Free tickets exchange- Gardening Scotland


Do you want a FREE ticket to Gardening Scotland this weekend?

In return we are looking for guys who know about Men’s Sheds and are willing to help us man our Scottish Men’s Sheds stall for a few hours and talk Sheds to the general public who stop by. Can be Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

Enquiries to admin@scottishmsa.org.uk by Thursday 3pm. Please let us know what Shed you go to and if you are an individual member of the SMSA (which is FREE)? – https://scottishmsa.org.uk/individual-membership-applicati…/     

NEW General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) – HEADS UP SHEDDERS

On 25 May 2018 the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will come into effect in the UK.

This will replace the current Data Protection Act and introduce new & different requirements for all sectors and
organisations.

To help fundraisers understand the key parts of GDPR in relation to direct marketing and how you can lawfully contact your supporters, The Institute of Fundraising have produced guidance in partnership with Bircham Dyson Bell to take you through the main questions.

The document to download is in our members online library and presently a link to their website : GDPR doc 

There are quite a few workshops being advertised about these coming changes – read this doc and see if you and some of your board need to attend.

Single and Looking for Love Shedders?

Fancy some Summer romance Shedders and maybe new love?

We know that there are plenty of single and widowed men in our Scottish Men’s Sheds. Would you like the opportunity and a little adventure in meeting somebody. The production company twenty twenty have just started working on their next series and they are looking for people to take part, particularly men of all ages.  They would be so grateful if you could share their flyer and info around your work, Shed and friendship groups.  Anyone who is single and would like to apply can do so here: https://www.firstdatescasting.co.uk/

If you would like to watch any of their previous episodes they are all available on the Channel 4 website:http://www.channel4.com/programmes/first-dates

 

The Shed Effect report by Age Scotland

If you have been waiting for the findings of this research from various Men’s Sheds in Scotland, its now available from the Age Scotland website :  The Shed Effect and for our individual members which is free to join ( join-smsa ) you can access it in our online Resource library under the Research section.

There is not much research done on Men’s Health in Scotland  and so all efforts like this really helps us formulate a better picture of the male landscape and to show that there is a real need for male based solutions in helping men particularly with time on their hands for whatever reason to stay happy, healthy and engaged in their communities.

 

Big Bike Revival – May-June2017… grants available!

I hoped you would be interested in getting involved in the Big Bike Revival which is a program of local cycling and bike related events running in May and June 2017. Our main aim is to get more people on bikes across Scotland and we need your help to make it happen.

The Big Bike Revival was a huge success last year…Just watch this wee video to see how much fun it was and to see what organisations did for their BBR events, or you can read about some of the events and people involved here. The programme is running again this year and if you would like to host an event (which we can give you up to £1,000 to run) then please read on!

Big Bike Revival

The Big Bike Revival in Scotland is an initiative to support the Scottish Government’s vision of 10% of journeys by bike by 2020. It aims to get more people cycling, which is the mission that sits at the core of Cycling UK, its members and the network of sustainable cycling groups that it supports.

The Big Bike Revival in Scotland will give organisations the tools to engage with the community and the funding to present opportunities for individuals to repair old bikes that have been lying in the shed for years, learn how to keep it serviceable and gain the confidence to make local journey by bike that replace trips typically made by motorised vehicles.

Want to get involved?

If you are a bike recycling centre, bike shop, cycling club or group, voluntary or community organisation we want to work with you to get people cycling!

We are looking for 100 organisations across Scotland to run a range of Big Bike Revival events and led cycle rides that engage locals during May and June – and we have small grants (£1000) to help you deliver:

–         Opportunities to get bikes fixed, and people taught how to maintain them

–         Events that showcase a range of bikes that meet different needs

–         Cycle training to help people feel more confident to cycle on the road

–         Led rides that help people find and use their local cycle paths and low traffic routes

It’s more fun with new friends!

If you are a cycle club or group why not link up with another local organisation and/or bike shop or recycling centre to help spread the love of cycling? We want to reach out to people that don’t cycle, so your activities must target people out with your group and focus on helping them undertake purposeful journeys e.g. to work, education, to the shops.

What next?

We’re getting ready to launch the Big Bike Revival in May, so get in touch and let us know you are interested in getting involved! We have dedicated Big Bike Revival Development Officers who can help you out with every step of the way.

If you don’t need a small grant but would still like to get involved please let us know as we have BBR events packs to send out to help you spread the word about your activities, as well as access to our extensive online communications.

For more information or an application form either call me (Ralph) 07887567934 or email ralph.jessop@cyclinguk.org

If you know of a group that might be interested, feel free to share this email!

Happy cycling!

Ralph Jessop

Big Bike Revival Cycle Development Officer

Cycling UK

Direct Line: 07887567934

Email:ralph.jessop@cyclinguk.org 

Web: www.cyclinguk.org

 

Bags of Cash – Seriously its no Joke Shedders!

Once again Foundation Scotland is distributing Comic Relief Community Cash to communities across Scotland.

Comic Relief Community Cash grants of £500-£1,000 are available to small organisations across Scotland that are doing great work to help local people living tough lives.   You can apply for a wide range of costs including rent, salaries, equipment, general running costs (this is not an exhaustive list) for new and existing projects.

If this sounds like you, make sure you apply for a Comic Relief Community Cash grant now by visiting our website.

The deadline for applications and supporting documents to be submitted by is 5th May at 12.00pm.  

Please do not wait until the deadline to apply – we are accepting applications now, so make sure you do not miss out on your share and apply today!

They look forward to receiving your application – click here

Tesco Bags of Help funding criteria changes – Shedders!!

Change is good! Tesco Bags of Help to Fund Many More Local Projects

 Do you think you know what Tesco Bags of Help funds? Read on as the Bags of Help team have been listening to applicants, customers and Tesco colleague feedback and we’ve made some immediate improvements:

 Apply anytime for projects that bring benefits to the community

  • Projects can be outdoor or indoor improvements, activities and equipment purchases
  • Apply for capital and revenue funding between £1000 and £4000
  • Simpler online application process
  • Community groups, schools, charities, local authorities and not for profits can all apply
  • You can apply again for a different project at any time

 To make the programme more local the number of projects funded every two months has been increased. We still fund projects that improve or encourage the use of outdoor spaces such as allotments and community gardens. But now grants also fund buying items such as sports kits, camping equipment, spades, litter pickers or specialised medical equipment and improvements to community buildings.

Following a public vote in Tesco stores every two months, three projects in each of the local Tesco store areas will receive a grant, with first place receiving up to £4000, second place up to £2000 and third place £1000.

For information on how to apply please click here http://bit.ly/bagsofhelp4

If you’ve got a question or need help to apply please contact our friendly team of Scottish community enablers – find their contact details here http://bit.ly/scotbagsofhelp

Bags of Help is administered by Groundwork – which is working with greenspace scotland to support applicants and successful projects in Scotland.

Peoples Postcode Community Trust Funding – ending 10 Feb 2017

Grants of between £500 – £20,000 are available and the criteria includes tackling isolation.

The Postcode Community Trust has changed its application process for 2017.

The Postcode Community Trust will hold two grant rounds in 2017, each of which will have a two stage application process. Expressions of interest are currently being accepted for round one.

In 2017, the Postcode Community Trust will offer short-term, designated funding for grass-roots community sports, arts, recreation, physical and mental health projects taking place in England, Scotland and Wales.

The Trust seeks to help groups participate more fully in activities within their community, especially for those who may feel isolated through disability or age. The Trust wants to help them overcome these barriers in creative and sustainable ways. Projects should help people gain better access to community facilities, community activities and strengthen communities in ways that are different, sustainable and reach a wide number of people.

Grassroots organisations, local charities and non-profit community businesses that are seeking to effect positive change within their local area in England, Scotland and Wales can apply for grants of between £500 and £20,000 for those in Scotland and England and up to £10,000 for those in Wales.

Round 2: Expressions of interest: 01 August 2017 to 18 August 2017.

For details, please refer to the website: www.postcodecommunitytrust.org.uk/applying-for-a-grant

Bellshill Men’s Shed – N Lanarkshire seek local help FAST – Shed Closing!

Bellshill Men’s Shed Update – Seeking new premises FAST – Help and local contacts in Council, TSI’s, local business please step up!

After a very successful first year for Bellshill Men’s Shed where we have around 18 regular members and have built up a good name for ourself in the local area, unfortunately on our first day back after Christmas we were given the disastrous news that Yooz (a local DIY and Reuse Social Enterprise company who we rented our premises off of) were going bankrupt as of the following Friday (the 13th).
This left us in a very dire situation with a week to try and gather our members together for a committee decision and enough people to help us relocate all the while looking for new premises also. As this came as a shock to us this has hit a few members quite badly. We have managed to call in a few favours at present for storage space for our workshop and tools but we are still on the hunt for somewhere where we could relocate to, in order to continue the good work we had started in our first year. The size we would require would be around the 600sq ft to accommodate a workshop and a social area for our members.
If you are able to offer any more help and assistance with this matter it would be very much appreciated as I’m sure you will understand the longer this goes on the more difficult it will be to retain our current members.

Please contact Paul Creechan at Email: bellshillshed@gmail.com for all your SUPPORT.

Voluntary Arts Epic Awards – Get your Shed in the Headlines

Voluntary Arts Epic Awards are currently open for nominations.epicawards-hands-768x512

This is our annual call for voluntary-led cultural groups across Scotland (am drams, choirs, visual arts groups, community-led festivals etc) to tell us about something special they’ve done over the past year. If you know of any groups in your area who you feel should be nominating themselves, please forward on the attached flyer or point them in the direction of www.epicawards.co.uk.

This is a great way for groups to raise their profile locally and nationally, and there are a range of prizes up for grabs, including cash and developmental support.

There is a simple application process and the deadline is 12 January 2017.