The state government is offering $500,000 in grants for Men’s Sheds to expand and improve their facilities if they can come up with some of the funding themselves.
Each eligible ‘shed’ can get up to $30,000 through the Strengthening Men’s Sheds Program to meet growing demand.
But a Hume shed spokeswoman has expressed concerns at what she describes as tough grant conditions.
Community Services Minister Mary Wooldridge said the government saw Men’s Sheds as valuable community assets. “[It] plays a significant role in the lives of many Victorian men, providing a place where they can develop new skills in a supportive and social environment,” she said.
Grant applicants must have targeted funding to develop or expand activities that support men with disabilities, health issues and disengaged youth, such as modifications to improve health and safety standards, increase disability access or lift shed capacity.
Eligibility criteria also stipulates that the shed contribute one third of the project’s cost, based on $2 from the government for every $1 from other sources, such as local businesses or community fund-raising.
Tullamarine Men’s Shed manager Cheryl Hildebrandt said the funding arrangement made it difficult for smaller Men’s Sheds.
“If a shed is viable enough to attract funds of $10,000, it probably demonstrates they’re worthy of government investment,” she said. “But it’s a big ask to raise that much.”
Meanwhile, Northern Men’s Shed in Craigieburn has applied to Hume council to set up a new shed on a disused netball court at D.S. Aitken Reserve, off Craigieburn Road. It is currently operating in a garage on private property.
