s Sheds Association said;
“We’re delighted to be launching this initiative in Limerick. We know from previous experiences linking with County Limerick Sheds on the topic of health that they are some of the most enthusiastic participants, so it’s great to be working with them again on this exciting new venture.
“The ten-week pilot programme aims to address some of the serious health inequalities that exist in Ireland between men and women.”
The scheme operates under four main pillars: health checks, physical activity, healthy eating and mental health. Topics covered will include CPR training, diabetes management, digital literacy, suicide prevention and a range of other topics.
Ms Byrne continued;
“We know that men have a shorter life expectancy, and our ‘Sheds for Life’ programme is looking to bridge that gap, but we’re also targeting our approach improving men’s quality of life, as much as lifespan.
“We’ve found in our engagements that men have a huge appetite for these programmes; they want to lead healthier lives and they’re hungry for knowledge on health and wellbeing topics.”
The Sheds for Life programme takes place within the shed itself, as opposed to a clinical setting. This approach has allowed sheds and their members to take genuine ownership of the initiative, moulding and shaping it to their own needs.
For more information visit www.menssheds.ie
ENDS
For more information, please contact:
Andrew Rooney
Communications Administrator
Irish Men’s Sheds Association
M: 085 7676 413
Email: andrew@menssheds.ie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/irishmensshedsassociation/
Twitter: @IrishSheds
Notes to the Editor
About the Irish Men’s Sheds Association
The Irish Men’s Shed Association (IMSA) is a member-based organisation which exists to maintain links and share information with the network of men’s shed in Ireland. The IMSA also act as a representative body to carry the message and ethos of men’s sheds onto the national stage.
As a grassroots organisation, the IMSA believes strongly in the autonomy of each individual shed, as strives for a future in which all men have the opportunity to maintain and improve their well-being on their own terms within their own communities.
The IMSA aims to make it as easy as possible for any like-minded group of men in Ireland to set up, run and maintain a Men’s Shed. To this end, the IMSA provides information, resources and support to member sheds throughout the 32 counties of Ireland; listening and responding to members’ concerns is a cornerstone of the IMSA’s ethos.
About ‘Sheds for Life’
Men’s participation in sheds has shown to be a secondary indicator of their health and wellbeing as it leads to reduction in a sense of isolation, increase in social support, improved access to services and improved understanding of mental and physical health and wellbeing (Carragher, 2013). Ireland was the first country in the world to publish a National Men’s Health Policy (2009) and the first to identify the Men’s Sheds model as an ideal way to promote men’s health and wellbeing in a community setting.
The IMSA ‘Sheds for Life’ initiative aims to support the physical, mental and social wellbeing of men’s shed members. The safe environment offered by men’s sheds is conducive to learning and sharing information, including health information. ‘Sheds for Life’ aims to work within this health enhancing, supportive environment of the shed by collaborating with local and national organisations to give men’s sheds members the choice to participate in health promoting programmes, as well as advice and signposting.
