Courting Charities & Community Groups SEEKING A PARTNER WITHOUT NOT GETTING CAUGHT!
BRYCE ROUTLEY – SALVOS MEN’S SHED – POORAKA – SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Overview
Introduction
Context
Pooraka Farm Men’s Shed
Projects
Management by Community Centre
Salvos Men’s Shed
Management
Harcourt Project
Lessons learned & Conclusion
Questions
Introduction
Bryce Routley Shed leader – Salvos Men’s shed – Pooraka SA
Established / shed leader - Pooraka Farm Men’s shed
Secretary of SA Men’s Shed Association (SAMSA)
AMSA Board member
Courting Charities & Community
Groups - Context
Every shed different – structure, aims,
development, relations
Common issue – approached to help a person / charity / group
Every approach different – their needs & your
capability
Hard to assess – diversity & complexity
How do you evaluate a proposal to develop a
relationship with a charity or community group?
We will explore this – my experiences in 2 sheds.
Pooraka Farm Men’s Shed -Projects
Set up & managed by a community centre (council
program)
TAFE accredited “home maintenance” course
Work for the dole scheme
Both caused issues – sharing tools, space, materials
Bike restoration program
Failed – poor commitment by refugee group
Indigenous youth program – crosses for
unmarked graves
Worked well – simple & good communication
Pooraka Farm Men’s Shed - projects
Pooraka Farm Men’s Shed - management First 3 years worked well
I was chairman of Community Centre & shed leader – good communication
Initial strong support to get it started.
Shed 2 kms from CC – “them & us” – friction started
All finances controlled by CC
Expense reimbursement difficult
Not encouraged to make profit or improve
New chairman – risk averse – shed “risky”
Shedders asked to leave
Shed – not a legal entity – all tools / materials –CC
95% of shedders left to form another shed - empty handed & bitter
Salvos Men’s Shed
Local Salvation Army Church ($9M budget & >100 staff)
Started new Op shop – empty shed behind & wanted to start a MS.
They had shed & we had the men!
Discussed what we both wanted – aims, resources, policies & plans
MoU – Shed to be part of Salvos & shedders -Salvos volunteers
No joining fees, no rent, power or insurance fees
$3 / session amenity fee – tea, coffee & biscuits
$5,000 start up fund and credit card $500 limit
Portion of shed time – repair donated goods -> Op shop
Very successful – open, trusting, balanced risk, lots of support
Salvos Men’s Shed
• 17m x 11m workshop
• separate kitchen &
loos
• Separate 10x6
storage area
• 3 phase power
• Sealed car park
• Security system
Harcourts partnership – the plan Harcourts –
supply materials
Men’s Shed build cubby
houses
Cubbies painted by Harcourts
Cubbies auctioned
Funds to Salvos homeless youth
program
Cubby house project – what happened?
Harcourts coordinator - keen & communicated well ,
then moved
Harcourts main focus – PR & auction event
Substitute coordinator – less organised /keen
Couldn’t get all materials donated – Salvos paid $3K
Start date delayed – frustrations for shed
No replies to phone / emails for months
Now back on track!
Cubby houses now completed (2 from MS and 2
Construction class)
4 cubbies -auction at Harcourts Award night 19 Oct
3 auctioned to Harcourt offices to paint & auction to
public in Dec
Cert 1 Construction - cubbies
Courting Charities & Community groups & Not being caught out!!
It starts with you!
Every shed is different (& every partner different)
Know your aims / vision – discuss, display & review
All leaders –common understanding of aims & boundaries
No “one size fits all” evaluation process
The potential partner
Find out what they really want from the relationship
Need regular & open communication
Key people to be passionate about the relationship
Flexibility – give & take
Review regularly
Conclusion – Courting or being caught out !
Choosing a shed partner (charity or
community group) – like choosing a
wife!
Understand what you are looking for
Find out what she is really looking for
Don’t rush into a relationship
Don’t be deceived by her glitz and
nice words
Talk openly and develop trust
Don’t assume anything!
Formalise the relationship in writing
Questions