Jason Ryan is a member of a very different type of men’s shed. Shedworx is located in Waterford Business Park, beside the airport. Their ethos is simple: “Looking after your mental health.” Like other men’s sheds around the country, Shedworx is a place to come, chat and have fun, but it is a love for vintage vehicles that brings them all together.
Jason Ryan is a member of a very different type of men’s shed. Shedworx is located in Waterford Business Park, beside the airport.
Their ethos is simple: “Looking after your mental health.” Like other men’s sheds around the country, Shedworx is a place to come, chat and have fun, but it is a love for vintage vehicles that brings them all together.
“A group of us have always owned and loved working on vintage cars,” explains Jason. “We would always have done vintage charity runs and things like that, we would try to go to all of them to show support.
Cars can be stored in the shed if needs be, the park is extremely secure.
“This was because we have all have lost friends and people along the way due to mental health issues, and we don’t want that to happen to anybody, we want to show our support for charities.”
Although there has been a drop in the number of male suicides since 2016, men continue to account for almost 80% of all suicides and the 45- to 54 year-old age group are at highest risk, according to the HSE National Office for Suicide Prevention.
Progress
The shed is large enough to house a number of cars and the men find that it’s a great place to get out for a chat or a coffee. “It’s a safe place with a nice and chilled environment,” says Jason.
As it only opened in 2018, it is still being funded by its members. However, they are looking for sponsorship and together, they have made major improvements to the shed itself by painting it and getting plumbed water installed.
Their overhead sign was donated by a local business in Waterford.
Most of the members share a love for vintage cars.
“It’s slow progress, but we’re trying to do a little bit every week.” There are about 15 members so far, with eight original members. They hope that new people will get involved once the word spreads about the shed.
“It’s really exciting to see the shed expand its members. It really seems to be taking off now.”
The majority of members are between the ages of 18 and 40 at the moment, but Jason is adamant that absolutely everybody is welcome. “There is always another way than what people think. Come out, we’re always here.
“We all have friends and know people who are suffering and we would gladly do anything to avoid that situation in the long run. Have a coffee, work at the shed and just get your mind off it. A problem shared is a problem halved,” said Jason.
Just talk
In Shedworx, the message is that you are safe. “You can come out here and talk to us no matter what. There’s nothing that hard that we can’t talk about,” says Jason.
He too, has had personal experience suffering with his mental health and found that the toughest thing to do was to open up and talk about his problems.
Jason working on his car.
“I got such a frog in my throat, I had to speak with a doctor and honestly, it was the hardest thing that I’ve had to do. It was horrible, I couldn’t speak. My family came in with me and I did manage to talk about what was going on. I managed to get a routine going then and it has really helped.”
Jason says that it’s easier to get things off your chest in the shed, as it’s easier to open up in a relaxed atmosphere, knowing that it’s a safe place.
“We have no problem with people coming to do what they like, if you just want to wash your car, then just do that. We have great craic here and we’ve had an odd barbecue, it’s so relaxed.”
Members who need room to store a vehicle they’re working on can store their car at the garage over the winter period if there’s room. The business park is a gated complex and there is a high level of security surrounding the development, so it is very safe to leave a car inside.
Members don't need to have an interest in cars to join the shed.
Shedworx is still a work in progress and they have received some sponsorship to get new tools. They are currently setting up an official Shedworx account for future donations. The members are also planning to install a car-lift.
“It’s a cool little getaway,” says Jason, “please God, we’ll get a little more sponsorship and help keep young men off the streets, while having a good time and looking after our mental health at the same time. To anybody who wants to come,give us a call. We’ll meet up and have a chat first to discuss membership. You don’t have to be good with cars, just willing to give it go, really.” For more information, contact Dylan on 085-8615 431 or Jason on 083-450 8018.
Like all men’s sheds at present, Shedworx is closed, but members are checking in with each other over the phone.
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