It’s simple to make a safe donation to support the Scottish Men’s Sheds Association (SMSA) using your credit or debit card, PayPal, a CAF Charity Account or CAF Charitable Trust.
When you make a donation, your name and address will be passed onto SMSA (unless you choose to remain anonymous). Keeping your identity to yourself is easy – simply tick the ‘Donate anonymously’ box when you select your donation amount.
Thank you for supporting the SMSA to save the Sheds and ultimately, save lives!
The SMSA has been trialing the Pathfindr Safe Distancing Assistants in ten Scottish Men’s Sheds – made possible with funding from its partnership with the Scottish Community Alliance. Due to the success of this trial, the Association has now received full supported funding from The Scottish Government to roll this out to other interested Sheds across Scotland.
Check out Moffat Men’s Shed’s video demonstrating the Pathfindr Safe Distancing Assistants in action at their workshop.
The clip (filmed before the second lockdown) shows this simple piece of kit – available for free to SMSA Shed Members – being used to assist with training and awareness of social distancing.
The device which can be worn around the neck or clipped on to clothing emits a short audible or vibrating alert when another wearer is detected within 2 metres, advising both wearers to check and increase their distance.
The range can be changed from its pre-configured 2m, as a result of revisions to the legislation. This effective piece of technology has no complicated set up, no software to install and no training.
If your Shed would like to request some devices from the SMSA for use when lockdown measures ease, please complete this short online form.
Darrel O’Shaughnessy, Men’s Sheds Lead from the Arnprior & McNab/Braeside Men’s Shed in Canada got in touch with the SMSA to highlight their latest video production.
The video entitled ‘Shedding a Little Light in our Community’ was filmed at their Shed in the Province of Ontario in close proximity to Ottawa (their nation’s capital). Their Shed is now almost three years old and has 38 members, and like our Scotttish Sheds, they are changing the lives of their Shedders.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, they are currently operating with 10 Members at any one time and continue to be very busy designing and developing Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) throughout the County of Renfrew.
Check out their video below to get a closer look at how they create a welcoming place where men can feel useful, have purpose, enjoy social connection and make a meaningful contribution to their community.
As part of the Scottish Government’s winter package funding to tackle social isolation and loneliness, the Scottish Men’s Sheds Association (SMSA) has secured vital funds to support Men’s Sheds in crisis in Scotland.
The £30,000 emergency pot will assist Sheds, most severely affected by the pandemic, that are struggling with financial pressures and/or facing closure to ensure they are still here to support Shedders when they are able to safely open their doors once again.
Jason Schroeder, SMSA’s Executive Officer, said: “SMSA is delighted to have secured this crisis grant funding for Scottish Men’s Sheds through the Scottish Government. Covid-19 forced our Sheds to close temporarily, calling a halt to much of their fundraising activities and this is impacting heavily on their income generation. This fund will support new and existing Sheds, large and small, to cover core running costs to offset this lost income. We will aim to help those Sheds in crisis to give them the peace of mind to ensure they are still here in the future when Sheds will be needed most.
“A huge area of concern is how this pandemic has impacted on people’s health and wellbeing and we need to ensure the survival of our Sheds for when men can attend them again, hopefully in the spring time. This funding has the potential to do so much good. We will strive to stretch it as far and wide as we can to prevent any closures.”
The fund is now open for SMSA Shed Members (click here to join for free) to apply online through the Association. Sheds can apply for core running costs (e.g. rent, heat and light, insurance etc) to keep them open in the upcoming months. Priority will be made to Sheds with an unrestricted funds bank balance of less than £1,000.
The Scottish Men’s Sheds Association (SMSA) – in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support – wants to hear from Shedders that have cancer, have had cancer or who are supporting or caring for someone with cancer.
Cancer doesn’t just affect the person; it also affects family members, friends, carers and communities. A life-changing diagnosis can influence relationships, finances, careers and emotions. Men’s Sheds offer an empowering place for men to come together voluntarily to make friends, re-engage with purpose, enjoy healthy lives and even learn new skills. Even though Sheds are temporarily closed, due to Covid-19 restrictions, these strong connections with fellow Shedders are still being maintained.
SMSA is looking to bring together a group of men willing to meet online to share their cancer experiences and stories. What helped most? What were the challenges/barriers? What type of cancer? What was missing on your journey? What improvements could have been made? All these real-life experiences, from a male perspective, will assist SMSA to develop effective resources and ultimately, save lives.
This invaluable information will be used to produce health-focused information leaflets and a series of animations for Men’s Sheds across Scotland to support men going through this journey. The aim of this project is to raise awareness of the impact cancer has in men’s lives (of all ages) and to encourage more men to be aware of it earlier on. The Shed is the perfect place for these conversations and for the knowledge to be shared.
Please contact Jason Schroeder, SMSA Executive Officer, by email or call 07397382533.
 The Scottish Men’s Sheds Association (SMSA) has released a Covid-19 poster resource pack for Men’s Sheds in Scotland.  The Association is still advising Men’s Sheds to remain closed however, this resource pack – currently containing 30 individual posters with colour or white background options – will allow Sheds to print off and prominently display the posters that they require for their Shed premises to prepare in advance. The SMSA is in ongoing discussions with the Scottish Government regarding the closure of Sheds and the health and safety of Shedders during the pandemic. SMSA is currently working on the guidance (including risk assessment) for Sheds which will be issued at the appropriate time in line with Scottish Government guidance. If you have suggestions for more posters required at your Shed premises, please contact SMSA’s Communication Officer and the pack will be revised for all. |
The Scottish Men’s Sheds Association visited Foggie/Aberchirder & District Men Shed today (24th September 2020) to collect the Scottish ‘Men’s Shed of the Year’ targe trophy ready to handover to 2020 winner, The Inverclyde Shed.
ADMS was delighted to receive their replica trophy (created by David Young Training) to forever recognise them as the inaugural winner of the prestigious title in 2019.
Click on the image to download
The Annual Report and Financial Statements for the period 1st April 2019 to 31st March 2020 is now available from the Scottish Men’s Sheds Association.
The publication features reports from the SMSA Chairman and Executive Officer; key highlights from the reporting period; future plans; and the financial statements.
Scottish Men’s Sheds remain closed during the Phase 3 lock down. Read a full update here >
Continue reading*VOTING CLOSED AT MIDNIGHT ON SUNDAY 13TH SEPTEMBER 2020*
It is time for the public to have their say on who will be crowned this year’s Scottish ‘Men’s Shed of the Year’ 2020.
The Scottish Men’s Sheds Association (SMSA) has today announced the top three Men’s Sheds shortlisted for this prestigious award that recognises and rewards the contribution and impact Men’s Sheds make to society.
The three Scottish Men’s Sheds shortlisted by SMSA’s Board of Trustees from all the applications received were announced as Garnock Valley Men’s Shed, Inverclyde Shed and Kinross & District Men’s Shed.
Jason Schroeder, SMSA’s Executive Officer, said: “The applications were of an incredibly high standard and it was certainly a difficult decision for our judging panel. The awards not only showcase the Sheds for the fantastic work that they do but also promotes good practice and inspires other men to set up new Men’s Sheds across Scotland where there is a need.
“It has been great to read about all the life-changing activities taking place in the Sheds but this year’s applications have also highlighted the Covid-19 support that Shedders have provided in their communities and also how they stayed connected to each other during these unprecedented times. The public has a week to vote to crown their winner and truly recognise and reward the impact Sheds have in their localities.”
Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the awards event will take place virtually on Zoom this year and will coincide with the Association’s Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 16th September 2019.
The winner and two runners-up will be announced on the day. The winner will receive the esteemed targe trophy – designed and collectively created by SMSA and several Sheds – to display at their Shed for a year – on top of a cash prize.
Other prizes include a free machine competency and woodwork training day from David Young Training (plus runner up discounts with a collective value of over £1,000); accounts packages from Thyme Accountancy (worth over £500) and a gift voucher from Axminster Tools & Machinery.