The Scottish Government, as part of the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014, is encouraging all local authorities to promote the improvement in economic, social or environmental wellbeing of their areas through procurement.
All public sector contracting authorities are required to consider including community benefit requirements for all regulated procurements where the value is equal to, or greater than, £4 million.
What does this mean for Sheds?
Well, each authority is being asked to consider how contractors can help with community projects as part of their tendering process. North Ayrshire Council for example will soon be launching a new community benefits process where local community groups can submit an easy-to-complete form with their wish list of projects they require assistance with.
This is an ideal opportunity for Sheds to identify projects where outside help could mean that projects are completed on their behalf or a contribution of labour or materials may be available.
This is an opportunity not to be missed by Sheds, so please check in with your local authority to see what stage they are at by contacting their community focussed person/team (who will be best placed to signpost you to this support) rather than approaching Procurement.
The Irish Men’s Sheds Association (IMSA) has produced this manual to raise awareness of dementia as well as offer advice for Shedders, their families, carers and Shed committees on supporting a member with dementia.
Adapted from a version created by The Australian Men’s Sheds Association (AMSA) and Alzheimer’s Australia NSW, the ‘Your Shed & Dementia’ manual has been launched to better facilitate men with the condition and make sure there’s a place for them in local groups.
Developed in partnership with the HSE’s Dementia: Understand Together campaign and The Alzheimer Society of Ireland, the manual offers tools to help Shedders recognise signs of dementia, as well as offering practical communication and listening tips.
The Scottish Men’s Sheds Association (SMSA) has today opened its prestigious ‘Scottish Men’s Shed of the Year’ Awards 2021 to applications from Men’s Sheds across Scotland.
The awards recognise and reward the contribution and impact Men’s Sheds make to society – telling the story to raise awareness of the benefits of Sheds to men, their family and friends and the community as a whole. The awards event will take place virtually on Zoom again this year as part of the Association’s Annual General Meeting on Thursday 4th November 2021.
The Scottish Men’s Sheds Movement began in 2009 and the first-ever Shed opened in Westhill in Aberdeenshire in 2013. There are now 190+ Sheds across Scotland, identified on the SMSA’s online ‘Find a Shed’ map, voluntarily engaging over 10,000 men. Men’s Sheds have a positive impact in supporting men’s health and wellbeing and encourage members to become more engaged within their communities to reduce social isolation and loneliness and also, needed now more than ever, provide a unique pathway towards post-COVID-19 recovery.
Jason Schroeder, SMSA’s Executive Officer, said: “We are delighted to launch these awards, for the third year, to celebrate and showcase the life-changing work being carried out in Men’s Sheds across Scotland. Sheds are committed to improving the health and wellbeing of men (aged 18 and over) through friendship, support and camaraderie and we want to hear from Scottish Sheds on the impact they are having within their localities.
“We also want to know about the challenges they have faced and how they overcame them so that other Sheds can learn from their experience. Although, the event is being carried out online again this year, it certainly will not stop the Shedders coming together to share experiences and learn from each other.”
Last year, The Inverclyde Shed was crowned ‘Scottish Men’s Shed of the Year’ 2020 – receiving 36% of the total votes from the public. Bruce Newlands, Chair of The Inverclyde Shed, said: “It was a huge surprise being awarded this title from the SMSA, particularly given the difficulties we and every Shed experienced learning to live with COVID-19. The award has helped unlock doors and make new partnerships with a range of people that we previously had not connected with. Many other Sheds have reached out in friendship to learn from how we’ve done things and the lessons we have learned. The award has also brought a great sense of pride to our Shed and our area – a belief that we can be confident that we are really making a difference.”
In 2019, Aberchirder and District Men’s Shed scooped the title of the very first ‘Scottish Men’s Shed of the Year’. The Shed was recognised for the incredible work carried out since its inception in 2016 and the team of seven men who carried out 30,000 man-hours over the 104-week construction process on its Shed build before its official opening in May 2019. Mike O’Brien, Chairman of the Aberchirder & District Men’s Shed, said: “Since winning the title in 2019, we have had a busy and successful time – our reputation just seemed to escalate and we have recently won the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service too.”
Scottish Sheds – that are members of the SMSA – can apply online by midnight on Sunday 26th September 2021. Shortlisted Sheds will be selected from all of the applications by SMSA’s Trustees before going to a public vote for two weeks from Monday 4th October 2021 in the run-up to the event. 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 Scottish Sheds – to display at their Shed for a year in addition to receiving an array of prizes from supporting organisations.
Unforgotten Forces is a partnership of leading charities, including the SMSA, offering a doorway to camaraderie (and extra support if needed) for older members of the ex-service community in Scotland.
The Consortium would welcome participation from Men’s Sheds in the Unforgotten Forces autumn programme of events.
**PLEASE NOTE: This event has now passed**
Unforgotten Forces North of Scotland Day Tuesday 28th September 2021
On the 28th September, the Consortium will be hosting an Unforgotten Forces North of Scotland Day. In the morning, the Scottish Older People’s Assembly will canvas older members of the ex-service community about what matters to them and the support they need in later life. The afternoon will be a conference for staff and volunteers from Unforgotten Forces partners. For confirmed programme and venue details, please email veteransproject@agescotland.org.uk.
Older Veterans Awareness Training Thursday 30th September 2021
If your Shed would like to involve more older ex-servicemen but you don’t know where to start, you can join the online Older Veterans Awareness Training on Thursday 30th September 2021, 10am-12.30pm, click here to book.
Unforgotten Forces induction Monday 4th October 2021
If you are veteran-aware but want to know how you can work with the Unforgotten Forces partnership to boost support for ex-service Shedders, you can join the Unforgotten Forces induction (also online) on Monday 4th October 2021, 10am-12.30pm, email veteransproject@agescotland.org.uk to book your place.
For more information on Unforgotten Forces, you can visit the website and follow on Facebook and Twitter.
The toolkit provides easily accessible support and guidance where needed on a Shed journey and is split into two main sections.
Part 1 provides guidance to those thinking of starting a Men’s Shed or those in the development stages.
Part 2 is for Sheds that are already established who might be looking for advice and information e.g. how to overcome unexpected challenges.
The toolkit can also be a useful reference point for agencies supporting Sheds and at the back of the toolkit, there is a list of useful sources of information and support.
The Men’s Sheds toolkit was written by Dr Danielle Kelly and Professor Artur Steiner, Yunus Centre for Social Business and Health of Glasgow Caledonian University. The SMSA is delighted to be involved in developing this guide for Sheds as part of this four-year partnership project.
The Scottish Men’s Sheds Association (SMSA) is working in partnership with St Andrew’s First Aid to offer FREE Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to ten Scottish Men’s Sheds on a first-come, first-served basis.
Sudden cardiac arrest strikes 7 million people a year worldwide with no warning and no pattern. There’s little time to react and even less time to think, this means an AED must be close at hand, easy-to-use and ready to shock.
St Andrew’s First Aid is Scotland’s dedicated first aid charity and leading first aid training provider and the Association is delighted to be teaming up to provide this life-saving kit to Sheds to not only protect Shedders but also the wider community.
The HeartSine Samaritan PAD 500P Fully Automatic Defibrillator (RRP: £1,557.60 inc. VAT)
Ready to Shock: Small, portable and lightweight (2.4 lbs) and offers the highest level of protection against dust and water.
Easy-to-Follow Instructions: Easy-to-understand visual and voice prompts guide the rescuer through the entire resuscitation process, including CPR—a key link in the chain of survival.
Simple, two-button operation – an ON/OFF button and SHOCK.
After analyzing heart rhythm, the unit will automatically deliver a shock (if needed), eliminating the need for the rescuer to push a shock button.
Always Ready: A System Status Ready Indicator flashes to show that the complete system is operational and ready for use.
Self-check: The device automatically runs a self-check each week.
The AED’s are being offered FREE OF CHARGE to ten Scottish Men’s Sheds however, as they are not new, they will require new pads/electrode batteries (which will last for four years) at a cost to each individual Shed of £117.60.
St Andrews First Aid advise that these defibrillators are accessible to the public 24/7 outdoors and are placed in cabinets (available at a discounted cost of £540 inc.VAT for Sheds through St Andrew’s First Aid), however, if this is not possible, they are still happy to donate them to Scottish Sheds.
Interested Sheds will pay a delivery charge for the equipment.
Register your interest
Please register your Men’s Shed’s interest by submitting your details online at the link below. Defibrillators will be issued to ten SMSA Shed members on a first-come, first-served basis.
Josephine Young (16) receives her guitar prize from the Scottish Men’s Sheds Association and 12 Guitars (Photo by George Munro, Greenock Telegraph)
A charity partnership, with the Scottish Men’s Sheds Association (SMSA) and 12 Guitars, is supporting a young budding musician through a spectacular guitar giveaway.
Social enterprise 12Guitars.org has been working in partnership with the SMSA to reach Men’s Shed members to learn new skills, help communities through a musical boost and provide fun challenging musical events. 12 Guitars receives donated guitars for recycling and upcycling from a variety of sources across the country and gifts them to people who cannot afford or who may not have access to a guitar. The social enterprise also provides guitar tuition, physically and online, and also have workshop facilities to service, repair and restring donated guitars.
SMSA Chairman, David Gardner, originally won the high-quality electro-acoustic guitar at a recent Men’s Wellbeing Day on Zoom at which 12 guitars was a guest presenter. David said: “I was extremely grateful to win this exceptional guitar however, after discussing it with Ken Morton of 12 Guitars, I wanted to pass this excellent prize on to help an upcoming young musician fulfil their dreams and explore their talent.”
Josephine Young, 16, was selected by David as the worthy winner. Josephine’s mother, Nicola Young, who nominated her daughter for the competition said: “Jo has just passed her National 5 Music as an additional subject over and above her allocated subjects at school. She plays piano at grade 6 level and practices every chance she gets. Before lockdown, she was also volunteering and playing piano to entertain older people at a local nursing home.
“Jo saved up her pocket money and bartered to buy an old guitar for £6 at our local charity shop and has been teaching herself to play. She is a kind, hard-working, girl and it is an absolute dream for her to now play and own such a beautiful instrument as this.”
Josephine said: “I was so surprised to hear that I had won as I did not even know that my mum had entered my name into the competition. I am totally blown away to win such an amazing guitar and can’t wait to start playing.”
Ken Morton of 12 Guitars said: “12 Guitars is proud to be working with the SMSA to find good causes where guitars can be donated to young people and others in our society who need a boost and who really want to learn to play guitar. There are so many benefits to learning to play. David Gardner has generously donated this beautiful prize to Josephine and we applaud that decision wholeheartedly.”
Shed members of the Scottish Men’s Sheds Association (SMSA) qualify to apply for accommodation and travel costs, to share ideas and learn from other Men’s Sheds across Scotland, through its membership agreement with the Scottish Community Alliance’s Learning Exchange grant program.
The Community Learning Exchange is a fantastic opportunity for communities to learn through the exchange of ideas and the sharing of common solutions. When community groups make visits to other communities, the most valuable part is often meeting new people with similar interests and gaining new insights and perspectives on shared challenges. Visiting groups come away armed with new ideas and approaches, and host organisations have the opportunity to explain their project to a new and interested audience, often seeing their own projects afresh through new eyes.
Changes to the application process
The Scottish Community Alliance (SCA) has announced some changes to the way applications to the Community Learning Exchange are processed. The new protocol for this grant funding asks for interested parties to now make contact directly with their SCA member network—in terms of Scottish Men’s Sheds, this is the SMSA—in advance of applying to ensure that the network has knowledge of the application and is willing to endorse it.
The SMSA will then automatically receive an email when the application has been received by the SCA. Once the application is approved, the SMSA will then receive a Grant Acceptance Form to countersign to provide evidence of its endorsement of the grant.
What will the Exchange fund for SMSA member Sheds?
Community to community visits—up to 100% of the travel and accommodation costs of a visit by members of one community to another community project up to a limit of £750. For more information on the Community Learning Exchange, please click here.
Interested?
Interested SMSA Shed members should make contact with the SMSA in the first instance at admin@scottishmsa.org.uk or call 07465 202834.
Register today to attend this exciting event showcasing the findings of the four-year GCU ‘Sheds for Sustainable Development Project’, funded by the National Lottery Community Fund, and the official launch of the first-ever Men’s Shed Toolkit for the UK and Ireland.
Join Shedders, Shed support agencies, practitioners, policymakers and academics for this one-off event – bringing everyone together in support of the Men’s Shed Movement.
The event will include:
An overview of key project findings on what Men’s Sheds need to sustain and develop and the health and wellbeing impacts of Shed activities on their users
Special guest speakers from across the UK and Ireland
The official launch of the first-ever UK and Ireland Men’s Shed toolkit – a one stop-shop for all your Shedding needs
Men’s Shed Govan is proud to announce the third in its series of free, live, online discussions with Scottish authors exclusive to Shedders across Scotland.
The third author is Glasgow’s prize-winning, Scottish crime fiction writer, Michael J Malone who is particularly famous for writing the DI Ray McBain trilogy series.
The Zoom event will take place on Wednesday 14th July 2021 from 7-8pm and is completely FREE to attend. Previous Author Talk events have been extremely well attended and an enjoyable and entertaining evening for all. Men’s Shed Govan is excited to be joining fellow Shedders from all over Scotland and look forward to seeing you all online.
In order to attend, there are a few things you need to know and do:
1. PUT THE DATE IN YOUR DIARY (WED 14th JULY AT 7PM); AND 2. REGISTER FOR THE FREE EVENT
The last 20 minutes of the evening will be open for audience members to ask questions directly to the author. If you have a question for Michael, please email it to greg@fredfertang.co.uk. Men’s Shed Govan cannot guarantee that everyone will get the chance to ask their question but will attempt to get through as many as they can in the time available.
