SMSA’s Executive Officer, Jason Schroeder, was contacted by BBC Radio Scotland to review a short film and bring his perspective on it to the ‘Sunday Morning with Connie McLaughlin’ show following his appearance on their programme last year.
The 15-minute film entitled ‘Born To Be Mild’ – which was shown as part of The Feel Good Film Festival – features a group of men who have what could be felt by some as ‘dull’ interests or pastimes but to them they are life-affirming, charming and heartfelt.
“The modern world is constantly speeding up. But not for the Dull Men’s Club – a group of men quite content with life’s more sedate pleasures. From photographing post boxes to collecting milk bottles, Born to be Mild is an uplifting celebration of finding joy in the very ordinary, and the perfect antidote to the stresses of modern life.”
You can also listen to Jason on the radio show (1 hour and 46 minutes in). Jason’s thoughts on it were, whether it is the Roundabout Appreciation Society, Letter Box Study Group, milk bottle or brick collecting – just do what makes you happy. These men are seeking a purpose and a hobby, so why do it alone when you can enjoy both in a Scottish Men’s Shed ‘shoulder to shoulder’ whilst also supporting your health and wellbeing? Find your local Shed today!
The SMSA has partnered up with The Royal Deeside Cartie Race 2021! The event—which will take place on Saturday 17th & Sunday 18th July 2021 on the Kincardine Castle drive as part of the Royal Deeside Motor Show—consists of teams that have built and race their own push-along racing carts.
Jason Schroeder, SMSA Executive Officer, said: “Not only will the SMSA have a presence and a stall at this two-day event, but we are also asking Sheds across Scotland to join us and enter their own teams for this fun family event. Sheds can enter for the race on the Saturday or the Sunday and who better to design and build the winning cairtie than our Scottish Shedders!
“This year, the theme for entries is Masked Crusaders and the best entry will win a prize. SMSA is also appealing for Sheds local to Deeside and the surrounding area to get involved in the actual build of the race track. If your Shed is interested, please get in touch.
“This is just a bit of fun after a very difficult year and all safety measures and physical distancing will be in place for this outdoor event.
Stephen Hall from the Scottish Cartie Association said: “Each team will be allocated two runs in order to secure their fastest time. The course follows a route down the drive at speeds of up to 40 mph. The driver will have the option of taking either a short chicane or a jump to test their skills on the Ski Slalom!”
“The event is limited to a maximum of 40 entrants. There is a junior category (driver is aged between 12 and 17 on the date of the race) and an adult category (driver is aged 18 or over on the date of the race).
“The extravaganza will see up to 40 carts going head to head in a time trial challenge. We also aim to help raise funds for Charlie House and for the SMSA.
“Soapbox racing was popularised in America and refers to an unpowered cart which is raced downhill, with gravity being the only form of propulsion. In Scotland, we traditionally call a soap box a ‘Cartie’ or ‘Kert-ie’ in Doric. A grand final will be held at the end of the day, with the top teams from the junior and adult categories going head to head to determine a final winner. Don’t forget, you need time to build your cartie, so enter as soon as possible to guarantee your entry for 2021!”
DISCOUNTED ENTRY FEE FOR SHEDS: The entry fee is discounted from £45 to £25 per Shed team (plus £15 per person for event ticket) however SMSA will reimburse the £25 entry fee to all Sheds that race at the event.
As we start approaching a time when lockdown will hopefully be easing soon and we start to consider re-opening our Shed doors once again, you might be keen to take a look at this social enterprise that caught our eye.
12 Guitars—currently based in Govan, Glasgow and formed by Gerry Thorogood and Steve Plummer in April 2019 —is broadening its focus and reaching out across Scotland with an ambitious plan to help people in our society that need a musical boost!
12 Guitars receives donated guitars from a variety of sources, recycles/upcycles them and donates them to people who could not otherwise have access to a guitar or perhaps don’t have the resources to buy a guitar. They then provide guitar tuition both physically and online and also have some workshop facilities to service, repair and restring donated guitars.
SMSA has been liaising with the management team at 12 Guitars and they have some ambitious plans afoot and we wonder if there could be synergy between our two organisations? SMSA and 12 Guitars are keen to hear from Sheds, Shedders and Movement supporters if there is an interest to optimise the musical talent across the Scottish Men’s Sheds Movement.
Ken Morton, Director of 12 Guitars, said: “We are very excited about potentially working with the SMSA and Shedders across Scotland. We have many exciting plans in the pipeline including online ‘gig nights’ that could be broadcast to the Sheds. We are interested to hear if there is an interest in guitars, guitar maintenance, repairing guitars and even forming Shed bands—the possibilities of this partnership are endless.”
To give you an idea of the “Shed Bands” live event idea and concept, here is an article of a series of events that took place a few years ago, around the world, called “Weekend Warriors” where bands were formed and performed for fun and to “soft” audiences (friends and families mainly) at www.australianmusician.com.au/weekend-warriors-a-firsthand-account and a video to show how the idea works in general at www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFbIML3AcbA
Interested?
SMSA and 12 Guitars are keen to hear your thoughts on this potential opportunity to learn new skills, help your communities through music and provide fun challenging musical events.
Please complete the online questionnaire at the link below to let us know your thoughts on this potential exciting collaboration. Please respond by Friday 9th April 2021.
SMSA is delighted to present Edition 20 (March 2021) of The Scottish Shedder to our members and supporters.
The Scottish Shedder features the latest news, events, DIY projects, recipes, personal stories, health matters and funding opportunities relevant to Men’s Sheds in Scotland.
In this edition
LAUNCH OF THE SMSA MANIFESTO The SMSA has launched its first-ever manifesto, ahead of the Scottish Parliament Elections 2021, calling on politicians to support men’s health and wellbeing through Scottish Men’s Sheds
REVISED REOPENING GUIDANCE FOR SHEDS Following the ‘Reopening Guidance for Men’s Sheds in Scotland’ consultation with Shed members and partner organisations, SMSA is now releasing the revised version
SHED IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Bridge of Don & District Men’s Shed Secretary Eric Bisset shares Bridge of Don & District Men’s Shed’s journey over the last five years and how they received the keys to their ‘Guardhouse’ Shed at the Gordon Barracks in Aberdeen just weeks before lockdown struck
A PERSONAL STORY: Mike Mowat, Glenrothes Men’s Shed SMSA chats to Mike Mowat, Chair of Glenrothes Men’s Shed, after hearing about his skills in sign making, painting motorcycles and guitars and his determination to one day, mentor and pass on these skills to his fellow Shedders once lockdown measures ease
THE SHED GARDEN: The Inverclyde Shed *NEW FEATURE* Spring has officially sprung and for our first ‘The Shed Garden’ feature, SMSA caught up with none other than Bruce Newlands, Chair of The Inverclyde Shed, to hear all about what’s happening at their Shore Street Community Garden in Gourock
HEALTH MATTERS: Dr Alastair Cook, Scottish Government’s Principal Medical Officer for Mental Health ‘It’s ok to not be ok’ is more relevant now than it has ever been. SMSA interviews Dr Alastair Cook, Scottish Government’s Principal Medical Officer for Mental Health about the ‘Clear Your Head’ campaign
And much more…
What do you think of The Scottish Shedder?
SMSA is keen to hear what you think of the publication and has created an online survey to gauge your thoughts and opinions. Your feedback is appreciated to ensure we continue to meet the needs of our readership.
On the 26th April 2021, Scotland will return to the levels system. On this date, it is hoped that Men’s Sheds will be able to re-open their doors—in line with SMSA’s ‘Reopening Guidance for Men’s Sheds in Scotland’—if they choose to do so.
SMSA recommends that individual Shed committees now begin to have these discussions on the reopening process (if not already started) as to whether or not your Shed is in a position to open to some extent.
Following the consultation on the guidance with Shed members and our partner organisations, SMSA is now releasing the revised version. SMSA is indebted to the organisations—including SMSA Shed Members, Age Scotland, Healthy Working Lives, Public Health Scotland, Scottish Community Development Centre and Scottish Government—that took the time to review the documents and provide us with feedback.
The guidance provides advice and examples for Sheds on steps and safety measures to put in place prior to opening their doors again when the time is right. The documents are intended for guidance only and were developed by the Association to attempt to cover all types of Men’s Sheds across Scotland and aid the individual decision-making process for each Shed Committee.
SMSA will regularly review the guidance and advise Sheds of any changes. The guidance is now available in the SMSA online resource library (member log-in required) at:
The SMSA’S manifesto was created to call on politicians and funders to support men’s health and wellbeing through Scottish Men’s Sheds.
The Association, which is trailblazing the Men’s Sheds Movement in Scotland, recommends five key actions for politicians, invested groups and the general public as a whole to support Men’s Sheds and fully recognise the wealth of health and wellbeing benefits for men over the age of 18.
SMSA’s vision is that every man in Scotland will, one day, have access to—and the opportunity to attend—their local Men’s Shed if they choose to do so. Jason Schroeder, SMSA CEO, said: “SMSA is launching this manifesto at just the right time. Sheds will be needed more than ever in post-COVID-19 recovery and it is vital to expand the SMSA and its support mechanism in line with the growth of the Movement to support Sheds across Scotland now and in the years to come.
“Investment and support to lead change is required to underpin the ongoing creation of this health by stealth and voluntary social wellbeing pathway for men. SMSA is also recommending that localised support across the Shed network is embedded; a start-up and development fund for Sheds is implemented; a focused national awareness campaign is delivered; and the reach to the Armed Forces and Veterans community and Blue Light services is improved on.”
SMSA pledges to continue making a real difference by empowering thousands of men (our sons, brothers, fathers, uncles and grandfathers) and their communities – over the coming years – to play their part in a system change towards a wellbeing economy.
Following the recent release of Men’s Sheds in Scotland research from Glasgow Caledonian University on the health benefits of Sheds, Shedders may be thinking more about health awareness and education for their members. With this in mind, Prostate Scotland would like to let Shedders know about a new opportunity available for Sheds to raise awareness of prostate disease/cancer. Prostate Scotland can offer its new Zoom ToolBox Workshop to individual Sheds or Sheds coming together online.
Why?
A survey for Prostate Scotland found that just over 50% of the general public surveyed and only 1/3 of men over the age of 55 could name a symptom of prostate disease/cancer.Yet an enlarging prostate or Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) affects almost 1 in 2 men over the age of 50. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer for men in Scotland with a 1 in 10 lifetime risk of a man developing prostate cancer. Prostatitis can affect men from the age of 18 with it being most common between 30 and 50 years.
Interested in a Zoom Toolbox Workshop?
So why not get in touch with Mae Bell to find out more and organise a Zoom ToolBox Workshop? It will be well worth 30 minutes of your Shedders’ time! Contact Mae on 0131 603 8663 or mae.bell@prostatescotland.org.uk
Men’s Sheds as an alternative healthcare route? A qualitative study of the impact of Men’s Sheds on user’s health improvement behaviours
Glasgow Caledonian University’s latest paper from the three-year Sheds for Sustainable Development Project has been published by the Bio-Medical Central (BMC) Public Health on the 20th March 2021 and is available on their website at:
As men’s health is an underrepresented area of policy and practice, there have been calls for more ‘male-friendly’ approaches to get men to think about and look after their health. While Men’s Sheds are recognised for the health and wellbeing impacts they can bring to their users, less is known about the effects that Sheds can have on men’s behaviours and attitudes towards their health.
While Sheds aren’t formal healthcare providers, this paper outlines the ways that Sheds encourage men to look after their health and wellbeing in both obvious and non-obvious ways in an alternative informal and supportive ‘male-friendly’ environment. For example, the ways that Shed activities can provide a distraction from illness or adversity, how men can become educated on aspects of male health and how the support that Shedders receive can make them feel better about their health situations.
The Scottish Men’s Sheds Association (SMSA) is urging Men’s Sheds in Scotland to take the time to look into this ‘Business Temporary Closure Fund’ opportunity, through their local authority, to check if grants are available in your area and if your Shed is eligible. Please note that Sheds with charity rates relief can apply.
SMSA has recently been made aware of three Sheds in the Borders that are already in receipt of this grant (backdated from the 26th December 2020).
The Business Temporary Closure Fund offers a grant of £2,000 or £3,000 (depending on rateable value) for businesses required to close by law for the duration protective measures are in place:
£2,000 for premises which have a rateable value of up to and including £51,000; or
£3,000 for premises which have a rateable value of £51,001 or above
Eligibility will depend on the level of restrictions which are in place at any point in time in the location of the business premises.
The grant is available for business with premises registered for Non-Domestic rates as at 1st November 2020. Business that pay rates through their landlords may also apply, and local authorities may request documentation proving this, such as a lease or a rental agreement, or other evidence showing that the applicant is explicitly or contractually liable for charges associated with non-domestic rates for the property.
Local authorities have the discretion to award grants to eligible businesses which lease or rent premises which are not rated, such as those leased from a council in a public park, provided they are satisfied with the validity and eligibility of individual cases.
Funds will be payable every four weeks in arrears for the duration measures are in place.
The fund is administered through your local authority and this opportunity is worth exploring to ensure there is not an application cut off date.
If your Shed is successful (or unsuccessful), please do keep SMSA informed at comms@scottishmsa.org.uk
How to use the SMSA logo in your promotional materials
The SMSA logos are an important part of our brand—used in all our internal and external communications—and the Association has put together this simple guidance to help our members, partners, funders and members of the media use our logo correctly.
SMSA has two versions of its logo (pictured below), one for generic use and one for use by official SMSA Shed Members on their websites, social media accounts, leaflets, posters and other promotional materials.
The SMSA logo must not be altered, recoloured or the shape changed in any way—the logo(s) must appear exactly as shown above
Our logos must not be shared with any third party without prior discussion with the Association
When using the logo(s) online, please hyperlink the logo to signpost to the SMSA website
Logo Requests
To protect the use of our logo, requests (for each use) must be made in writing to SMSA at comms@scottishmsa.org.uk to obtain the logo in the appropriate size and format you require and detail what the logo will be used for.
