Asociación de Refugios de Hombres Irlandeses
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Historia fundacional
John
Evoy
The Irish Men's Sheds Association
, WF, Waterford
, WF, Waterford
1-5 años
Operando entre 1-5 años
As a national NGO,with a community development ethos, IMSA is focused on the goal of empowering communities to develop a Men’s Shed.It is important to us that all men have an opportunity to take part in such a positive space as a Men’s Shed.It is also important to us that the good practice model of a Men’s Shed,together with the core concepts of equality,non-judgmental,local governance,activity and community,is promoted and maintained in Ireland and beyond.
Our vision is that all men will have the opportunity to improve their health and wellbeing through taking part in a Men’s Shed.Most importantly,our goal is centralised around a grass-roots approach;IMSA wants to support the ideas/visions of local communities,encourage the volunteerism and social conscious which exists among men.
To date, since 2010, IMSA has been successful in developing a strong organisation with a Board of Directors comprising of 17 grassroots and expert members, a staff base of CEO, and part-time administrator and funding co-ordinator. We have secured approx, €40,000 funding within the initial year of start-up with a commitment from funders for the next 2 years. On the ground, we have supported communities in over 40 areas in Ireland to set up a community Men's Shed in their area. These Sheds have over 700 men taking part and benefiting from the Men's Shed model. Over 65 Sheds are affilitated with the Irish Men's Sheds Association to date. Our website www.mensheds.ie is receiving on-going increase of sites visits and unique hits, and is a unique webiste offering support and information to communities in Ireland. Our practice has recently received positive reference in both the British Medical Journal (2011), and a recent report from the Irish Institute for Public Health (2011).
Over the next 5 years IMSA will support the development of min. 200 community Men’s Sheds across the island of Ireland.The health and wellbeing impact of these Sheds will reach a minimum of 8,000 men in Ireland.IMSA will ensure that the model of a ‘Men’s Shed’ is understood within the wider community of Europe as a whole,and that Men’s Sheds are a viable,key part of many rural and urban communities.
IMSA will ensure that Men’s Sheds are recognised at national and European level as key aspects of national strategies for men’s health and well-being, with mainstreamed funding for community Men’s Sheds.IMSA will ensure that Men’s Sheds are strong,sustainable and effective in promoting men’s health and wellbeing,and are a supportive collective,through a network of volunteer Shed Advocates.
Services and DVD launched at an inaugaral National Men's Shed Conference, Ireland, August 2012
IMSA Shed Advocate Training:a network of community volunteers to facilitate Start-Up Workshops & promote good practice.
Produce a DVD/Manual - How to Start Up a Men’s Shed in Your Area, based on experiences of Sheds in Ireland.
Organise an IMSA National Conference, proven to be a very valid way of people learning about ‘what works’ with regard to Sheds
IMSA will move to a new dedicated premises for the organisation, with funding from both national and EU health programmes.
Successfully apply for funding through the Irish Government Dept. of Health and Children to support the IMSA Resource and Suppor
Successfully apply to the EU Call for Health Programmes 2012 for core funding to sustain the organisations activities.
Secure an accessible, central and affordable premises to accommodate the head office of IMSA, training spaces and grounds.
IMSA sees the Men’s Sheds in Ireland as our most important partners.Since 2010,we have supported the growth of over 40 Men’s Sheds, and are working together with these Sheds,to ensure the further growth and sustainability of Men’s Sheds.Our funders and also local community service providers are key partners.Currently one of our partnerships is with a local government education provider; County Wexford VEC,in delivering a Leargas funded European Conference on ‘Working with Men’ to generate knowledge among a wider community on innovative ways of supporting men’s health, wellbeing and learning.
We currently target all communities within the island of Ireland for the growth of Men’s Sheds and to avail of IMSA.We do this largely through media opportunities, our website and a growing ‘word of mouth’.Through Start-Up Grants,we focused on rural areas during 2012 as we recognised that within such areas there is a dearth of support opportunities from other services.We will continue this focused Start-Up Grant for rural Men’s Sheds throughout the year.We are focused on raising awareness among community service providers on what a Men’s Shed is,including training delivery at European level.
For IMSA, we need communities to believe in the potential of IMSA to support them in achieving opportunities for men in their community, through a Men’s Shed. Maintaining a transparent, accessible, honest, social-minded and happy internal organisation is making our innovation successful.This type of internal organisational together with skill, talent and effectiveness of staff and volunteers,success is happening for our innovation.
It is undoubtedly a better operating environment for IMSA when Men’s Sheds as a concept is understood and appreciated as a tool for improving men’s health, learning and wellbeing.In Ireland, and Europe, there is a growing body of awareness of the potential within Men’s Sheds evident in Ireland’s National Men’s Health Policy among others.
IMSA is in a strong position to support other initiatives to develop/maintain gender equity within their service provision. IMSA has expertise in developing innovative ways to engage men in their health and wellbeing and we would be more than willing to share this knowledge and our experience.
We recognise that we are in need of additional support in the area of marketing our organisation.