WIGWAM-S Research Project
Wellbeing in dIsadvantaGed,
Working Age Men – Sheds
Dr Julie Cowie and Dr Dani Hutcheon from Glasgow Caledonian University presented to delegates at the SMSA National Gathering on Friday 3rd October 2025 in Perth, sharing their findings from the WIGWAM-S Project (Wellbeing in dIsadvantaGed, Working Age Men – Sheds). Their presentation offered valuable insights into the impact of community interventions on the health and wellbeing of disadvantaged men, here is a summary of their key findings.
Men living in disadvantaged areas (areas that, for example, might have lots of unemployment, few facilities, or poor housing stock) can face a unique set of health challenges—higher rates of obesity, drug use, social isolation, and significantly lower life expectancy than those living in affluent areas. Yet, male-targeted interventions remain underrepresented in both research and policy. The WIGWAM-S project aimed to explore how, why and for whom male-targeted interventions, such as Men’s Sheds, work.
Why this research matters
While initiatives like Men’s Sheds have shown promise in supporting older men’s health and wellbeing, there’s a gap in understanding their impact on “working-age men” (for the purpose of this research, men aged 16-65). As part of the WIGWAM-S project we conducted: (1) a review of the evidence around the impacts of male-targeted interventions, (2) a series of café events with community members and Shedders to find out more about what works well to support working-age men living in disadvantaged areas with their health and wellbeing.
What we found in the literature
Our scoping review found and analysed 23 articles covering 14 types of interventions, primarily from Australia and the UK. The review showed a wide variety of approaches to engaging with working-age men in disadvantaged areas.
This included: Men’s Sheds which typically involve woodwork, repair projects, gardening, cooking, playing cards, social support, talking and yarning circles; Football Health Programs which combined physical activity, health checks, health education, and group discussions; Peer Support Groups that focused on social networking, community outreach, and group activities, and Indigenous Health Programs that incorporated culturally appropriate health screening, education, group discussions and yarning.
Successful interventions shared common traits:
- Using environments outside traditional health settings to deliver health education and care
- Activities carried out “shoulder to shoulder” like making things or problem-solving
- Provision of space for socialising or social activity (e.g. group discussions, coffee)
- Provision of (in)formal peer support
- Using metaphors, symbols and materials (e.g. football language)
- Giving men ownership in the process as equals
Reaching men where they are—community events
The WIGWAM-S team hosted four Shed events and nine community events, reaching 117 men across Ayrshire, Forth Valley, and Glasgow. The events featured café-style gatherings such as “Breakfast and Blether”, “Curry and Chat” evenings and online events, and proved effective in engaging men who might not otherwise participate.
Data from café events combined with the review revealed some key theories around why male-targeted interventions, such as Men’s Sheds work well:
- Provide an environment for emotional regulation: where men feel comfortable sharing emotions, perhaps in terms of banter, creating a sense of brotherhood, which helps them deal with how they are feeling, helping themselves and their relationships with others.
- Help with giving a purpose in life: producing items, using new or existing skills, that are useful and help/improve the local community provide feelings of being useful, being an active citizen, and being a role model for others.
- Promote healthy behaviours: men are more likely to engage in unhealthy and risky behaviours such as smoking, excessive drinking and not getting regular health checks. Interventions can provide access to physical activity, health education and supportive peers.
- Somewhere to discuss help-seeking: As trust and friendships grow, participants may begin to talk about their struggles, and through this, realise that others in the group have similar experiences. This shared understanding normalises their feelings and builds the confidence to seek help.
- Re-affirm identity: providing a safe environment for promotion of a shift towards a more positive and expansive perspective of masculinity and identity. Participants are able to find a sense of belonging and value that is not reliant on traditional gender roles.
- Promote connection: development of genuine friendship and a feeling of connection that extends beyond the program’s physical space. Participants gain a sense of belonging and reassurance, knowing that they have a support network to call upon. This social connectedness reduces feelings of loneliness and promotes a stronger, more resilient sense of self.
Barriers and opportunities
Some men in the communities we visited viewed Men’s Sheds as “old-fashioned” or “for older men”. Others faced logistical barriers of getting to Men’s Sheds such as transport or scheduling. Men’s Sheds that want to encourage working-aged men along might consider:
- Engaging with community link workers/other community organisations to let working-age men know about Sheds
- Using social media for outreach
- Offering flexible hours
- Address accessibility of the site and affordability of transport to the site
- Look at widening activities available in Shed
- Promoting social area over the workshop area
- Thinking about how to engage men that perhaps only currently socialise as part of online communities
What next?
Based on the findings of the study, the WIGWAM-S team is currently developing guidance material that could be used by Sheds, as well other male-focused organisations, to help encourage new, working-age men to join. This will include social media suggestions, ways of engaging with other community organisations to help recruit new members as well as a short toolkit of possible recommendations your Shed might consider to support wider interest in what you do.
The ultimate goal? To shape future interventions that are inclusive, effective, sustainable and scalable.
For further information or to contact the research team, email: wigwams@gcu.ac.uk
