Join Scottish MSA

The Scottish Men’s Sheds Association (SMSA) services are provided free of charge – as is our Individual Membership – to charitable bodies that support our purposes and aims. A paid membership for a Men’s Shed is also available with many different benefits at £25 per year per Shed.

SMSA is the national support association for the Men’s Sheds movement in Scotland, representing thousands of its members and providing practical support through its extensive website, various activities, social media channels and partner organisations.

The SMSA is not affiliated to any other UK Men’s Sheds Associations and works exclusively in Scotland as a registered Scottish charity – ‘In Scotland For Scotland’. 

Join the SMSA as an individual for free and ACCESS the whole website (Member Resource Library) once you are logged in. Become part of this grassroots movement to improve lives across Scotland, one person at a time.

There are two different options of membership – one for individuals (FREE) and one for a Men’s Shed or Shed Developing Groups. They have very different criteria and benefits (shown right).

We suggest that anyone who supports the Men’s Sheds Movement in any shape and form becomes an Individual Member of the SMSA.

Read our Privacy Policy and Cookies Policy to find out more about what  we do with any information gathered about you. This data collection will be part of your joining us which will allow us to process your application.

Individual Membership is FREE

• Full ‘log in’ access to the SMSA website including all Shed guidance and research documents
• Receive The Scottish Shedder magazine directly to your inbox every six weeks
• Advice and assistance by telephone or email
• Local and regional support as our network develops
• Access to information, events and conferences showcasing the community of Men’s Sheds and activities of Shedders

Full Men’s Shed Membership – £25 per year  (runs from 1st April – 31st March)

• Benefit from exclusive Shed insurance discounts and specialist guidance from our partner Greenwood Moreland Insurance Brokers for all the stages of your Shed journey – the Shed and its contents, members, trustees and visitors etc
• Get the cheapest electricity for your Shed – not available to the public and only through our business partner, Citrus Energy Ltd
• Receive special offers and a 10% discount on all tools through Axminster
• Discounts through the UK’s largest supplier of tools, Cromwell
• Discounted monthly fee on a Men’s Shed accounts package from Thyme Accountants
• Discounted machinery and health and safety training through David Young Training
• The opportunity to have MOT4Men – an innovative tried-and-tested men’s preventative health initiative – delivered in your Shed by the SMSA free-of-charge to your members
• Qualify to apply for accommodation and travel costs (up to 100% of the costs, up to £750) to visit, share ideas and learn from other Men’s Sheds across the country through our membership agreement with the Scottish Community Alliance (SCA) – Learning Exchange grant program.  Please note, as of July 2021, the SCA has a new protocol in place for applications. Interested SMSA Shed members must now make contact with the SMSA (admin@scottishmsa.org.uk or call 07465 202834) in advance of applying to ensure it has knowledge of the application and can endorse it for the SCA.
• Through our relationship with the Australian Men’s Sheds Association (AMSA), receive protected access to their  manual, ‘The AMSA Interactive Manual’, the quintessential guide for developing and operational Men’s Sheds
• Receive an electronic copy of our bi-monthly magazine ‘The Scottish Shedder’ and showcase your progress and updates for free
• Receive the bi-monthly  ‘Shedloads of Opportunities’ bulletin direct to your inbox
• Editor access to the SMSA Shed Member Forum on Facebook (you will need a personal Facebook account to use this). Allowing two of your members to be editors and post directly your Sheds wants, giveaways and/or ‘for sale’ items to other Sheds, publicise events, show what you have created to inspire others, make connections and share information about ‘everything Shed’ to those who want to know. This is your online Shed networking Forum

Apply online and pay your annual subscription (1st April – 31st March) by bank transfer/cheque/paypal or set up a standing order.  SMSA will be in touch once we receive your online application or contact us on – 07465 202834 for our bank details. We also now take card payments if you haven’t yet set up a Shed bank account.