Our Kleenheat Community Grants program is supporting local groups, charities, and not-for-profit organisations doing great things in communities across the Northern Territory and regional Western Australia. 

One of the five Grants categories Connected Communities, rewarded organisations that focussed on growing stronger community relationships through inclusive and interactive activities. 

Many of these activities also contribute to the improved health and wellbeing of those involved.

An active and interactive lifestyle goes a long way towards helping us stay focused, grow healthy relationships, avoid unnecessary stress, and reduce the risk of long-term health problems.

The Palmerston Men’s Shed plays an important role in connecting the community and maintaining the health and wellbeing of their members. They received a $1,000 Kleenheat Community Grant for their initiatives within the Palmerston community.

Supporting the health and wellbeing of our communities

What is Men’s Shed?

The Men’s Shed movement originated in Australia. One of the precursors of the movement began in the 1980s in Broken Hill, New South Wales, involving former miners. Another was the Albury Manual Activities Centre, also known as “Albury Men’s Shed” which opened in 1978.

The aim of Men’s Sheds is to improve the health and wellbeing of their members.

Jill Pascoe, President of the Men’s Shed in Palmerston, says the Men’s Sheds are community spaces for men, and women, 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.”

The Men’s Shed movement has now become one of the most powerful tools for addressing men’s health and wellbeing. Thirty percent of Men’s Sheds Australia-wide are now open to women as well.

Connecting the local community

The Palmerston Men’s Shed is a community-based, non-commercial organisation that is open to men and women from the age of 17 years and upwards.

The Men’s Shed provides a place where men and women can feel included and safe. 

Palmerston Men’s Shed has been around for approximately 15 years. The Palmerston City Council supports the Men’s Shed by providing a premise to operate from and power supply.

Palmerston Men’s Sheds’ members and activities

Apart from the regularly attending members of the community, The Palmerston Men’s Shed also interacts with the Helping People Achieve organisation, whose members attend the Shed to learn about woodworking.

The Shed also supports people from the parole system as well who attend to learn new skills to help them return to the workforce.

Members from other Men’s Sheds and road-tripping travellers are also welcomed at the shed. 

The Palmerston Men’s Shed’s main activity is involving woodwork and welding. Members make wooden homes for local wildlife and poultry, as well as wooden toys, bread boards and other wooden goods. These items are often sold to the public.

The $1000 grant from Kleenheat was used to buy materials to make the wooden structures and homes for their bird boxes and similar woodwork pieces.

“We at the Palmerston Men’s Shed are extremely grateful for the grant. Thank you.”

Learning more about Men’s Shed

The Australian Men’s Shed Association (AMSA) is the peak body supporting almost 1000 Men’s Sheds and is recognised as one of Australia’s largest male-based community development organisations. 

To join Palmerston Men’s Shed or to find a Men’s Shed near you, visit www.mensshed.org.

Learn more about our other Northern Territory-based Kleenheat Community Grant recipients.

Stay tuned

Our grants program is supporting local groups and organisations doing great things in communities across the Northern Territory and regional Western Australia.

We’ve awarded 40 applicants $1,000 to help them continue their great work.

Stay tuned for our next round of Kleenheat Community Grants.