This is personal input from the President of Bateau Bay Men's Shed.

It seems to me that making connection with the younger generation through the Men's Shed movement is becoming harder & harder. And it is not our doing.

We at Bateau Bay used to host young boys & girls at vacation times for 1x1/2 day & had items pre-cut ready for them to assemble, paint & take home. It wasn't unusual for us to start pulling the roller shutters down to make them go home. They just didn't want to leave. The requirements on us to continue were impossible.

The PCYC approached us with the view having 1-2 fully supervised (by Police) youths come to the shed to gain some sort of training. Even if  it was only to make them understand; they need to get out of bed & get themselves to the Shed on time as required with a proper job because the world doesn't owe them a living. 

 At the Shed, put their phones away & learn something meaningful. From the powers that be we were advised to consider this move as it could be very risky & leave us open to all sorts of legal issues.
 This is just 2 of the many barriers we have encountered.

With all the do gooders, red tape, protection agencies, insurance companies & anybody else that can have their two bob objections heard the kids are missing out. At every turn, if they are enjoying or will enjoy an activity someone is taking it away. I won't comment on the removal of roundabouts & monkey bars from playgrounds. It,s time to allow responsible people on all levels to remove the kids from the no risk bubble they have been placed in & let them grow in the real world.  

Forget the what ifs & stop trying to fix things that are not broken.