U.K. seniors turn to 'men's sheds' to combat loneliness

Pottery wheels whir and sawdust sprays as a group of seniors gathers in a small community centre in Britain's capital. The group is part of a growing movement known as a "men's shed" to combat what experts are calling "a loneliness epidemic" in the U.K.

Clifford Baston, 67, hunches over the potter's wheel as his hands shape the cool, wet clay into a bowl. He joins the other dozen self-described shedders — mostly older men with some women  — for lunch and a chat. Baston began attending this shed weekly after his wife of 44 years died, and says the community has made a difference in his life when it comes to coping with loneliness.

"The shed's a day out, and hopefully I forget all that [loneliness] for a day," Baston said. "You can turn to people. There's always people willing to help."  

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​Baston is one of nine million people across the U.K. — around 14 per cent of the population — who say they often or always feel lonely, according to a 2017 report from a commission on loneliness involving British lawmakers, charities and advocacy groups. 

Minister for Loneliness

To address the problem, the British government has gone so far as to appoint a "minister for loneliness" — thought to be the first in the world — and is funding projects such as men's sheds in order to offer people avenues of connection.

Research shows activity-based community is more appealing and beneficial to seniors compared to other social interactions such as going to a pub or meeting for coffee. More than 11,000 people in the U.K. are benefiting from the sheds, according to the U.K. Men's Shed Association.

Loneliness can be as damaging to someone's health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, and social isolation increases mortality by 26 per cent, according to data from AGE U.K., an advocacy group for the elderly.

By 2010, more than half of all people age 75 and older in the U.K. lived alone. Today, some retired seniors can go weeks without seeing a single person.

In June, the U.K. government announced that charities and community groups will be given more than $33 million in new funding for initiatives "to help isolated people and those suffering from loneliness," including men's sheds.

In addition, Britain has created the Campaign to End Loneliness, which works with organizations to tackle loneliness in older age. According to the campaign, there are 1.2 million "chronically lonely" older people in the U.K.

Older people often don't want to go to an event branded specifically for lonely adults, but they will go to a shed, said Alice Stride, a spokesperson for the Campaign to End Loneliness. "People are crying out for opportunities to connect with each other."

'Practical things'

The idea of men's sheds is spreading. Although originally created in Australia, they're now popping up in Britain, Canada and elsewhere. There are 14 sheds in Canada compared to 460 sheds in Britain, with 133 more currently in development, according the U.K. Men's Shed Association. The first women's shed will be opening in southeast London at the end of August.

Sheds don't necessarily take place in a literal garden shed — although some do. "People have started sheds in double garages," said Mike Jenn, founder of the Camden Town Shed in north London. "You don't need a fancy building. You just start where you can."

Laura Winkley, the membership and support officer at the U.K. Men's Shed Association, says the sheds have always been about social connection and building friendships, especially for men, who represent about 75 per cent of the people using the facilities. "I think men's sheds provide a really great opportunity for guys to talk, but also for them to do practical things," Winkley said.

'Great help to me'

Canadians struggle with isolation, too. One in 10 Canadians under 60 lives alone, according to Statistics Canada, and up to 1.4 million elderly Canadians report feeling lonely.

Graham Davey, a psychology professor at the University of Sussex, says a lot of the issues surrounding loneliness are related to a lack of self-esteem. "Loneliness generates feelings of disconnectedness," Davey said. "If the shed enables someone to engage in activity, then that may give the individual some self-esteem, which makes them feel less lonely."

That sentiment makes sense to 87-year-old Francis Campbell who has been attending a shed in south London for eight months. Years ago, he spent his time making music until he grew sick and couldn't continue. Now he devotes his days to building guitars by hand in the company of other self-described shedders.

"It's been of great help to me," Campbell said. "When you become ill, you have to find another way to survive."