News

Shed in the Spotlight – Stewarton Community Shed

An East Ayrshire church has launched a Community Shed in its community to enable locals to learn new practical skills to make, repair and repurpose whilst combatting social isolation and loneliness and positively impact on the health and wellbeing of its members. Stewarton Community Shed is part of the Thrive Stewarton initiative—set up by John Knox Parish Church and the Presbytery of the South West to support people in their 20s to 40s ‘outside the walls’ of the church. The Shed was officially opened on the 9th March 2025 by

A Personal Story: John McFall

Retired chef and Kirkmuirhill and Blackwood Men’s Shed (KBMS) Member John McFall (75) shares his story of feeling ‘forgotten’ following his daughter’s death and subsequent marriage breakdown, turning to alcohol and being on the verge of taking his own life before joining, and feeling saved by, his local Men’s Shed. John said: “KBMS has been a lifesaver for me. I know that sounds quite dramatic but it literally has been. I came close to taking my own life a couple of times—I was on the verge and could not see

A Personal Story: Duncan Seymour

The SMSA connects with Dalkeith Men’s Shed Vice-Chairman Duncan Seymour (56), a working Shedder who recently embarked on an eye-opening trip to Japan’s first pilot Men’s Shed—Pokke Kotan in Sapporo. Duncan, a Maintenance Technician at an Early Learning Centre in Vogrie, said: “I heard about the Scottish Men’s Sheds Movement through word of mouth and joined just over a year ago. Although I am busy in my working life, I wanted to put in the time to further connect with my community as a type of preparation for my retirement,

The SMSA is a finalist in this year’s Scottish Charity Awards and needs your vote!

Your vote will help put Scottish Sheds on the map! The SMSA is a finalist in this year’s Scottish Charity Awards and needs your vote! The SMSA has been shortlisted for the first time in this year’s Scottish Charity Awards in the ‘Community Impact’ category and needs your vote for the ‘People’s Choice’ Award. Vote for the SMSA by 5pm on Tuesday 20th May 2025 and share this widely with your family, friends and networks. VOTE SMSA CEO Jason Schroeder, said: “This recognition – as one of only 42 finalists

SMSA CEO encourages Wild West Show listeners to Head to the Shed!

SMSA CEO Jason Schroeder was interviewed* by Eileen West for River Dee Radio’s Wild West Show where he had the opportunity to share the story behind the SMSA and the Scottish Men’s Sheds Movement and encourage listeners to head to the Shed to see for themselves. *An excerpt from River Dee Radio’s Wild West Show with Eileen West. Approximate timings: Start— 17.00 mins The inspiration / early days / gender equality 17.00—23.51 mins How to start a Shed / social anthropology / ‘Underfoot Syndrome’ / Covid and Sheds on Zoom

The Scottish Shedder Magazine

THE SCOTTISH SHEDDER Edition 43 – April 2025 The SMSA presents the latest edition of The Scottish Shedder magazine to our 4,300+ members and subscribers. Featuring the latest news, projects and personal stories from Men’s Sheds across Scotland – as well as promoting relevant opportunities and raising awareness of men’s health matters – grab a brew and read this issue at your leisure and click here for the downloadable pdf or use the flipbook version below. Click here to read the latest issue of The Scottish Shedder magazine (pdf) Contribute to a future issue of

A Personal Story: George Smith

The SMSA interviews 49-year-old George Smith from the Black Isle Men’s Shed who, following a major accident at work, had to give up work in 2005. At a loose end, George started delivering green woodworking tutorials to members in Feddanhill Wood behind Fortrose.George said: “I had been a carpenter and joiner since the age of 16—travelling all over the UK to wherever the work took me on projects of a transient nature and thoroughly enjoying life. Then in 2005, everything changed. “I was working on a refurbishment project with a

A Personal Story: Alex Hunter

Kirkmuirhill and Blackwood Men’s Shed (KBMS) member Alex Hunter—a Ministry of Defence veteran in his mid-70s with a newfound passion for bodging garden planters—reflects on the impact that the Shed has had on him. Alex said: “I joined KBMS when it first started up in 2019. We all had a meeting in the local community centre and the place was full with people keen to have their very own local Men’s Shed. “Forms were handed out asking for our contacts details and to list what we were interested in, good

Shed in the Spotlight – Spey Shed

The SMSA chats to Hamish Thom, Chairman of Spey Shed, which now has 25 members and growing steadily—so much so, that they are beginning to feel that they are already outgrowing their current premises. Could a future move be on the cards? Hamish said: “Four years ago, our local authority, The Highland Council, funded a woodwork teacher to open up on Friday afternoons for members of the local community to undertake woodwork activities there. “Although, it was not called a Men’s Shed as such, it was a wee taste of

A Personal Story: Stuart Mackenzie

The SMSA interviews 42-year-old Stuart Mackenzie who kindly offered his friends a lift to a meeting of their local Men’s Shed ten years ago but had no urge to go himself and thought that DIY meant ‘Don’t Involve Yourself’. Fast forward to present day, and he has a mad passion for woodwork and is the Chairman of Macmerry Men’s Shed. Stuart said: “I worked in the prison service (young offenders) for a few years when, in 2007, I woke up one morning and I had lost my sight. I still tried to

A Personal Story: John McGhie

The SMSA chats to 97-years-young veteran, toolmaker and golf club manufacturer John McGhie who is the oldest active member of Stonehouse Men’s Shed and the most mature Shedder within the South Lanarkshire Shed network. Here, John shares his life story and how he connected with his local Men’s Shed which he now ‘could not live without’.Born in Stonehouse on the 20th June 1927, John McGhie went to school in the village before leaving at age 14 to become a toolmaker and studying practical and theory at Burnbank Engineering College for

A Personal Story: Rod Ainsworth

When the SMSA received a letter from Rodney (Rod) Ainsworth (pictured above far right), 80 years young from Lossiemouth Men’s Shed, expressing how much he enjoyed being part of the SMSA and the Scottish Men’s Sheds Movement following his retirement from the fire service and moving to Scotland, we had to share his story…Rod said: “I had spent many years working and living outside the UK and then four years ago, I made the decision to retire from the fire service. I wanted to leave the place I was living

A Personal Story: Tom Hollins

The SMSA interviews father-of-five, armed forces veteran and Comrie Shedder Tom Hollins (53) who following medical discharge from the army found his local Men’s Shed and is now embarking on a new venture—to set up a veterans’ hub a stone’s throw away from the Shed base at Cultybraggan Camp. Tom, originally from Belfast, had a military upbringing from day one, his dad was in The Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) providing recovery and engineering support to British Army vehicles from land, air and sea and his brother was

Do not suffer in silence this festive period

Do not suffer in silence this festive period Age UK Advice Line: 0800 678 1602 (8am-7pm, 365 days a year)

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