That is one of the simple yet important ideas behind the launch of a new Men's Shed in Heathcote last week.

Heathcote Community House co-ordinator Vicki Forde said the idea sat comfortably alongside the idea of equipping men with practical knowledge.

"The Men’s Shed movement is about men being connected," she said.

"Some have always had a shed in their backyard but might not necessarily know how to use all the tools in them. 

"It’s building relationships and talking with them."

She said last Monday's event at the community house, which took the form of an informal barbecue, drew about 25 to 30 men throughout the day. 

The day was a success, with people coming who had not been to the community house before.

Ms Forde said attendees expressed an interested in using the group as a way of working towards community projects, fundraising, and even learning homebrewing and scale modelling.

"It was fantastic, there are no special men’s group as such in Heathcote," she said.

"Of those who came, about half of them completed feedback forms indicating they were interested in the program."

"People came along who were on their own, who live alone.

"To touch those people was great."

She said while the issue of mental health was not explicitly addressed in Men Sheds, better mental health outcomes came out of such programs indirectly.

She said Heathcote had an ageing population and issues with depression and loneliness among men in the community meant a social group for men was "really needed".

"A lot of men don't have those connections," she said. 

"There’s car clubs, sporting clubs, but for those not interested in that, where do they go?"

The Heathcote group plans to meet on Mondays from 10.30am to 2.30pm, giving men the chance to take part in a woodwork workshop and use the other facilities available. 

Men who come along on Monday’s will have access to volunteer co-ordinators Paul Wright and Rod Brown, Ms Forde said, who will help act as the focal point for any issues or concerns.

"The real message is we have this facility for men to do whatever they want to do, within reason," she said.

For more information about the Heathcote Men's Shed, phone Heathcote Community House on 5431 0930.