Shed in the Spotlight – Irvine New Town Men’s Shed
Irvine New Town Men’s Shed traces its origins back to late 2018, when a small group of local men decided to create a safe space for their community. Founding members—Andrew Brown (Chairman), Alan Davidson (Secretary), and John Easdale (Treasurer)—first set up the Shed in a former shop in Bourtreehill. They remained there for around nine months before moving across the precinct to their current base at Number 10, Lower Vennel, where they have remained and thrived ever since.
The members carried out the full internal conversion themselves, establishing a functional workshop, a multipurpose meeting/coffee room, and another room for pyrography and CNC work. They also maintain a sizeable external garage used primarily for storage.
Membership and day-to-day life
Presently, the Shed has 43 members, with roughly 20 regulars who attend and take part in activities week by week. Ages range widely—most members fall between 50 and 84, though a couple are in their 20s.
The Shed is open almost full-time: Sunday to Friday, 11am to 2pm, “Making us, we feel, ‘THE MOST REGULARLY ACCESSIBLE SHED IN SCOTLAND’,” said Shedder Graham Searle.
Woodworking sits at the heart of Shed activities, with members turning their hands to everything from people’s own designs or designs of our own to small repairs/refurbishment to community projects along with pyrography and CNC work. A new CNC machine is currently being upgraded with additional heads to incorporate laser-carving capability.
Beyond the practical work lies an essential social element—tea, conversation, camaraderie, occasional day trips and evenings out together but most importantly, the sense of belonging that so many members come for and describe as life-changing.
For some, the Shed is a lifeline. One member shared that joining in 2022, after losing his wife, gave him purpose again and the encouragement to get out of the house. Friendships, support, and shared experience remain at the core of the Shed’s ethos.
Community projects and impact
Newtown Men’s Shed has become increasingly well-known for its community contributions. Earlier this year, the group received a £1,000 grant from a local papermill, which they chose to invest entirely into local schools and care homes. Every primary school received a handmade garden bench, while each care home received two raised planters free of charge. This led to further orders from the schools of several more benches and picnic tables supplied at cost.
The Shed also worked in partnership with another local charity, Fit Ayrshire Dads, to support local mental health efforts by supplying ten benches, each featuring an inlaid QR code linking to a helpline number. Every bench was crafted by one of our senior members, 80-year-old John Wilson, and provided at cost.
As a result of this new connection, the Shed members were then invited to the Fit Ayrshire Dads Awards Ceremony on 30th November, where our chairman received a Certificate of Outstanding Recognition from the charity (pictured below).
Over the years, the Shed has also carried out a wide range of charitable and goodwill projects, including:
- constructing access ramps for local residents who were unable to get support elsewhere
- donating items and prizes to local charities and sports clubs
- creating props, displays, and festive pieces for community organisations
- producing a bespoke, flat-packable Santa sleigh for the local Round Table—a standout achievement praised for both craftsmanship and affordability
- building chicken-wire Christmas tree frames for Dreghorn Library, later decorated with knitted squares by a local craft group
- attending local fairs and community events (the Shedders are more than prepared for this festive season with a range of wares that are in high demand and will be quickly snapped up.
Looking ahead: A new Shed home on the horizon?
After many discussions with the local authority, the Shed is preparing to move to Eglington Country Park. The new building being the old Park Rangers building which requires major changes to make it fit for public use. The Shed is awaiting final approval from Planning and Building Control departments for the alterations to go ahead. If this goes ahead, this will include insulation, rewiring, and upgrades in the kitchen and toilets. This level of investment by their local authority demonstrates the value placed on the group’s contribution to the community.
Hopes are high for an early New Year move. With their current premises soon to be demolished, this makes the relocation both as essential but extremely positive next step.
