Mobile Share Shed Van

Share Shed - A Library of Things

Describe Share Shed - A Library of Things

Based in Devon, the Share Shed is the world's first mobile library of things. It allows people to live better lives by borrowing things they would otherwise have to buy. It offers over 350 useful items like tools, appliances tents, bikes, and musical instruments for its members to borrow at a minimal fee. This helps people to do things they otherwise couldn’t do – because they cannot afford the equipment or because they don’t have space to store it. It also helps to reduce consumption and waste.

Why does the world need your project?

On average, an electrical drill is used for up to 13 minutes in its lifetime. We want to spread the message about the difference between "I need a drill" and "I need a hole in the wall." At the Share Shed, we aim to support a more collaborative and sustainable lifestyle, by helping people save money, space, resources and reducing clutter.

We want to bridge people’s needs and wants with the resources available in our community, inspiring people to engage in social change. It's good for the pocket and it's good for the planet.

What inspired you to start?

We originally heard about the ShareShop in Frome, a similar project, and thought the idea of sharing items we just need occasionally makes a lot of sense, so we decided to do the same in our own community, in Totnes (Devon, UK).

Share Shed banner

After three years, we were very fortunate to receive a grant from the National Lottery Community Fund to help us pioneer the world's first mobile library of things.

What do you wish you'd known at the beginning?

Social/community projects are very dependent on grants as it takes a lot of time for the project to become financially self-sustaining.

What's the one piece of advice you'd give an aspiring change maker?

Always expect the best from people, and at the same time keep following your dreams.

How can people get involved in your project or help out?

• Becoming a member of the Share Shed
• Borrowing from our collection of over 350 items
• Volunteering your time and skills
• Donating items (check out our Wish List) and/or money
• Helping spread the word via Facebook and Instagram

What are your plans for the future?

We’d like to expand the project and serve other communities (we’ve received requests from various towns) as well as further develop our ethos of collaboration and sustainability by offering a mobile repair station and hosting skillshare events.

Check them out here: https://www.shareshed.org.uk/

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