A MEN'S Shed with a difference has opened at Capalaba and is seeking older men with skills or an interest in steel fabrication and vehicle restoration to join as volunteers.
The shed, known as Shed 27 and located at 27 Neumann Road, Capalaba, is a project of the not- for-profit organisation Briswest Care, a public benevolent institution that works to help struggling families and individuals in the local community.
It joins the organistion's other programs and servcies, including the well known Sail Away program, which, completely volunteer-driven, provides life-changing, outdoor adventures for young people with foster care and other disadvantaged backgrounds.
Expertly led by Shed 27 founder Shane Gilchrist, who has a background in vehicle restoration and custom art, but is now a firefighter and station officer for Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, the shed will be a community hub that focuses on steel fabrication and vehicle restoration.
Shane said the shed would include auto electrics, mechanics, panel beating, motor trimming and spray painting, while creating common ground on which to bring together people of diverse age groups, cultures and backgrounds.
He said the shed especially wanted older men to contribute their skills and experience, as it also aimed to help young people gain skills that could potentially lead to them gaining employment.
"We hope to have somewhere young people can come to burn off some energy and do something constructive, and learn alongside the older guys who have the skills," he said.
"We're hoping there will be old and young together, shoulder to shoulder on projects.
"We'll have a registration process for the young people, and the shed will have a fairly strict code of behaviour with no smoking, no swearing, and no alcohol allowed.
"It will be kept free of negative influences."
Shane said Shed 27 would also become the home base for Briswest Care and would provide a unique, full-time service to the bayside area.
In addition to the Men's Shed activities, its services will include a range of workshops plus shed space for group, personal and community projects, provided on a by-donation basis.
Having bought the shed and funded its initial stages of development himself, Shane said the venture now needed volunteers and community support to keep it moving along.
"We need help with setting up the shed, and donations of money and equipment, including steel, cars, car parts, and auto electrical equipment," he said.
"We can't do this without the help of the community, as we have no grants and no financial backing.
"We also need help with networking and contacts who can help us find long term partners for products, services and donations."
Shane said he hoped to build a contact list of tradespeople who could help with shed maintenance and business owners who could donate materials and supplies.
"Whatever anyone can offer to help us would be welcome," he said.
"If everybody does just one small part, it all adds up to a whole."
For further information about Shed 27, click here
To enquire about donating or volunteering, email briswestcare@bigpond.com or phone Shane on 0400 382 378.
