The Scottish Shedder Magazine

THE SCOTTISH SHEDDER

Edition 42 - February 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)

A sneak peek of what's inside this issue:

SMSA CEO MEETS THE MINISTER FOR EQUALITIES OF SCOTLAND

Kaukab Stewart MSP, Minister for Equalities of Scotland, met SMSA CEO Jason Schroeder this month for the first time. The visit was hosted by Inverclyde Shed and the many societal topics discussed included the imminent budget of the SMSA funding for the coming year. 

SHED IN THE SPOTLIGHT – BIGGAR & DISTRICT MEN’S SHED

When we last caught up with Biggar and District Men’s Shed for a ‘Shed in the Spotlight’ feature back in April 2022, we celebrated their move to their new premises at the former Walston Primary School in Elsrickle. The SMSA now returns to shine the spotlight on them once again for some even ‘biggar and better’ news!

A PERSONAL STORY: ALEX HUNTER FROM KIRKMUIRHILL AND BLACKWOOD MEN’S SHED

We simply have too many Shedders wanting to scream it from the rooftops about how great their local Men’s Sheds is, so, to mark the first issue of a brand new year, we are spoiling our readers with two personal impact stories, yes two! Kirkmuirhill and Blackwood Men’s Shed 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.

A PERSONAL STORY: GEORGE SMITH FROM BLACK ISLE MEN’S SHED

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.

BUNTING ‘HEADS TO THE SHED’ TO PROMOTE MEN’S HEALTH

Professional darts player Stephen Bunting headed to Men’s Shed Govan this month as part of an NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) campaign to promote men’s health— ahead of playing in Glasgow in the Premier League Darts. 

FORMER STONEHAVEN SHED CHAIR RECEIVES AWARD FOR EIGHT YEARS OF SERVICE

In April 2016, a meeting sponsored by Stonehaven Rotary resulted in a ‘show & tell’ by Jason Schroeder. A board of trustees was assembled for the new Stonehaven Shed and gained traction under the Chairmanship of Bill Allan. Eight years on, current Chairman Duncan Cursiter presents a plaque made by the Shed’s 3D CNC team to show their gratitude and recognition to their founder and now former Chairman for the unwavering support, guidance and goodwill he gave, and still gives, to the Shed. 

AND MUCH,MUCH MORE…

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Deadline for next issue:  Friday 18th April 2025

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SMSA charity and founder mark ten-year anniversary

The Scottish Men’s Sheds Association (SMSA) charity, the national support hub for 200+ Scottish Shed groups, and its founder Jason Schroeder, celebrate a decade championing men’s health and wellbeing and the growth and diversification of the Men’s Sheds movement in Scotland.

SMSA Chief Executive Officer and founder Jason Schroeder said: “We are extremely thankful to be where we are today thanks to our main drivers, supporters and 4,200+ members over the years believing in this life-changing and life-saving men’s ‘health by stealth’ model since day one. Without them, the Association would not exist and men’s health would not now have a platform to be more readily spoken about openly. Everyone wins through this model and we hope the support for this grassroots movement long continues.”

At the SMSA’s 10-year anniversary celebrations and national gathering, hosted with civic hospitality from Perth & Kinross Council, Mr Schroeder was presented with a surprise Men’s Shed style commemorative plaque from James (Jim) Paterson from Aberchirder & District Men’s Shed, which was the first-ever Shed to claim the ‘Scottish Men’s Shed of the Year’ title back in 2019. The unique plaque – created from whisky oak barrels and featuring deer antlers, a sgian-dubh (skene-dhu) with Damascus steel blade and the national association’s membership pin badges and metal studs and engraved with the anniversary dates using pyrography – was presented to the charity founder during the event proceedings.

Jason said: “We are extremely grateful to Jim from Aberchirder & District Men’s Shed for this very special plaque to mark such a huge milestone for the SMSA and myself. The plaque will take pride of place at the SMSA’s HQ in Banchory. As we reflect on how it all began and how far we have come – we are immensely proud today to be now known as Scotland’s largest member-led men’s health and wellbeing charity and that is thanks to our members, funders, partners, committed staff team and Board of Trustees, past and present.

“I wish to thank and recognise our three chairmen over the years – the late Brian Mackay, Derek Keiller and current Chairman, David Gardner. Inaugural trustees Willie Whitelaw (our first Secretary) and Charlie Miller, who is still on the board today, who signed up as our first Treasurer. Trustees, Harry McVeigh, David Searle and Jo Hobbett, were also pivotal to get the Scottish Men’s Shed model and Association off the ground.

“My own story is what started me on my path to find something more for the men of Scotland. Back in the financial crash of 2008/9, I found myself working two jobs yet still unable to pay my bills. I was divorced and trying to be a single parent and a better dad to my teenage son, I had a breakdown which resulted in several months off work and even contemplated suicide. I began to look for elders, men who had been through a similar situation, to guide me. After emigrating from South Africa to Scotland in 1997, I could not find men of that calibre in my community and felt I had nowhere to turn.

“So, I started a men’s group, called the Suns of MAC in 2009, which began slowly meeting at my house once a month and we would gather, create, cook and talk around a campfire. We kind of built my own temporary rustic Men’s Shed and began to really understand how men work shoulder to shoulder and how this, and taking rest breaks, builds connection and heart to heart communication. Then I heard about a talk being delivered by Dr Neil Bruce, Chairman of the New Zealand Men’s Sheds Association, taking place in Inverurie in Aberdeenshire and it changed everything.

“After the phenomenal success of the first Men’s Shed which opened in February 2013 in Westhill, Aberdeenshire after four years of development, I moved from my role as Aberdeenshire Council Development Officer to become the first employed Men’s Shed Development Officer hosted by Aberdeenshire Voluntary Action in Scotland. I was a founding member of the United Kingdom Men’s Sheds Association (UKMSA) which is based in England but due to funding never coming to Scotland in September 2014, I created the SMSA charity. I became the first Chairman and then in 2016, the Association received Scottish Government seed start-up funding for the first time and I became the CEO.

“Since the charity’s inception, we have created a tailored and unique solution-focused step-by-step pathway for new Men’s Shed groups to successfully tackle the developmental requirements keeping a voluntary group of men engaged month after month. Today, the movement has evolved so much – we are now supporting men’s health promotion, suicide prevention, documentation and policy, representing the movement and being the voice of ‘Shedders’ locally and nationally and much more.

“There is however still much work to do and now an estimated 10,000+ Men’s Shed volunteers (and growing) across Scotland that require our support so they do not get overwhelmed with running a Men’s Shed in their local community. The Sheds that are currently in development require our assistance, the open Sheds need to remain sustainable and to grow and thrive for future generations and even more new Sheds are required in communities where there is disadvantage and social exclusion.”

“Although the movement has grown significantly, unfortunately due to a lack of any increased core funding since 2016 from the Scottish Government – as we see for our counterparts in countries like Ireland – I truly believe we have unfortunately only reached a third of Scotland’s full development potential. It is our vision that one day, every man aged 18+ in Scotland will have access to, and the opportunity to attend, their local Men’s Shed if they choose to do so to improve their quality of life and we will strive to achieve this aim for as long as it takes. Here’s to the next ten years.”

Banff, Macduff and District Men’s Shed does it again!

‘Scottish Men’s Shed of the Year’ winner announced at national Men’s Sheds Association’s 10th anniversary celebrations

Banff, Macduff and District Men’s Shed has only gone and won the ‘Scottish Men’s Shed of the Year’ title for the second year in a row! Representatives from the Scottish Men’s Sheds Association (SMSA) – the national support hub for 200+ Scottish Men’s Sheds and Scotland’s largest member-led men’s health and wellbeing charity – made the big announcement at their gathering and day conference in Perth today (Friday 4th October 2024) to mark the charity’s 10th anniversary.

The event featured a jam-packed day of learning and networking for guest Sheds from all across Scotland before the announcement of the winner of the prestigious ‘Scottish Men’s Shed of the Year’ Awards 2024 where the three inspiring finalists – Banff, Breadalbane and Maryburgh Men’s Sheds – received the nail-biting news.

SMSA CEO Jason Schroeder said: “Banff, Macduff and District Men’s Shed won the title last year and are the first former winner to ever reapply and we are delighted that they did! They have taken the title once again with Maryburgh Men’s Shed coming a close second followed by Breadalbane for our bronze winner.

Bronze Winner – Breadalbane Men’s Shed (above)

Silver Winner – Maryburgh Men’s Shed (right)


“When we launched these awards back in 2019, it was never about winning – every Shed is a winner! The purpose is to raise awareness, celebrate, recognise and reward Scottish Men’s Shed volunteers for the work they are carrying out to improve men’s health and wellbeing and the impact that they are making in their local communities. Since then, the awards have grown tenfold. The tenacity of the Shedders to pull together never ceases to impress me. It is testament to personal and community commitment working selflessly for better quality lives.”

Mr Schroeder presented the winning Shed with the unique and esteemed SMSA targe trophy engraved with the Shed name and displayed in its stand designed and produced by inaugural winner, Aberchirder & District Men’s Shed. Jim Paterson from Aberchirder & District Men’s Shed then revealed a surprise gift – a beautiful and most-fitting award—made of stag horns, Damascus steel, recycled whisky barrels and metal work – for the CEO’s ten years of service to the SMSA and the Scottish Men’s Sheds Movement.

Banff Shed will now hold the trophy until next year’s winner is announced. Banff Shed Chairman Bob Copland said: “We have got so much out of the awards last year that we reapplied to support the programme and the SMSA. We really didn’t expect to win again but, now we are over the shock, we are absolutely thrilled!”

Along with the title and trophy, the Shed receives prizes and discounts to support the running of their Shed including a £500 unrestricted cash prize from the SMSA (paid for through SMSA Shed Membership fees); a £150 voucher from Axminster Tools; a £250 voucher from Scotmid Co-operative to keep the guys going for a while in tea and biscuits; a free Machine Competency and Woodwork training day from David Young Training worth £638; and a year’s free accounts package from Thyme Accountants worth £360 to support their Treasurer.

The anniversary event was supported by partners including Morrison Construction, Asda, Costco UK, Tesco and Morrisons.  The conference also featured a 3D Printing Showcase by Paul Stewart from Three Towns Men’s Shed; an MOT4Men preventative men’s health workshop delivered by the SMSA; the Community Asset Transfer Process delivered by Community Ownership Support Service (COSS); and Machine Competency and Woodwork Safety delivered by David Young Training.

Dr Danielle Hutcheon and Julie Cowie from Glasgow Caledonian University talked on their new research on the ‘Impacts of Men’s Sheds on the Health and Wellbeing of Working Age Men from Disadvantaged Communities’. Alison Leitch from the Scottish Social Prescribing Network presented on ‘Social Prescribing in Scottish Men’s Sheds’ – and the SMSA announced that they are currently working on guidance to share with their Shed members – and Mark Bloomfield from Axminster Tools also spoke on how they can support Men’s Sheds with advice and discounts to kit out their Shed workshop.  Guests were also treated to a pre-tour peek of the ‘Men Don’t Talk’ Play before Pete Lannon, Engagement Officer for Genesis Theatre Productions, highlighted some opportunities available for Sheds to get involved in the upcoming Scottish tour kicking off from the 18th October 2024 by providing some props from their Shed to the venues to give each performance a real feel of a Shed.

The event was made possible thanks to civic hospitality from Perth & Kinross Council. The Association received a civic reception and welcome from Provost Xander McDade and were also joined by Perth & Kinross councillors and senior managers including Vice Lord-Lieutenant Alex Cairncross, Moderator High Constables Society of High Constables Bill Duncan and Lord Dean of Guild Home Euan Begg.

Provost Xander McDade said: “We gathered here today to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Scottish Men’s Sheds Association charity and the wonderful volunteers that run Men’s Sheds in their local communities. What has been achieved in ten years is phenomenal – from the launch of the first Scottish Shed in 2013 to now having 203 open or developing Shed groups. They are delivering transformational work and we look forward to seeing even more in the next ten years.”

Head to the Shed – find the Shed closest to you on the SMSA website at www.scottishmsa.org.uk/find-a-shed

Presentation of SMSA Annual Accounts 2023-2024

As part of the AGM business section of the SMSA Gathering and Day Conference on Friday 4th October 2024, the SMSA will present its Annual Report & Financial Statements (pdf, 4Mb) for the period 1st April 2023 to 31st March 2024 and ask members to approve the accounts.

If you are unable to attend the AGM on the 4th October 2024, please use the voting form provided (Word document) to submit your vote and any queries by Monday 7th October 2024. Your vote is important to the due diligence and good governance of your charity and we look forward to receiving them.

‘Men Don’t Talk’ Play to give pre-tour preview at SMSA Gathering

‘Men Don’t Talk’ – a play exploring masculinity, mental health and Men’s Sheds – will feature at the SMSA gathering next month!

REGISTER YOUR FREE PLACE HERE

‘Men Don’t Talk’ Play to give pre-tour preview at SMSA Gathering!

Starring Scottish actor Billy Mack, the moving and poignant ‘Men Don’t Talk’ play written and directed by Clare Prenton and produced by Genesis Theatre Productions, will be part of the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival this October, presented in partnership with the Scottish Men’s Sheds Association (SMSA) and Luminate, Scotland’s creative ageing organisation.

Three men who have never met before find banter, bird boxes and biscuits in a fictional Men’s Shed, which celebrates companionship, camaraderie … and custard creams. ‘Men Don’t Talk’ explores and explodes the myth that men don’t talk in this hilarious, moving and thought-provoking play.

But, before the play hits the road to tour across Scotland – from the 18th October to the 24th November 2024 – the SMSA has secured an exciting opportunity for a wee sneak peek for their members attending their tenth anniversary gathering in Perth on Friday 4th October 2024. SMSA delegates will be joined by Pete Lannon, Engagement and Outreach Officer for Genesis Theatre Productions who will show an excerpt of the play and update delegates on the upcoming tour and some opportunities for Scottish Men’s Sheds to get involved.

So, if you have not booked your place yet – what are you waiting for? Here is yet another reason to register for this not-to-missed event celebrating ten years of the SMSA.

REGISTER YOUR FREE PLACE HERE

SMSA Gathering 2024

To celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Scottish Men’s Sheds Association (SMSA), the charity held a national gathering and day conference including the SMSA AGM and ‘Scottish Men’s Shed of the Year’ Awards 2024 courtesy of Perth & Kinross Council on Friday 4th October 2024.

References from the event:

SMSA Event Evaluation Form

Please let the SMSA team know what you thought of our event and how we can improve to meet our members’ needs.

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Vote for your ‘Scottish Men’s Shed of the Year’ 2024

Banff, Macduff and
District Men’s Shed
Breadalbane
Men’s Shed
Maryburgh
Men’s Shed

Vote for your ‘Scottish Men’s Shed of the Year’ 2024

Vote

The Scottish Men’s Sheds Association (SMSA), the national support hub for Scottish Men’s Sheds and largest men’s health and wellbeing charity in Scotland, today announces its three finalists for the ‘Scottish Men’s Shed of the Year’ 2024 Awards and officially opens to a public vote. It’s over to you!

The three finalists – Banff, Macduff and District Men’s Shed; Breadalane Men’s Shed and Maryburgh Men’s Shed – were shortlisted by the SMSA’s Board of Trustees following review of the applications, for this prestigious award that recognises and rewards the life-changing impact being made by vital and invaluable volunteers, known as ’Shedders’, across Scotland.

Chairman of Banff, Macduff & District Men’s Shed Bob Copland said: “Our Shed was delighted to win this award last year and as an avid supporter of the SMSA, the awards programme and what it can do for Sheds, we decided to get our application in again this year – not knowing that we are actually the first former winner to ever reapply.

“Once I had got over being utterly flabbergasted and speechless after hearing the news – that out of over 200 Scottish Men’s Shed groups eligible to apply, we had been shortlisted as a finalist again this year – we are immensely proud to say the least. We wish the other finalists the best of luck but the most important part of this process is not the winning but raising awareness of what the Men’s Shed model is all about, the impact it has on the men in our local communities and reach more men to encourage them to head to the Shed and check it out for themselves.”

Phil Richards, Chairman of Breadalbane Men’s Shed, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have been shortlisted for this year’s awards. It really is recognition for the hard work and persistence of our Shed committee and members since our inception back in 2016 to get us to where we are today.”

Andy Barnett, Shed Treasurer of Maryburgh Men’s Shed said: “We are astounded to make it through to the final three. Since starting out during the pandemic in 2020, our members have lobbied and campaigned tirelessly to secure and transform the much-loved former primary school building in our village, which had lain empty for almost ten years, and bring it back to community benefit.”

SMSA CEO Jason Schroeder said: “This is the sixth year of our awards programme and it continues to go from strength to strength and is hugely successful in promoting the huge positive impact made by Men’s Sheds across Scotland and the volunteers that run them. This year, the awards coincide with the tenth year of the SMSA charity and we will showcase the work of Sheds and our Association through our gathering which includes a day conference with networking, workshops, guest speakers, our AGM business and the awards announcement on Friday 4th October 2024 thanks to civic hospitality granted by Perth & Kinross Council to use their Council Chambers and Civic Hall.

“We now hand over the reins to give the public a chance to have their say on their Shed of the Year. There is no fierce competition however as our finalists all support each other immensely – which is what the Men’s Sheds Movement is all about and we look forward to celebrating all of the Sheds, not just our finalists, to mark our tenth year.

“Since our inception in 2014, there are now over 200 Men’s Sheds groups in all 32 local authority regions across Scotland but there is always room for more. It is our vision that every man in Scotland will be aware of and have the opportunity to attend his local Shed if he wishes to do so and we will strive to achieve that goal and help sustain those Sheds for future generations.”

Sheds across Scotland will gather at the event on Friday 4th October 2024 in Perth to connect, learn, share and network.  The winner, who will be announced live at the event, will receive the esteemed targe trophy to display at their Shed for a year on top of a cash prize from the SMSA (paid back from SMSA Shed membership fees) and goodies from sponsors and partner organisations including Machine Competency and Woodwork training on the Shed premises from David Young Training.

The public has until midnight on Sunday 15th September 2024 to vote online at https://scottishmsa.org.uk/smsotyawards

Probable Suicides Statistics 2023

The SMSA is shocked and saddened to read the Probable Statistics 2023 released by the Scottish Government today (13th Aug 2024).

SMSA CEO Jason Schroeder said: “It is simply not acceptable that men’s health and wellbeing is not being taken seriously enough and male suicide rates continue to rise and Scotland has the highest rate of suicide deaths in the UK.


“Proper investment and support for the growth of the preventative, tried-and-tested, Men’s Shed model is imperative for a cultural change. I believe this year the Scottish Government Suicide Prevention budget will be doubled and looking at today’s statistics, we hope the suicide prevention decision makers in Scotland will take heed of this and suicide prevention core funding will come to the SMSA for the first time.

“Our Association, Scotland’s leading men’s health charity, exists to support the 10,000+ volunteers that run over 200 Men Shed groups currently open or developing across Scotland. The SMSA also initiates starting new Sheds especially in the most deprived areas of Scotland and in remote small towns, where men are feeling increasingly disconnected and lonely and this need exists.

“It is unfortunate that despite the huge amount of Scottish and worldwide research that has been carried out on this life-changing and life-saving Men’s Shed’s model and our real-life case studies on how Men’s Sheds positively impact on men and their families’ lives, that our charity has still had to fight year on year for funding from the Scottish Government to deliver our vital services.

“The last two financial years, we have thankfully managed to reverse an extraordinary decision to cut our funding entirely after garnering up immense support from the public and over 40 MSPs however still received no increase in funding since receiving a start-up grant in 2016 supporting five Sheds (£75,000). This minimal funding with no provision made for development plans and the cost-of-living crisis has cost the growth of the movement dearly. Whilst, our fantastic counterpart Associations in Ireland (1.2 million Euros) and Australia ($2.8 million) are fully recognised and receive the significant investment they deserve as leading forces in preventative action for men’s health.

“To put men’s health, wellbeing and suicide prevention at the forefront, we must raise awareness and move away from this inherited plight that men have found themselves with the ‘strong and silent’ type generic cultural model. Men’s Sheds have been in Scotland for 11 years now and should be seen as a key pathway in health – desperately required for the men of Scotland – to take control, express emotion, boost their health and wellbeing and support each other ‘shoulder to shoulder’ in a healthy, friendly and welcoming space within their communities.”

SMSA’s ‘Scottish Men’s Shed of the Year’ Awards 2024

Applications are now closed for the sixth year of the SMSA ‘Scottish Men’s Shed of the Year’ Awards.


The SMSA’s awards programme exists to recognise, reward and promote the contribution Men’s Sheds make to our communities across Scotland and the huge life-changing impact that they are having on the people that attend them.

With over 200 Sheds now open or developing across all 32 local authority areas, these awards celebrate and showcase the connections and camaraderie taking place to benefit men’s health and wellbeing by combatting social isolation, loneliness and boredom.
 
All submissions will be ‘blind’ judged by the SMSA Board—meaning that all references to places, areas, partners, names etc have been removed by the SMSA team beforehand to ensure unbiased decisions and scoring by the SMSA Trustees.
 
Three shortlisted Sheds will then be announced at the end of August and open to a public vote for three weeks before the winner is revealed at the SMSA awards event, AGM and Shed gathering to mark the SMSA’s 10th Anniversary on Friday 4th October 2024 in Perth.

Glasgow Caledonian University secures funding for additional Men’s Shed research

Glasgow Caledonian University’s (GCU) Yunus Centre for Social Business and Health has secured funding for a co-design community project to develop realist programme theories around the impact of Men’s Sheds on positive health and wellbeing of socially disadvantaged, working-age men.


The Yunus Centre for Social Business and Health previously led on the Sheds for Sustainable Development Project which focused on supporting Men’s Sheds in Scotland to be both financially and socially sustainable.


Dr Danielle Hutcheon said: “We are delighted to announce that we have received this funding from the Chief Scientist Office (CSO) to conduct a one-year study of the health and wellbeing impacts of Men’s Sheds on working age men from socially disadvantaged areas.


“The study will use a realist approach to explore ‘what works, for whom, in what circumstances, and how’. More specifically, the study will be used to: understand how Men’s Sheds can support positive behaviour change and health and wellbeing of men who may be involved in unhealthy lifestyle behaviours, socially-isolated and/or unemployed, and; how the Shed model can be tailored to address the needs of working age men in socially disadvantaged communities who might not already be engaged.


“The study will be led by Dr Julie Cowie, Senior Research fellow from the Yunus Centre for Social Business and Health, and will commence in October 2024. The team will be in touch with the SMSA and Scottish Shedders closer to the time with more information, but are very much looking forward to doing more important research to support the Scottish Men’s Sheds Movement!”