Repair cafes and sheds are the groups we point to for the person who says they do not want to sit in a circle and chat, which in our experience is most often a retired man. Hemel Hempstead has two repair sheds and a repair cafe, Berkhamsted has a repair cafe, St Albans has a community shed, and several towns have a men's breakfast or a men's fitness group. This article explains why they work and where they are.
Loneliness does not look the same in everyone. For a lot of older men it looks like a garage nobody visits any more. A shed is a garage with other people in it.
Why do repair cafes and sheds help?
The NHS guidance on loneliness in older people points to joining local groups and volunteering as two of the things that help, and a shed is both at once. People come to fix a lamp or a chair, and in doing so they are useful, which matters more to many older people than being entertained. The conversation happens sideways, over a workbench, which is how many men prefer it.
Repair cafes work the same way from the other side. People bring broken things, volunteers fix them, and the volunteers are often retired tradespeople and engineers who would otherwise be at home.
What is a repair shed or cafe like?
The Sunnyside Repair Shed at Hemel Food Garden on Two Waters Road opens Wednesday and Thursday from 10am to 3pm, and the Kings Langley Repair Shed at the Rudolf Steiner School opens on Friday. Both have a membership, so email or phone to join. The Grovehill Repair Café in Hemel Hempstead and the Berkhamsted and Northchurch Repair Café at the Northchurch Social Centre both run on the first Saturday morning of the month, drop in, for a donation.
The Community Shed at St Stephen's in St Albans meets on Friday mornings in term time, free with donations welcome. Men's breakfasts at Christchurch in Hitchin on the third Saturday and at the Shenley Park tea rooms on the second Saturday, the men's fitness group for the over 50s at King Charles the Martyr in Potters Bar, and the men's fish and chip supper at the Salvation Army in Harpenden are the same idea with food or exercise instead of tools.
What do they cost?
Repair cafes are free to attend, with donations welcome. The repair sheds have a membership, and the organisers ask you to get in touch for the cost. The St Albans Community Shed is free. Men's breakfasts vary, and the Harpenden fish and chip supper is £10 and needs booking.
How do I get my father to go?
Do not describe it as a group. Describe it as somewhere to get the lamp fixed, or somewhere that needs someone who knows how to use a lathe. Go with him the first time, or arrange for a neighbour to. The sheds are used to a new face standing at the edge of the room for the first hour.
Where getting there is the barrier, our companionship care includes a carer who goes with someone and brings them home. For some of the men we support, a Wednesday at the shed is the only part of the week they ask about.
One more thing we have learned about repair cafes and sheds: the people who run them are often the people who most needed them. A retired engineer who started coming to fix things ends up running the Wednesday, and that is the shed doing exactly what it is for.
Where to find repair cafes and sheds near you
Each of our town pages lists the sheds, repair cafes and men's groups we know of under hobbies and interests or faith and community, with the day, the venue and who to contact. We confirm the details with the organisers and check the pages every week.
St Albans · Harpenden · Radlett and Shenley · Hemel Hempstead · Berkhamsted · Tring · Hitchin · Hertford and Ware · Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield · Potters Bar · All of Hertfordshire
Common questions about repair cafes and sheds
Do you need to be good with tools to join a repair shed?
No. Sheds want people, not experts. Some members fix things, some make tea, and some just come for the company. The organisers will say what they need.
Are repair cafes only for men?
No. Repair cafes and most sheds welcome anyone. We mention men because, in our experience, these are the groups that reach older men who would not go to a coffee morning.
Can a carer take my father to a shed?
Yes. A companionship carer can go with someone, stay if that helps, and bring them home. Starling Homecare's St Albans office is on 01727 324 127.
If a parent would rather fix something than talk about anything, a shed or a repair cafe is the group to try first. Start with the What's On for Older People pages for their town, and we are on 01727 324 127 if you would like to talk it through.
Arranging Care Is Simple
Starting care can feel like a big step. We keep it calm and straightforward, and we are here to guide you from your very first call.
1. Talk to us
Get in touch by phone or request a callback. We will listen, answer your questions and help you understand the options, so you can decide what feels right in your own time.
2. A home visit and initial consultation
We arrange a visit to understand your routines, your home and what matters most to you. Together we agree an initial consultation and shape the support that feels right.
3. Your care begins
A small, familiar team starts your care, arriving at the agreed times and staying involved as your needs change. We remain your trusted adviser throughout.
Whenever you are ready, we are here to help.