What is a Men’s Shed?

Men’s Sheds help to combat social isolation and loneliness, regenerate and build sustainable communities and improve men’s health and wellbeing.

Men’s Sheds are changing people’s lives – not just the men but also their circle of family and friends and communities.  Sheds have created a new preventative male health and wellbeing model as well as an avenue for effective engagement with a hard-to-reach group…men.  Sheds reduce social isolation, loneliness, depression/anxiety and can increase confidence and the sense of purpose/belonging in an inclusive and supportive male environment.

This unprecedented support impacts positively on thousands of people’s lives across Scotland by helping them become active citizens in their communities. This unique non-competitive and all-inclusive male socialisation model originated in Australia and is now multinational.  It uses purposefulness and kindness as its main drivers which impacts positively on all participants.  It is a win-win situation for the men, the Shed, their family and friends, the community as a whole and aligns with Scotland’s national wellbeing indicators.

The Scottish model is unique in that it serves all men aged 18+ and offers boundless opportunities for connections, camaraderie and to be an active part of their community. Activities are all member-led, and the members are all volunteers. The Shed can be for whatever the member wants it to be—to make friends, share existing skills or to learn new ones, respite, and/or gain the confidence to participate in walking groups, outings and fishing trips outwith the Shed. The possibilities for life-long friendships and camaraderie become endless!

This male voluntary engagement uses purposefulness and kindness as its main drivers which impacts directly on all participants. Men’s Sheds create a new environment never seen before in Scotland for all men to have the opportunity to socialise and support each other in a ‘shoulder to shoulder’ approach.