Specsavers are delighted to partner with Men’s Sheds on the Sheds for Life programme. As part of the partnership, Specsavers will provide an educational workshop on how to look after your eye health and hearing. Understanding the importance of looking after your sight and hearing will also be covered within the workshop along with additional tips, which will allow you to recognise if your sight or hearing is deteriorating. The workshop will take place in a very relaxed and informal setting with a positive and enjoyable learning experience for all!

The Dental Health Foundation is thrilled to offer Shedders an informative and engaging workshop on the importance of oral health to your general wellbeing, and overall health. We look at the science, basic habits, and offer tools and tips to improve your oral health. We know some of the questions you are dying to ask us! How do I keep my teeth healthy as I get older? Why do my teeth yellow as I age? Or perhaps, do I really need to go the dentist even if I wear dentures or have no teeth? This informal workshop will provide the opportunity to be curious and ask questions.

Diabetes Ireland is delighted to work with The Irish Men’s Shed Association (IMSA) to run this Diabetes Prevention Workshop. It aims to increase your awareness of diabetes and show you ways to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Dementia: Understand Together and The Alzheimer Society of Ireland are delighted to work with the Men’s Sheds to offer this workshop. It aims to increase Shedders awareness and understanding of dementia and the things we can all do to make sure people with dementia and their families stay included and supported in their community. The workshop will cover the following topics:

• What is dementia?
• Signs and symptoms
• Risk factors for dementia
• Communication tips
• Supporting shedders with early stage dementia
• Including shedders and their families in the Men’s Sheds.

We will all experience the death of someone close at some stage of our life. Even though bereavement is a common experience, many of us struggle to know what to say or do to support those who have been bereaved. Irish Hospice Foundation has designed this workshop for Sheds for Life so that shed members can learn about the different ways grief can affect us, what can help and the possible ways to support fellow shedders after a loss.

Men’s Aid Ireland provide a confidential service underpinned by a victim centric and human rights proofed approach aimed at ensuring all male victims of Domestic Violence/Coercive Control receive the required support to be safe. Men’s Aid supports those victims who, from a gender perspective, primarily identify as male, including non-binary, intersex and transgender men within its support and services provision. However, we also acknowledge our responsibility to support all victims of domestic violence / coercive control and will provide ‘support to report’ for any victim, irrespective of gender, by referral to the most relevant of our civil society partners, with the informed consent of the victim.

Family Carers Ireland is delighted to work with the Irish Men’s Shed’s Association to offer this workshop. The aim of this workshop is to share information and to provide guidance and support to men caring for a loved one, relative or friend with additional care needs. There are 500,000+ family carers in Ireland, but did you know 2 in every 5 family carers are MEN? If you are in a caring role, then please know you are not alone. We are the charity that asks the carer how YOU are.

The Walking Football Workshop is a fun, non-contact introduction to the sport, designed to offer both physical and mental health benefits. This session will introduce participants to the game and explain how it is played, providing an enjoyable and engaging way to get active. 

Water Safety Ireland is excited to include a Water Safety Workshop as part of the Sheds for Life programme. The workshop will be delivered by a Water Safety Ireland Education Officer who will visit your shed. The session typically lasts between 60 to 90 minutes and includes both theory and practical components: 

Theory Section 

• Understanding water-related risks 

• Key drowning statistics 

• Identifying high-risk environments (e.g. inland waterways, beaches, slurry pits) 

• How to respond effectively in an emergency 

Practical Section 

• Demonstration of how to correctly throw a ring buoy 

• Proper use of a lifejacket 

• Non-contact rescue techniques 

Why This Matters 

Between 2018 and 2022: 

• Males accounted for 69% (n = 399) of all drownings 

• 61% (n = 353) of drownings involved individuals in their 40s, 50s, and 60s 

• 22% (n = 78) of accidental drownings occurred during swimming, bathing, or other water-based activities (excluding watercraft) 

This workshop is a valuable opportunity to raise awareness, build life-saving skills, and help reduce these tragic statistics.