On Monday evening (28th February), SMSA CEO Jason Schroeder and SMSA Chairman David Gardner will represent the Scottish Men’s Sheds Movement at the inaugural meeting of the Global Men’s Shed Forum—an alliance of international Men’s Sheds associations.
The SMSA will join representatives from Australia, Canada, Denmark, Iceland, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States and Wales on Zoom to discuss ‘Where are Sheds at right now?’ and ‘What do you see on the horizon for Sheds in your country?’.
The SMSA will continue to keep our members and supporters updated on the progress and outcomes of this new Forum.
The Story Wagon is a touring arts space providing free creative writing, story-telling and reading facilities and activities to communities across Scotland.
The founder of Story Wagon, Luke Winter, is a writer that makes stories happen. Luke said: “I moved to London in 2013 to do freelance work and that is where I began busking with my typewriter. I started to write stories for people in the streets to make them smile.
“On my return to Scotland in early 2020, I noticed that the high street was unfortunately not as popular as it used to be so I decided to look for funding to create a ‘space’ that could pop-up in town squares and outside community centres to enable me to talk to people and let them write and share stories.
“I got in touch with Jason at the SMSA to chat about how Scottish Men’s Sheds and Shedders could become involved with the Story Wagon project but unfortunately, the pandemic put those plans on hold.
“Making the wagon through lockdown was a brilliant experience. The wagon is the end result of so many talented and generous people. We had many craftsmen and volunteers involved in the build and utilised various types of wood including Ash to make the front doors, Douglas fir to form the back gable along with pitch pine. We also recycled and repurposed materials where possible to give them a new lease of life.
“In August 2021, we had our first-ever outing in the wagon in Skye and it has grown from there. We have been popping up all across Scotland and our travels have taken us to Castle Douglas, Edinburgh and Paisley to name but a few.
“The Story Wagon is now a sanctuary for everyone to get creative and express their stories. It is a welcoming pop-up writing den that provides desk space, cups of tea, typewriters, voice recorders, books and good old-fashioned paper and pen.
“It hosts a programme of writing, reading-out-loud and storytelling activities. Its large veranda can be unfurled to provide sheltered outdoor arts activities.
“We are excited that as part of Visit Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022—a national programme of more than 60 in-person, virtual
and hybrid events—the wagon will be hitting the road to tour and are reaching out to Sheds to see if there is interest in them becoming involved in this journey.
“Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022 will celebrate stories inspired by, written, or created in Scotland. We all have a story to tell and the wagon is here to help everyone share them with others.
“Touring will take place from the end of March until the end of October and I would love to hear if Sheds would like the wagon to ‘pop-up’ near them to see their members. Shedders are also very welcome to join in on the Scotland’s Year of Stories events where the wagon will be featured.”
For more information on the Story Wagon and to see photos and videos from the wagon build project, please visit the website at www.storywagon.co.ukand follow its journey on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Is your Shed interested in becoming involved in The Story Wagon Scotland tour?
Following over a year of closure, and the Trustees taking this time to refurbish their building for post-COVID recovery, Hawick Men’s Shed has now reopened and is ready to welcome new members. The SMSA chats to Shed Chairman Keith Torrington and Secretary Robert Mayhead to find out more.
Keith, who took up the post of Chairman just over a year ago, said: “As a committee, we made the decision during the pandemic to take this time to focus on making much-needed improvements to our Shed premises so that when the time came to re-open, we were better placed to welcome current members back through our doors and hopefully attract new ones.
“Founding members, including former Chairman Wilson George and former Secretary Derick Tait, were instrumental in the start-up and success of the Shed which began its journey at a workshop on Commercial Road before securing the current premises on Lothian Street through a 10-year lease from the Scottish Borders Council in 2016.
“Our Shed premises, a two-storey building and former mill and then used by the Council as Social Services offices, although structurally sound had been unoccupied for many years and required a lot of work to make it fit for purpose. A condition of the 10-year lease is that we cannot change the use of the building but we can carry out any necessary care and repair works in order to fulfil our activities.
“We are very fortunate to have so much space available to us. Following a reshuffle of our layout and a major tidy and clear out, downstairs, we now have a lobby/reception area and office to greet our members with an office and shop adjacent, two workshops, a tool store, wood store and cleaning-up area. Upstairs, there is a large meeting/social area, a small library, a jig-saw library, a second room/lounge, tea-making area and a full-size kitchen. Pre-COVID, our lounge was a hive of activity where our members liked to socialise and have a cuppa. Also on the upper floor, we also have our upholstery workshop with another three rooms for the railway club that meets here. The Hawick & District Railway Societywas founded in 1967 and their members are also members of the Shed.
“We have all worked so hard to improve the amazing space we have here. It is an old building that was in great need of an upgrade to make it safer and more comfortable for us to use. One of our biggest projects was to make the building warmer including adding insulation to the roof/attic space and replacing the heating system. The building was suffering from severe heat loss with metal framed single-glazed windows and old storage heaters. We secured £8,147 from the National Lottery Community Fund (NLCF) to install a new energy-efficient electric heating system; our new radiators went in just before Christmas and we are hoping this will make a huge difference to our energy bills and the comfort levels for members, especially in the winter months.
“For the heating upgrade, we applied to four different funders and advised the other funders when we were successful with the NLCF. Thankfully, the People’s Postcode Lottery had already committed to allocate the funds but this will now be put towards our double glazing. We are also hopeful about discussions with a third funder (The Riada Trust) to allow us to re-assign the funds towards the windows but at the time of writing, this has not yet been formally approved.
“We received a quote of £11,000 for new double-glazing panes for the inside of each window whilst retaining the original exterior single-glazed ones. We will save money by fitting these ourselves and have a local company on speed dial that is willing to support us with advice and guidance on how to do this if we encounter any problems.
“We approached Muirhall Energy (who are setting up a new Windfarm facility in Teviotdale), the officials there gave us a grant of £2,000 that enabled us to upgrade our old electric fuse boards, replace the old smoke alarms and install new fire extinguishers too – all ensuring that the safety of our members is of the utmost priority.
“Over time, we have also changed all of the lights to LED’s, thanks to a grant from Hawick Community Council, to make them more environmentally-friendly and this has also improved the light levels in the workshops immensely and will result in cost savings in the long-term. Solar panels are an item on our wish list that we would also like to explore down the line.
“A local man kindly donated a stair lift to our Shed which belonged to his mother. This was a very important project to us to ensure our upstairs offering was accessible to all. We paid for the uplift, adaptation and installation of the stair lift which in the long-term saved us thousands of pounds on the cost of a new one.
“Like all Sheds, the pandemic has severely restricted our activities. Since our inception, the Shed has always been so involved in many projects in the community including the refurbishment of café furniture for Johnsons of Elgin, recovering seating for the Camera Club, display racks for a local knitwear retailer, planters on the high street, planters for a veterans’ café and schools, wheelchair access to the high school and sign-writing classes for local young people to name but a few.
“Our Shed also attended the Hawick Fair and Hawick Christmas Fair in 2021. These events and activities were crucial to not only sell our wares but to raise awareness of the Shed and what it has to offer. We are looking forward to getting out there again and promoting our activities to potential new members.
“We are fortunate to have a great relationship with our local council. We receive referrals through them and have recently received two new ones and will invite them both along soon to have a tour of the facilities and see if it is for them.
“Currently, I would say that a third of our 60+ members are under the age of 60 and with our latest recruitment drive, we are hopeful to attract more younger members along to the Shed too. Future plans include the potential to add a chess group, cribbage group, board games, a music group for young people and also convert one of our workshops into a model making area. Discussions have also taken place with John Spiteri, Local Area Co-ordinator at Scottish Borders Council, regarding the potential for a new film group for young people with additional support needs.
“Pre-COVID, we also had plans to utilise our large kitchen and have some basic cooking lessons for members so this is definitely something we would like to get going with sooner rather than later. We have also previously discussed starting up a ‘Fruit Club’ to share growing tips and recipes for wine making, pies, jams and so on so there is no shortage of ideas on how we can expand our activities. These decisions will, of course, all be member-led to meet their needs.
“It has been a tough old year, getting the Shed ready for our return but what keeps us all going, and feeling so passionate about it all, is seeing the difference it makes to members’ lives. One of our founding members, Tam Dagg who unfortunately passed away in November, used to always say that following his early retirement after 38 years of working in the same job, that he felt lost until his daughter pointed him in the direction of the Shed. After that, there was no stopping Tam coming to the Shed almost every day it was open – he was the first person to ever walk through the door five years ago – and he made sure to really maximise every opportunity available to him at the Shed and made a whole new circle of friends.”
This is the first study to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of health endeavors in Sheds.
Men’s Sheds attract a diverse cohort of men and, as such, have been identified as spaces with the potential to engage marginalized sub-populations with more structured health promotion.
‘Sheds for Life’ is a 10-week men’s health initiative for Sheds in Ireland and the first structured health promotion initiative formally evaluated in Sheds. Cost is an important implementation outcome in the evaluation of Sheds for Life when operating in an environment where budgets are limited.
Therefore, an economic evaluation is critical to highlight cost-effectiveness for decision makers who determine sustainability.
The aim of this cross-nation event is to demystify social prescribing* for Men’s Sheds, through presentations of Shedder experiences, recent research findings and a panel discussion and opportunity for Q&A.
*Social prescribing is a community referral. GPs, nurses and other health care professionals can refer people to a range of local non-clinical services (like Men’s Sheds) to improve their health and wellbeing.
This event will bring together the cross-nation Shed network and social prescribing organisations and is open to anyone with an interest or involvement in Men’s Sheds (across the UK and Ireland) and to anyone working or involved in social prescribing.
The event will cover:
Social Prescribing and Men’s Sheds – research findings presentation (Dr Bryony Porter, University of East Anglia).
Social Prescribing in Practice – the perspective of a social prescribing organisation
Men’s Sheds Social Prescribing Case Studies
Panel Discussion and Q&A
This event is a cross-nation collaboration organised by Dr Bryony Porter (University of East Anglia), Dr Dani Hutcheon (Glasgow Caledonian University) and Aisling McGrath (Waterford Institute of Technology) who have each worked on research projects with Men’s Sheds.
IMPORTANT NOTE
In advance of the event, the organisers are asking attendees (especially Shedders) to complete a small questionnaire to harvest their knowledge on social prescribing. If your Shed has experience of social prescribing, please complete the questionnaire to share your thoughts to support the event discussions on the day.
The Scottish Men’s Sheds Association (SMSA) is delighted to announce the process for its latest partnership with the UK’s largest supplier of tools, Cromwell.
Offering an unrivaled choice of products to all industries, professions and trades, Cromwell has now added Scottish Men’s Sheds to the list. As a result, SMSA Shed members will receive generous discounts in line with their major customers on all product groups.
Terry Duff, Divisional Sales Manager at Cromwell, said: “We are delighted to announce this new and exciting partnership with the SMSA. We bring 50 years of experience of supporting some of the largest manufacturers in the world to keep industry working and people safe. This partnership brings a new dimension to our business and supporting your Sheds and members will bring us great satisfaction.”
How do Sheds access their discounts from Cromwell?
It is easy to set up a Cromwell account through the SMSA:
If you missed the webinar ‘Spotlight on Men’s Sheds: The Impact on Individuals and Communities’, now is your opportunity to watch the 90-minute recording, including presentations and films from the SMSA, The Inverclyde Shed and Dr Danielle Hutcheon from Glasgow Caledonian University here on You Tube.
Online Event – Tuesday 1st February 2022, 4.00pm – 5.30pm
The Scottish Men’s Sheds Association (SMSA) has been working in co-production with Education Scotlandand our partnerGlasgow Calendonian University to deliver this Men’s Sheds Movement Showcase event directly to Education and Community Learning and Development practitioners in our Scottish schools.
Jason Schroeder, SMSA Executive Officer, said: “This event is a first for the SMSA and a huge intergenerational opportunity to raise awareness of the impact and the range of health and wellbeing benefits that Men’s Sheds are delivering in our Scottish communities.”
The event will feature:
a spotlight on the SMSA and Scottish Men’s Sheds – highlighting the impact on people and communities in the context of Community Learning and Development
showcase footage from the Inverclyde Shed to tell their story
guest speaker presentations from Jason Schroeder (SMSA Executive Officer) and Dr Danielle Hutcheon (Glasgow Caledonian University)
a Q&A session
an opportunity to explore and discuss potential intergenerational links and a way forward for Men’s Sheds to work together with schools for future generations
The target audience for this event is professionals within the education sector in Scotland and an invite has also been extended for representatives from Scottish Men’s Sheds to attend.
APPLY TODAY to the Scottish Community Alliance’s Learning Exchange grant program
Shed members of the Scottish Men’s Sheds Association (SMSA) qualify to apply for up to 100% of the accommodation and travel costs, to learn through the exchange of ideas and the sharing of common solutions with other Men’s Sheds/community groups across Scotland, through its membership agreement with the Scottish Community Alliance’s Learning Exchange grant program.
Amanda Cornish from the Scottish Community Alliance said: “The Community Learning Exchange is an opportunity for community groups to visit fellow organisations and learn from their experience. The programme funds travel and subsistence expenses up to £750, including a fee for the host organisation.I know that the Scottish Men’s Sheds which have already taken advantage of the exchange programme have found it extremely beneficial and enjoyable! Although there is no deadline for applications, funds will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis and once they are gone, they are gone. So, don’t delay, apply today.”
Jason Schroeder, SMSA Executive Officer, said: “Through our partnership with the Scottish Community Alliance, SMSA Shed members have access to this fantastic opportunity to gain insight into a community with shared challenges and vision. There is so much to be learned from these visits and meeting people with similar interests and goals. These visits inspire groups with new ideas and solutions to take back to their own projects.”
Feedback from participating groups:
“We all admitted that interacting with other Sheds is something we should try to do more of! It is all too easy to stick to your own Shed but this networking and sharing of ideas is key for success.”
“Several people told us it was the best study visit they’d ever been on.”
“The application process was straightforward and the response swift.”
“A thoroughly great day was had by all and we hope to return in the future.”
How do Sheds apply?
In July 2021, the Scottish Community Alliance (SCA) announced 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. Therefore, SMSA Shed members should contact Sue Salter, SMSA Administrator in the first instance atadmin@scottishmsa.org.ukor call 07465 202834.
Dunoon Men’s Shed’s learning visit to Dunbar Community Shed
The SCA Learning Exchange funds up to 100% of the costs—up to £750 for travel, accommodation and subsistence—for a visit by members of one community project to another.
Iain MacNaughton and Ian Graham of the Dunoon Men’s Shed had a wonderful day as guests of Dunbar Craft Centre and Community Shed on the 28th October 2021.
Dunbar Men’s Shed was originally located in the Belhaven Parish Church Hall but for several reasons was unable to continue operating there. Dunbar Craft Centre (DCC) came to the rescue and offered part use of their premises. Dunbar Men’s Shed was then rebranded as the Dunbar Community Shed (DCS).
The DCC is located within the Dunbar Business Centre and has a retail outlet on Dunbar main street. The DCC is a limited company, which employs several local people in its shop. The DCS has the use of a room adjacent to the craft centre which has been transformed into a comfortable and welcoming workshop.
Iain MacNaughton, Funding Sub-Committee Chair of Dunoon Men’s Shed, said: “The purpose of our visit to the community shed was to interact with their members and discuss a range of topics including: how they operate with shared premises; how they interact with other groups and Sheds; the range of diverse activities they offer to members; their ideas and future intentions; and how they bring the community together to alleviate loneliness and improve healt+h and wellbeing.
“On arrival, it was immediately obvious that DCS has an excellent relationship with DCC. The two organisations integrate well and share access to their respective working areas. This promotes a communal feeling and a sense of belonging which the Dunoon Shedders experienced as the day went on.
“Due to space constraints, the main focus of the Shed is woodworking. The members have been clearly innovative—making the best use of the space available. The working area is warm, inviting and conducive to members feeling at home in a safe environment.
“It was great to see some of their current Shed projects including a large model of conservation pioneer, John Muir—a Dunbar man and the genius behind national parks who died in 1914—for an upcoming community event and benches that are hinged for easy storage. The members have cleverly and finely honed their designs and sell the products through their community shop to raise funds.
“Sub-committees, and spreading the workload, was also discussed. The DCS has a Board of Trustees, a Shed sub-committee, a grant sub-committee, a garden sub-committee, and a Cowal vintage vehicle sub-committee. All hold their own meetings and raise funds and each has a Trustee representing the Board who reports back to the Trustees.
“Dunoon Men’s Shed is looking to purchase a portable cabin for crafts and, through this visit, we received valuable information on how to go about setting this up. Knitting, sewing, card making, board games, lampshade making, wet and dry felting, flower arranging, cooking classes, coin collecting, stamp collecting, basket weaving, clock repairs, jewellery making, art and pyrography were all suggested and discussed. It was also suggested we make individual days/evenings for each activity to allow people to attend the sessions they are most interested in.
“As a group, we discussed many opportunities and the issues Sheds face. Raising awareness in the community in terms of advertising and promotion was another hot topic. Getting the word out there to hard to reach groups such as those not on social media and people with disabilities/learning difficulties can be a particular challenge. The group discussed connecting with local befrienders and connect organisations to explain what the Shed has to offer.
“Throughout the course of our visit, there were people constantly popping in or saying they were returning later to help out. At one stage, my brother Francis—who I had no idea was coming along—turned up at the Shed and was made to feel very welcome and expressed an interest in joining as a member. It is a very small world indeed.
“At around 4pm, there was a flurry of excitement as their Shed members brought out several easels they had manufactured for their next activity—their popular art class—it was great to see.
“An ex-lighthouse keeper, Barry Craighead, also arrived when we were there and, when we got talking, he told us he is at present trying to establish a Shed in East Linton. The Shed is currently operating in a portacabin and has been running in name only for approximately two years. We suggested that Barry get in touch with the SMSA for advice on the way forward. Barry advised us that they are allowed to use the land their portacabin is on free of charge. In turn, the owner’s plants are looked after. A great example of interaction between Shed and landlord for the common good.
“All too soon, it was time to leave. We arrived early at the Shed that morning and intended to only stay until 2pm–to not overstay our welcome. Well, we need not have worried about that. By 4pm, we felt we were part of their Shed! Time flew by and the conversation flowed.
“We all admitted that interacting with other Sheds is something we should try to do more of! It is all too easy to stick to your own Shed but this networking and sharing of ideas is key for success. This visit proved that there is always something to learn from another Shed and you will always receive a friendly welcome.
“They really laid out the red carpet for us. Cath Finlayson, Bob Fleet, Nigel Booth, Tania King, Barry Craighead, Julie Arthur and Ute Penny of the Craft shop in the High Street, could not have made us more welcome. We arrived as strangers and left as friends and for this, we are extremely thankful.
“We must also thank the SMSA team who assisted us to set up this inter-Shed visit and the Scottish Community Alliance who kindly provided the finances for the trip—allowing us to travel from Dunoon to Dunbar and back and stay in comfortable accommodation for two nights—and the opportunity to learn so much.
“A thoroughly great day was had by all and we hope to return in the future.”
Becoming a father can be the happiest time in a man’s life, but for some it can bring unexpected feelings of anxiety, stress and guilt. Until recently, mental health concerns for new dads were little understood and, often, went unaired. But some men, who have experienced postnatal depression, hope that telling their story will encourage others to open up.
The SMSA has been contacted by BBC Scotland Broadcast Journalist Steven McCaul who is working on a news story looking at mental health support for new fathers in Scotland.
Steve is looking to interview Scottish fathers who have experienced postnatal depression. Is there anyone within our Scottish Men’s Shed community who would be happy to speak to him?
Filming will begin at the start of February. If you are interested in being involved, please get in touch with Steven on 07912 184206 or email steven.mccaul@bbc.co.uk to arrange to be interviewed.
Steve is happy for his details to be shared widely to reach Scottish fathers.
Finally, after a long, pandemic-related pause, Claire Prenton’s play – written with ten members of the Peebles and District Mens Shed in 2019-2020 – will enjoy a professional rehearsed reading on Saturday 29th January 2022 at 4.30pm at Eastgate Theatre and Arts Centre Peebles.
Written thanks to funding by Inspiring Life, a mental health charity which aims to prevent suicide and help mental health through the arts, the play is an original story but was inspired by sessions with the men. There will be tea and cake/biscuits included in the ticket price – it is a Shed, after all!
Three men who have never met before find banter, bird boxes and biscuits in a fictional Men’s Shed in this play created in collaboration with Peebles and District Mens Shed. The one act play was created in early 2020 when Peebles shed members explored male isolation and mens’ mental health and wellbeing, to inspire the writing of a new play about camaraderie, companionship… and custard creams.
The play is presented as a rehearsed reading with a cast of three professional actors and explores – and perhaps explodes the myth that ‘Men Don’t Talk’.
If you would like to see a perusal copy of the script, please do get in touch. The play is a 3 hander with gentle audience participation, tea and biscuits and currently stands at approx 45-50 mins in length.
With all best wishes for the season and a happy new year. It’s been another challenging one. Here’s to ’22.
