Shed in the Spotlight – Maryburgh Men’s Shed

On the 29th June 2012, Maryburgh Primary School closed its doors for the very last time after 152 years and the community sadly watched a much-loved building deteriorate before their very eyes until a group of local men came up with a plan during the pandemic.

Andy Barnett, Treasurer of Maryburgh Men’s Shed, who lives next door to the former school which his boys attended, shares their Shed’s journey to becoming proud stewards of the school building through Community Asset Transfer (CAT) and restoring it as a vital resource in their heart of their village.

Andy said: “Three and a half years since we began this journey, we are immensely proud to announce that our Shed doors opened on Tuesday 11th July 2023 and we are welcoming members, old and new.

“In March 2020, just as the pandemic hit, a group of us got talking about having a place to go, a Men’s Shed, to do activities and mitigate social isolation and loneliness. When it was not raining, we would have socially distanced meetings outdoors or alternatively, chat on the phone and have Zoom meetings. It was interesting times and we all had to quickly get to grips with new technology to ensure we progressed with our ambitious plans.

“When the school closed, it felt to many like the heart of our village had been taken away so from the outset, we have only had our eyes on transforming this treasured building into a Men’s Shed to give it back to the community. Over the years, there have been many plans for the site including new housing but these never materialised.

“We applied for and surprisingly-quickly received approval as a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) and then got to work on our CAT application. Social activities for men, especially older men, were severely lacking in our village so this was a key point in our CAT application.

“It took a long two years with a few hold-ups and a global pandemic in our way but the CAT process was finally completed on the 23rd June 2022 when our Shed officially became the proud owners of the old school building changing hands for just a £1 and it was certainly worth the wait.


“We received the keys and got cracking with the work ahead including the external masonry pointing; removing timber window guards; replacing damaged window panels; implementing a disabled access toilet; checking the electrics; removing hundreds of teachers’ staples from the walls before painting; plumbing; reinstalling the main utility services; tidying up the buildings exterior and ensuring safe access; making the roof water tight by replacing 198 slates and improving the flat areas before winter 2022 set in.

“This was all thanks to the hundreds of volunteer hours and fundraising efforts of our members surrounded by a supportive community and a wide range of professional tradesman and businesses who helped us along the way and donated time, materials and equipment. 

“We also have our fantastic funders to recognise including the National Lottery Community Fund, The Robertson Trust, The Gordon & Ena Baxter Foundation and the Highland Council Coastal Communities Fund.

“In August 2022, once the building was safe for the public to enter, we invited the community to have a wee trip down memory lane to see the school building a decade on and it was also an opportunity for us to consult with locals on what ideas they would like for the facility. This is something we really wanted to do as the building is so special to many. The Leader of The Highland Council, Raymond Bremner, also visited us to see this new community asset in action and speak to the men.

“The Shed is pretty spacious with three large rooms—one is to be turned into a workshop and we have a huge amount of machinery and equipment which has been donated to us. That will be our next project to fit out that room and get it up and running. Then we have our most important space—the social area with kitchen for all those cups of tea— and the third room, we have plans to rent out to generate Shed funds and we already have a local community group interested in this.

“At present, we have around 15-20 active and regular members and we can already see the impact and a positive change in these men and the wives are extremely supportive too.  Before, we may have only spoke to each other in passing but now we have a place to go and meet regularly. We all know each other now—they are a great bunch of guys that I am delighted to call friends.


“We are now in the process of promoting the Shed offering through our local media and looking to recruit new members—we estimate that the building could take 40+ members comfortably at any one time.

“We were delighted to have a visit from SMSA Development Officer Tim Green (pictured above left) recently and we valued his support and input. His message resonates with all of our members—to not make this another job! We are all voluntarily building this space to improve our health and wellbeing but there are no deadlines or pressures to work. If we want to down tools and have a tea break and a three-hour long chat, that is exactly what we do.

“Our future plans include holding an official opening soon and inviting our supporters, partners and funders along to see what we have achieved. As we recruit new members, we will consult with them to see what other activities they would like to take place in the Shed. Last month, we had a ‘Men’s Health’ talk from an NHS Screening Engagement Practitioner and we hope to offer more men’s health presentations as we go along.

“Also, after a recent energy-efficiency survey, we are looking at our options in terms of getting our boiler up and running before winter arrives and adding solar panels to our large south facing roof. There are always jobs to be done but for now, we are just enjoying the fruits of our labour.”

Maryburgh Men’s Shed is open initially on Tuesday mornings 9am to 1pm but is currently discussing opening another weekday and one evening to accommodate working men. Support Maryburgh Men’s Shed with a LIKE and a SHARE on Facebook.

A Personal Story: Alfie Wood

The SMSA chats to RAF veteran and retired boat builder Alfie Wood (79) from Banff, Macduff and District Men’s Shed on what he gets out of his local Men’s Shed.

Alfie said: “I began working at the age of 11 on my paper round and left school at the age of 15 to build large wooden fishing boats.

“I then served in the Royal Air Force (RAF) for 12 years as a Corporal—protecting airfields and helicopters—and as a result had the experience of travelling all over the world. For a short time after that I became a joiner for a local firm before returning to boat building for 37 years.

“I was fortune to be part of the small team that constructed the 85ft masts for the RSS Discovery (pictured below—Alfie in the red top). I was the chargehand and we received the wood which was specially selected from ‘straight as they come’ trees back in 1988 and dried it out—ensuring the perfect air flow—before making the masts in 1991 following the original drawings. I am extremely proud to have been involved in that project.

“On top of all of that I was also part-time in the Fire Brigade for over 20 years, volunteered at the boat yard and have been known to pose as Santa Claus in my time!

“I would not say I am a workaholic, but boy did I have a great career until retiring at 65. Not many people can declare this but I am proud to say that I have lived an extremely full and fulfilling life and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. Yes, it has had its ups and downs but I have loved it and have no plans of stopping anytime soon.

“I am starting to feel my age now, the body and mind are not quite what they used to be but I still go for a walk every single day, watch what I eat, look after my house and make sure to attend my local Men’s Shed—Banff, Macduff and District Men’s Shed—most days.

“As a retired and divorced man, I go for the company but also after working my whole life, the Men’s Shed gives me purpose and a place to go to utilise my skills as a builder and joiner and also share this with other members.

“Five years ago, I heard about Men’s Sheds and just knew there and then that it was for me. I went along and joined straight away. I have been involved from the start and one of the best memories of my time at the Shed so far was having our 99-year lease approved for the former Fife Street school by Aberdeenshire Council.

“We had totally outgrown our North Castle Street home and were in desperate need of larger premises. Now, we have so much space that we can offer this to other community groups.

“The previous owners, Banff and Buchan College, had spent thousands previously renovating the building but it had lain empty for 12 years and still needed a bit of work and a big tidy up. With the Shed only being a 10-minute walk from my house, I was there almost every day helping out.

“Nowadays, however, I am not so able to do the heavier work. I have also never been into modern technology, in fact when I got a laptop, I wanted to throw it out the window and only have a mobile phone for emergencies when I am out on my walks at the request of my family who worry about me. I am totally there for the chat now—which is exactly what Men’s Sheds are about.

“Most of our members are over 60 but we also have some in their 30s and 40s and I am also happy to supervise and mentor the others if they ask for help and require my input.

“I am struggling a bit of late with my memory but can still remember the fondest memories including being six years old when a monkey puzzle tree was planted within the grounds of Banff Castle and a plaque unveiled by the Argentine Ambassador to commemorate the 100-year memorial of a national hero of Argentina, a gentleman called Jose de San Martin, for his leading role in achieving Argentine independence. That tree is now over 7m high now and our Shed were involved in cleaning up that very same plaque recently to return it to its former glory.

“My son and daughter and four grandchildren live close by and are extremely supportive of the Men’s Shed, my son has even been to the Shed a few times and they are delighted that I have this place to go and so many friends.

“As I near my 80th birthday, my plans are to just keep going along to the Shed and keep the brain and body active. Despite slowing down a bit, and taking a bit longer to get there with my walking stick, there’s no stopping me going to the place I love.”

Shed Secretary John Bloor said: “Alfie is a true inspiration to all of us at the Shed. Throughout the pandemic and the agonising process we had to endure to get our Community Asset Transfer, Alfie turned up to every weekly socially distanced and otherwise meeting, believing that we could achieve our objective and spurred us all on.”

SMSA receives funding boost to REACH more men

Pictured: SMSA Development Officer Tim Green (in blue SMSA polo shirt) visiting Milngavie & Bearsden Men’s Shed for the Greater Glasgow & Clyde Shed Network Meeting

Scottish Men’s Sheds Association receives funding boost to REACH more men

The Scottish Men’s Sheds Association (SMSA), the national support hub for Men’s Sheds across Scotland, has secured a funding boost of over £20,000 from the Bank of Scotland Foundation’s Reach programme enabling them to retain their Development Officer and support more men across Scotland as part of Scottish Men’s Sheds Movement to improve men’s health and wellbeing.

The thriving men’s health membership organisation boasts over 3,400+ individual members, 148 Men’s Shed group members and estimates that the Movement voluntarily engages over 10,000 people across Scotland. Founded in 2014, the SMSA exists to inspire and empower men over the age of 18 with time on their hands to become voluntary engaged in their communities through creating and/or attending their own Men’s Sheds to mitigate social isolation, loneliness and boredom.

SMSA CEO Jason Schroeder said: “We are absolutely delighted to have secured funding to continue providing one-to-one localised support to Scottish Men’s Sheds on their journey to sustainability and help create new Sheds in communities where there is identified need, disadvantage and social exclusion.

“Due to our prior trial success of having a Development Officer on the ground meeting face-to-face with Men’s Sheds in a post-COVID world, this grant will enable us to further this work and extend our reach across Scotland to empower men to engage with Sheds as part of an active and healthy pathway. This grant contributes towards a fully-funded and permanent dedicated SMSA Development Officer post for the next year and is vital to our work and achieving our outcomes.”

Donald MacKechnie, Chair of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees and Insurance & Wealth Transformation and Strategy Director, Lloyds Banking Group said, “We are delighted to award the SMSA with £20,526 of funding. The cost-of-living crisis means many charities are struggling with increasing expenditure, at a time when the demand for their services is as great as ever. Our grant awards will help charities through the challenging months ahead.”

Shed in the Spotlight – Shed-na-mara

Shed-na-mara operates from a former forestry building in the village of Achnamara on the shores of the scenic Loch Sween in North Knapdale, Argyll. Graham Walker shares their journey so far…

Graham said: “With easy access to the water, Achnamara was the perfect place to build a community coastal rowing skiff.

“With the help of grants from Foundation Scotland and the National Lottery Community Fund Awards for All, the skiff project started in 2018 and—after an 18-month delay due to COVID—carried on until 2022.

“The community needed a suitable place to build the boat and was able to purchase an unused, unserviced forestry shed located behind the village hall that was perfect for the purpose. The skiff project brought together people from across the community for twice-weekly build sessions, and saw a great deal of skill development and transfer. When the boat was completed, it was clear that those involved wanted to continue getting together to work on local projects: and so the idea of Shed-na-Mara was born.

“Achnamara is a deeply rural spot and Shed-na-mara provides an opportunity for people from a wide area to get together a couple of times a week (Wednesdays and Saturdays, 10am—1pm).

“The Saturday session is run in parallel with a coffee morning held next door in the village hall which brings people in from across our dispersed community. One of the earliest Shed projects has been helping with the refurbishment of the village hall, which now provides a much-improved community space.

“Current members have a range of backgrounds and experience including forestry, metal working, construction, electrical, mechanical, engineering, wood-working and science. This provides a broad range of capabilities to draw on for projects.

“One of our Shed members has a saw mill on his farm and was able to supply local timber for use in the skiff build and for the large work bench installed in the Shed.

“The Shed was recently awarded a grant from the Rural and Island Communities – Ideas into Action fund for the installation of a permanent, independent electrical power and lighting supply which will significantly improve the quality of the work space. The Shed has also had some very welcome donations of tools and equipment which have expanded its capacity.

“Shed-na-mara is now a workspace where men and women, young and old, can get together to work on creative projects or to repair/repurpose used items. It’s run by local members for the benefit of the community and volunteers give their time for free. The Shed fully supports reuse and repurposing to reduce environmental impact. It can take on commissions where people pay for the cost of materials and make a donation to the Shed to help cover running costs and to improve the Shed and its equipment.”

 “Recent projects have included gates, a picnic table, a notice board, boat repairs and chair repairs; we’re currently working on building wooden planters that have been commissioned.

“It’s a great way to come together to use and share our collective skills and to help support our rural community.”

For more information, please visit the Shed-na-mara website and support them by following their progress on Facebook.

A Personal Story: David Jarvis

The SMSA interviews British Army Royal Signals veteran and Aberchirder Shedder David Jarvis (41) on why he chose to join his local Men’s Shed following medical discharge and how his resilience led to him representing the UK in this year’s Invictus Games.

David said: “When I left Mintlaw Academy at 17, I became an apprentice in oil and gas. It was a good opportunity but just wasn’t for me so I joined the Territorial Army and enjoyed it so much that I joined the Royal Signals – the British Army’s combat support arm providing communication systems. I have been fortunate enough to have travelled around the world during my 21-year career and loved every minute of it.

“After suffering a knee injury in the army in 2014, I took up cycling as a lower impact form of exercise and quickly became passionate about the sport. Over the years, I began competing in many races including for the Royal Signals Cycling Team (2019 Champion) and for charities. I was then involved in a near-fatal accident in 2019, knocked off my bike breaking my wrist and shoulder and had severe trauma to my ribs and back.

“This unfortunately led to me being medically discharged in January 2022 and adapt to a new way of life and suddenly needed to find a new purpose. But the accident never stopped me getting back on my bike.

“Throughout my career, we had moved on average every 18 months so following my discharge we really wanted to settle into our new home and build up a strong community around us. My wife, two daughters and I moved to Aberchirder last July and on our first day, I went to the shop to get some essentials—still with the house keys in my hand—and also wanted to introduce myself to my new neighbours.

“One of the first people I met was Jim Paterson, Chairman of Aberchirder & District Men’s Shed. We got chatting all about Men’s Sheds and putting the world to rights. I had heard of the Men’s Shed in Banff and read about Sheds on social media so said I would pop along to the Shed to take a look. And, I did just that.

“I have been a member there now for about ten months. I was surprised that there were so many activities on offer including woodworking, welding, crafting, IT and gardening and potential for new groups including photography, modelling, singing and much more. I am keen on exploring the welding and, given my experience, I can offer IT support to bridge the digital skills gap, but at present I am just enjoying the social side.

“It is hard to adjust to civilian life when you leave those barracks. Now I am working from home, full-time in a 9-5 project management job that I love, and we have a busy family so it is great for me to have that place to go to relax, have a brew and be a part of my community.

“Following my move to Aberchirder, I was urged to participate in the Invictus Games. I learned that I was eligible as all of the participants are wounded, injured and/or sick serving personnel and veterans and it is an inspiring initiative to raise awareness and aid in personal recovery.

“I am truly honoured to be the only Scottish man out of the 59 competitors in Team UK and privileged to be a part of bringing 500 fantastic competitors together from 22 nations for these adaptive sports.

“I will be competing in four different sports – powerlifting, indoor rowing, swimming and cycling. Cycling being my primary event and that will take place on the last day of the games.

“Training is tough but also thoroughly enjoyable and rewarding. I like to raise awareness for good causes and fundraise where I can.

“In April this year, I cycled the Loch Ness Etape to raise funds for the veterans’ charity, Erskine. I can really feel my fitness ramping up – as the frequency and intensity of my sessions increase the closer we get.

“Recently however, I started losing weight rapidly and didn’t know why. I went from 85kg to 71kg and have just been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

“I now have to manage a whole new transition and way of life to manage my blood sugars whilst training for such a big event but I always have been a sucker for punishment and…I know I’ve got this.”

The Invictus Games will take place from the 9th to 16th September 2023 in Dusseldorf, Germany.

Follow David, aka ‘Scaley back cyclist’, on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

Former Kinross Shed Chairman joins Scottish Men’s Sheds Association board

Former Kinross Shed Chairman joins Scottish Men’s Sheds Association board

The Scottish Men’s Sheds Association (SMSA), the national support hub for Men’s Sheds across Scotland, has today (3rd July 2023) announced the appointment of the former Chairman of Kinross & District Men’s Shed David Conner to its board.

David, who has run several businesses including an electrical contracting company and returned to learning in his mid-40s to achieve a BA in Design and Technology and become a teacher, was Chairman of Kinross & District Men’s Shed for four years until recently stepping down to enjoy retirement and travel with his wife.

David joins seven SMSA Trustees to further extend the hub’s reach of regional support to over 200 Scottish Men’s Shed groups and represent as the voice of the Men’s Sheds Movement. David (69) said: “I am delighted to be a part of this very important membership body. Whilst our Shed was developing, the SMSA was a great support to us and a first port of call to go to for information and advice to save us reinventing the wheel. Without the SMSA, it is safe to say, we and some of our local Sheds would not exist without their team steering us in the right direction and through the obstacles and bureaucracy that is thrown at you especially when starting something new.

“This support is vital to save these Shed volunteers duplicating effort and enable them to concentrate on what matters – improving the health and wellbeing of men. I look forward to representing the SMSA as an ambassador for my region to support developing and existing Men’s Shed groups using my learned knowledge and experience.”

SMSA Chief Executive Officer Jason Schroeder added: “Our Trustees are all Scottish Shedders that give their valuable time to run Men’s Sheds in their own communities and know the Men’s Shed model inside and out. I have known and worked with David and his Shed for many years and I am grateful that he is volunteering his time to bring his strong expertise to our Board and the Movement we support and represent.

“We also appeal for additional enthusiastic and visionary Shedders to strengthen our board even further. We are keen to hear from individuals from Sheds in the West Highlands and Angus. The time commitment is quarterly Board meetings and an informal catch-up with Trustees.  Expenses are reimbursed for visits to Sheds and representation at events. Contact ceo@scottishmsa.org.uk to find out more.”

A Personal Story: Ray Elliott

72-years-young veteran Ray Elliott shares his journey from Royal Engineer Commando with mountain and artic warfare training to Shotts Shedder and mentor and everything in between.

Born in 1950 into the family haulage and scrapyard business, Ray did not need toys – he was the envy of many kids as he got to play and help cut up real tanks! At age nine, after being badly attacked by a local for being a Romany Gypsy, he was then trained by a WW2 Commando to defend himself. Leaving school at 14, he began an apprenticeship as a Heavy Diesel Plant Fitter with McAlpine’s in Hayes, Middlesex and for five years got to work with bulldozers and cranes on building sites.

Ray said: “Following my apprenticeship after school, I moved to a concrete factory making prefabricated building sections as a Plant Fitter. My family then wanted to train me to take over the family business, something I really did not want to do, so I rebelled and joined the Royal Engineers at Cove, six weeks of drill and using the self-loading rifle (SLR) followed by trade training driving a Land Rover and a 4-tonne lorry.

“After 18 weeks, I was posted to Osnabruck in Germany (BAOR – British Army of the Rhine). We lived in confined accommodation with zero privacy. I applied to join the Royal Engineer 9 Parachute Squadron with a two-year wait and got my head down and trained hard but unfortunately, trouble and jealousy seem to follow me around and a fight resulted in me being kicked out of Germany, luckily avoiding prison.

“I had to go to Chatham for trade training and was put on an Engine Fitters’ course, usually six-months long. I was given 12 weeks to pass, I tried to drag it out, but very quickly got bored. After six weeks, I entered the training room and told  the trainer to sit down and watch. Within a few hours, I had stripped the engine, re-built it and put it on the engine test bed. To say the trainer was amazed is an understatement.

“After undertaking more commando training – I was the only one out of 24 Engineer hopefuls to pass. I then joined the new Condor Troop and moved to Arbroath to support 45 Royal Marine Commando Group serving NATO at the end of the Cold War with Russia, this was a Mountain and Arctic Warfare Group.

“We climbed up 700ft mountains, abseiled down headfirst at high speed and learned to casevac (casualty evacuation) a wounded soldier up and down mountains. Arctic warfare took your breath away, temperatures around minus 24C, skiing down a mountain would go to minus 60C.

“Our first trip was purely survival skills, sleeping in 10-man tents at minus 28C, skiing with 60lb packs into a hole cut in a frozen lake. Get the pack off, get the skis off, say your name, rank and number then use the ski poles to get out and start running. Just four minutes in that water could kill you, so running was required to warm the body up – at least five miles of running.

“Then, Northern Ireland in 1971 was brutal – our job was to attend to bombings, get the people out first, then the walking wounded, then the dead, or just pieces of bodies. We had to check the building structure and make it safe or pull it down whilst being shot at, petrol bombed or stoned. This experience teaches one to stay focused on the mission ahead.

“Build the camaraderie you miss and help
set up a Men’s Shed using military know how.”

Ray Elliott, Shotts Shedder

“In my personal time over the years, and much more since my retirement at 69, I have enjoyed making small models from matchsticks in my own shed and also doll houses which I donate to local toddler groups. After recovering from Covid, I was asked by a charity in Shotts – the next village to me – to call in for a chat. They had seen photos of one of the dolls houses that I had made and asked if I could make their currently closed Men’s Shed work. My initial thoughts were that it was just a place for older men to drink coffee and chat, how wrong I was.

“I had a peek in the Men’s Shed at Shotts, and it was sad to see it empty except for some birdhouses and a couple of pieces of machinery. I got to work, locating a nearby factory that had pallets left outside for people to take. Now we had some wood. A new building behind the Shed supplied additional timber and I fitted two under-bench vices, put up shelving and brought the large table saw and Mitre saw into use.

“I then received permission to strip the old fence slats around the community hall and used the wood to start producing garden planters. In no time at all, previous members started returning, including a group of lads with learning disabilities and I started to teach them basic woodwork and they helped make the planters.

“When the previous woodworker Simon visited, his face was an absolute picture as he stood at the door amazed at what had been achieved. Six months on, this man is now full of confidence and we make an amazing team. We have produced many items to generate Shed funds and even encouraged an 86-year-old ex-Carpenter to join us. I am not the ‘boss’ but utilising my military skills and background, I tend to fall into a leader/mentor role that I thoroughly enjoy.

“My perception of Men’s Sheds has really changed – they are vital and effective tool in our communities. We are now a fully operational Shed offering activities and skills experience including general woodwork, painting, basic carpentry, plumbing and soon we will cover electrics like how to wire a plug and change a socket.

“The Shed is a platform to make friends, relax in each other’s company, just sit and chat or get involved, there is no pressure. They can make a project of their choice, or we can give them a project to do with full support, in a helpful manner, not in an authority manner. The charity hall next door also offers yoga, circuit training and much more. Jointly, we are encouraging members of our community to get out of the house and come do some exercise within good company.

“As a veteran, I fully support the Men’s Sheds model as a worthwhile adventure. Sheds are reaching out to and supporting all men from all backgrounds. With the SMSA always there in the background to offer support, help or advice, anyone with a pro-active nature can help set up a Shed in their locality and encourage others to get involved.

“For all the veterans out there, I urge you to get involved in the Men’s Sheds Movement. Build the camaraderie you miss and help set up a Men’s Shed using military know how. Pull up some sandbags and tell your stories to people, they will hang on your every word. YOU can make a BIG difference in people’s lives and it can help with yours too.”

Shed in the Spotlight – Nairn Men’s Shed

Nairn Men’s Shed Chairman John Rushforth tells the story of their Shed’s full steam-ahead journey to date at their 19th-century railway station hub.

John said: “Seven years ago, a local public meeting was arranged to discuss the concept of Men’s Sheds and if there was demand and a need for one in Nairn. After this meeting, six of us began meeting regularly at Dunbar Golf Club to drink coffee and dream about Sheds.

“We explored several leads for potential premises including a disused garden centre and old stables, but they just didn’t fit the bill or would cost a scary amount to get up and running – something that would not phase us today.

“We kept meeting every week, enjoying each other’s company and chat, and then a moment of pure serendipity happened at a local football match when a Trustee was walking to the game with a friend and happened to point out a disused building on the south platform stating ‘That would make a grand Shed!”.

“The person he was talking to worked for Scotrail, the leaseholder of the building (the old Stephen Seedhouse florist building) which had previously been an old waiting room at the train station. Scotrail had been unable to lease the building out to anyone else so it was just sitting empty and getting in a bit of a mess. It was a fantastic building though and had huge potential to meet our needs.

“So, in 2017, we applied for a lease and within two weeks had received a long-term lease at £1 per annum. We got the building, but then had nothing to put in it and part of our lease agreement was to do up the outside of the building which would both cost a pretty penny.

“We reached out to the Railway Heritage Trust which offers grants for the reinstatement, maintenance, repair and restoration of railway historic buildings, structures, and fittings and the Davidson (Nairn) Charitable Trust, which benefits the community in the Nairn area or district, and they both offered to stump up half of the total costs each.

“We were off and running – kitting out the Shed, making the building fit-for-purpose and transforming the exterior of the building back to its former glory – and just like the famous quote from the 1989 movie, Field of Dreams – ‘If you build it, they will come’ – they certainly did.

“Thanks to funding from the Co-op Local Community Fund and a visit from Axminster Tools, we have an incredible workshop with every tool and piece of machinery that our members could dream of. I, as a self-confessed non-DIYer, am happy to be banned from the workshop, it just isn’t my thing. After a career in social work since the age of 19, give me the chatting and form-filling any day!

“Some of the members on the other hand, like to get their teeth into projects especially the ones linked to helping our community like making a craft table for the Nairn Alzheimer’s Group and storage boxes for the football club to name but a few.

“Projects close to our heart are also the ones linked to the heritage of the railway station like the restoration of the railway clock and owning the original ‘Nairn’ railway sign that was purchased and gifted to us by Sheena Baker, in recognition of her husband and our founding Chairman, Jeff Baker. The sign is now proudly on display in the Shed social area in his honour.

“Things were going swimmingly and our activities evolved to include walking, crafting, painting, playing games, computing and woodworking but we still especially enjoyed our Tuesday and Thursday morning social gatherings where we put the world to right and just share a cuppa – the most important part of the Shed as far as we are concerned.

“Our oldest member, who is 94, sits and shares his stories which is great for him, and us. We used to have a member, sadly now passed, who saw his place at the Shed to make everybody a cuppa and dare you to try to make your own he would be annoyed – that was his contribution and ‘purpose’ and one of our veteran members enjoys coming along as ‘there is no commitment for me to do anything at the Shed’.

“As numbers increased, we started to notice we were outgrowing our social space. Our ‘glue’ is that we sit and chat. No topic is off the menu so making this space larger to accommodate everyone was incredibly important to us – you can never have too many friends.

“Across on the north platform, was another old waiting room previously used by the florist for storage and it had two big rooms and a toilet but was quite derelict. We contacted Scotrail and to our delight, our lease was extended to include the additional building. The Railway Heritage Trust once again helped us as long as we refurbished the old toilet/storage shed on the South platform. They gave us the grant to improve the interior and the work on the Shed. A really nice bonus is that we are paid hourly to maintain the exterior of our own buildings! We now had the big social space required to accommodate our growing membership and also space for computers and a craft area. And just then, as things were looking bright, COVID hit us.

“Throughout lockdown, our members were incredibly active on Zoom. At each meeting, we had around 20+ members online and staying connected. It was so popular that we also extended an invitation for anyone to join which was great. We had people from Sheds all over the world joining from Australia to Hawaii. It’s funny as now that we have returned to the Shed, I can’t get them to go anywhere near Zoom.

“Today, we have 70+ members, all very much active, and this Shed is making a phenomenal difference in their lives. Only the other day, we had 25 members turn up just for a coffee and you could feel the buzz in the room. Such a lively bunch, happy chatting away and working on a range of different community projects.

“We also have a Saturday activity where some of the younger Shedders join us for an intense and extremely competitive game of Dungeons and Dragons (pictured above left).

“We are currently in such a good place and also have some exciting plans for the future including visiting other Sheds which we will apply to the Scottish Community Alliance Community Learning Exchange programme for our travel expenses through our SMSA membership.

“Some weeks we are open five days, there is always something on, but we still have the potential to do even more. To pursue these plans however, like all Sheds, we need more leaders to deliver this. We are in discussions with Scotrail regarding two old signal boxes (one pictured above right) with a vision of turning one into a Shed allotment/community garden and the other into a model railway club. We already have interest in both from the current membership and think it would bring in additional members also. To be honest, I think we will be beating them off with a stick!

“We have a brilliant set of Directors, everyone has a specific purpose and role to do. It is an absolute hoot. Nairn Men’s Shed is a place where two men, who have work and life experiences that are poles apart – who would probably have never crossed paths before – meet and bond. This is what it is all about.

“Our Shed journey sounds so care-free that we sometimes feel guilty when hearing about other Sheds struggling but then I remember, that this is the way it should be and Sheds should be recognised for this and supported to do what they do.”

Follow Nairn Men’s Shed on Facebook to keep up-to-date with their progress.

Scottish Men’s Sheds Association welcomes funding cut reversal


The Scottish Men’s Sheds Association (SMSA) – the national support hub for Men’s Shed groups across Scotland – has welcomed funding from the Scottish Government for the 2023-2024 financial year staving off fears of its impending closure this month.

Addressing the Association’s 3,300+ individual members and 146 Shed members across Scotland, SMSA Chief Executive Officer Jason Schroeder said: “First and foremost, we wish to express our sincere thanks to the 4,000+ supporters that signed our 38 Degrees petition and the 40+ cross-party Members of Scottish Parliament that co-signed our letter to appeal to the former First Minister and Deputy First Minister to reverse the decision to cut our funding.

“We did not get the level of funding that we require however we are delighted to have overturned this decision and overwhelmed by the backing received from our members, politicians and members of the public far and wide in addition to the local and national media for helping us raise awareness of our vital work and the need for the Association to exist to continue to support and grow this invaluable men’s health movement even further and reach more men across Scotland to combat social isolation, loneliness and boredom.

“The core funding received from the Scottish Government and several smaller funders has taken the pressure off, for now, enabling us to remain open for another financial year allowing us to continue supporting the movement and explore alternative funding sources – within and outwith the Scottish Government – to support our development plans. We not only need to keep the Association’s doors open but wish to expand the national hub to meet the needs of this rapidly growing movement – now with 202 Shed groups and a reach to 10,000+ men/volunteers in all 32 local authority areas across the nation – whilst striving to ensure preventative men’s health initiatives, like Men’s Sheds, are a top health priority.

“The future is looking bright with exciting plans and projects in the pipeline working with lots of new partners. We still have a long way to go but are moving in the right direction. Keep up the support – we can’t do this without you for the future of men’s health in our country.”

Listen to SMSA CEO Jason Schroeder’s video appeal on the SMSA You Tube Channel.

Men’s Sheds aren’t just for the retired you know…

The Scottish Men’s Sheds Association (SMSA), the national support hub for Men’s Sheds across Scotland, has launched its latest animation to attempt to break down misconceptions that this successful health and wellbeing pathway is just for the retired.

In the one-minute film, viewers get to meet Bob, a 32-year-old busy professional who is finding life just a little bit dull before stumbling across his local Men’s Shed and finds connection, community and camaraderie to recharge his life.

SMSA Chief Executive Officer Jason Schroeder said: “Our latest animation is a simple key message to promote widely that Men’s Sheds are for all men, from all walks of life, aged 18 or over and that life shouldn’t just be all work and no play for today’s working man.

“Many believe that Men’s Sheds are just for older, retired men but that simply is not the case and we are striving to break down these perceptions. With over 202 Men’s Sheds groups – open or developing – across Scotland, many are thriving with intergenerational bonds and projects working with local schools, colleges, universities and nurseries. Men, young and old, are coming together in a welcoming environment to learn from and mentor each other and pass on traditional and new skills but most importantly make friends and have some fun. It is a win-win situation for all.

“Over the years, Sheds have evolved to offer a wide variety of activities to attract younger Shedders – and not just focus on the workshop – including music/bands, arts and crafts, 3D printing, sport, day outings and much, much more. We hope that this latest film will encourage men to use our ‘Find a Shed’ map to search for their nearest Shed and go check it out and see if it is for them. After all, what have they got to lose?”

The ‘Meet Bob’ animation, available to view on the SMSA You Tube channel, is the latest in a series of animations from the Association designed to raise awareness of men’s health matters and all Men’s Sheds have to offer. In late 2022, the SMSA launched ‘The Three Amigos’ which focuses in on men’s sex lives and toilet habits to draw attention to possible health issues men can experience like the changes in the hidden ‘third nut’, the prostate gland. Whilst, the ‘Guitar Mike’ film promoted that men do open up and talk about health matters in Sheds which can be life-saving.

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