What is the Men’s Shed Grants?
The Men’s Shed Grants is a funding program to support construction of a new men’s shed or the extension or refurbishment of an existing shed.
Background
The Victorian Government is strengthening men’s wellbeing and community connections across Victoria, with further funding to establish, expand or improve men’s sheds. Nearly $900,000 will be available through the latest round of the men’s sheds grants program.
Men’s sheds are places where men can get together, work on common projects, form friendships and give back to their community. There are currently more than 360 communities throughout Victoria enjoying the benefits of having a local men’s shed.
Men’s sheds:
- are community based, non-profit organisations, accessible to all men, whose primary activity is the provision of a safe and friendly environment
- are often located in a shed or workshop space in a community-based setting
- provide a place for regular contact with other men and a range of activities that are determined by the participants
- partner with other organisations to share resources and build on existing services, and many undertake projects to assist the wider community. Partnerships can involve local businesses, councils, other government agencies, community groups, Aboriginal community controlled organisations and local clubs and associations
- are supported by volunteers and are accessible and inclusive spaces.
Funding
Grants of up to $80,000 are available for
- the construction of new men’s sheds, including the conversion of a building that is not a men’s shed into a men’s shed
- the refurbishment, extension or upgrade of existing men’s sheds.
Eligible Projects
This funding can be used for the construction of a new men’s shed, which could mean transforming an existing community facility into a men’s shed, or the refurbishment of an existing shed.
Priority will be given to projects that are in proportion to the amount of demonstrated community need. This means that if a men’s shed group has 10 members, the type of project undertaken is likely to be smaller than a shed with 200 members. For new men’s shed groups, community need can be established through community consultation, partnerships with other local organisations and assessment of what other community resources are available in the local area.
The men’s shed grants will not fund:
- applications that are submitted after the closing date
- men’s sheds that have received more than $25,000 funding through the Victorian Government’s Men’s Shed Funding Program in the past five years
- projects that have already been allocated funding through the Men’s Shed Funding Program
- leases or site purchases
- requests for retrospective funding where projects have commenced or are completed prior to receiving funding approval
- projects that fail to incorporate disability or public access requirements
- projects that require ongoing funding from the Victorian Government
- projects that do not reflect the principles of community inclusion and appropriate access by community members
- projects over $10,000 that do not have a security of tenure (lease or land ownership) for at least five years
- costs to cover existing debt or budget deficits
- operational costs including but not limited to shed coordination costs
- costs not directly related to building and construction
- equipment or free-standing furniture or resources, such as vehicles, tools and chairs
- projects that are unlikely to be completed within two years
- projects that do not have adequate insurance cover (note: these grants do not come with insurance cover)
- projects that do not address the reduction of social isolation in men.
Eligible Applicants
To be eligible for this funding round, applicants must:
- be an insured men’s shed group
- be incorporated, or be auspiced by an incorporated organisation for the purposes of this application
- have evidence of being able to contribute to the project on a 2:1 basis
- be located in Victoria, not on private land
- be able to demonstrate a significant community need for the project
- not have already received $25,000 or more through the Victorian Government’s Men’s Shed Funding Program in the past five years.
If seeking $10,000 or over, the group must have:
- security of tenure in the form of a lease or licence of five years or more, or land ownership
- if auspiced, a memorandum of understanding (or equivalent) must be in place, outlining the agreed nature of the auspice arrangement
- a strategic plan in place that plans activities incorporating use of the new or refurbished facility
- a demonstrated need for the project in the community, established through community consultation, which is proportional to the grant amount requested
- detailed design plans and an understanding of building permit and planning requirements, including overlays
- support from key community partners.
Applicants must involve men’s shed participants in the project design and development phases.
Men’s shed projects must be completed within two years of funding approval.
The funded men’s shed must operate as a facility that is open to men in the wider community for a minimum period of five years.
Timing
Applications close 30 June 2021.
