Frequently Asked Questions
What Would You Like To Know?
What is Thame Shed?
Thame Shed is a community space for people to connect, converse and create. The activities are often similar to those of garden sheds, but for groups of people to enjoy together. They help reduce loneliness and isolation, but most importantly, they’re fun.
Who runs Thame Shed?
Most of the Sheds in the UK are run by the people that use them, in a bottom-up approach. This grassroots model can often bring about stronger feelings of fulfilment and achievement in the men that develop them, and may lead to better sustainability as they often don’t start with large cash injections. This isn’t always the case though. A small number of Sheds are run by organisations like Age UK and have been around for years.
Is Thame Shed just for older people?
No, but most of the people that attend them are retired. This is because a life after employment can be difficult and can cause people to feel that they’ve lost their sense of purpose and place in the world. They can miss the routine and camaraderie between colleagues that often comes with working life. This can lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation which can be dangerous for their health and wellbeing. However, recognising that age isn’t the only factor in loneliness and isolation, and that there is more to Thame Shed, for example sharing skills, informal learning and enjoyment, some Sheds have younger members.
How old do you have to be to go to Thame Shed?
It depends on the Shed, but because of the nature of the activities, you’ll usually need to be at least 18.