The Step-by-Step Project (SBS) was co-designed to address a common need identified by partners from four European Countries. Men are at greater risk of poor physical and mental health because of social isolation, loneliness and unemployment. SBS delivered a model of community engagement to empower men to move from poor health and/or isolation to healthy social participation or active engagement in the labour market. To achieve this, the SBS Model adapted the Men’s Sheds concept by developing a new, third-generation Men’s Sheds Delivery Model. This incorporated peer champion (health and employment focused) training and deployment within the Sheds and their communities, outreach with their communities and other organisations, and use of health technology for assessment of health status. Information videos have been created, explaining the SBS Model in English, French, and Dutch.
The evaluation adopts a mixed-method (qualitative and quantitative evidence gathered), multi-discipline (physical, social, psychological and economic indicators of change) multi-level (evidence gathered from Shedders, Leaders, Trainers, Partners) approach. The objective is to provide evidence of “who” the SBS Project has engaged with (reach), “what” changes have occurred (effectiveness), document “where” diversity in SBS Shed delivery is observed (adoption), “how” change was achieved (implementation) and “if” change is likely to lead to long-term economic benefit (maintenance). This approach is based on the RE-AIM evaluation framework (Glasgow, 1999, 2019).
Between September 2017 and November 2021, 101 Sheds were established with a total membership of approximately 2000 individuals from Belgium, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Data collection for this evaluation started in May 2019 and ran until November 2021, and involved approximately 450 Shedders (Leaders, Champions and Members), 7 Champion trainers and 15 Project Partners. Economically, the SBS Model facilitated reduced expenditure on mental and physical healthcare, less public spending on welfare transfer payments and other support agencies, and up-skilling and greater self-esteem on reducing unemployment and enhanced productivity in the workplace
