They may have only officially opened in October of this year, but Banff, Macduff and District Men’s Shed is certainly making its mark as their members celebrated a double triumph in the Scottish Men’s Sheds Movement world this week.

Representatives from the Scottish Men’s Sheds Association (SMSA) – the national support hub for the 200+ Men’s Sheds across Scotland – travelled on Thursday 23rd November 2023 to hand-deliver the Shed’s esteemed targe trophy and prizes for winning ‘Scottish Men’s Shed of the Year’ 2023 in addition to a very special donated guitar for winning the ‘Battle of the Shed Bands’.

SMSA CEO Jason Schroeder said: “When we started these awards back in 2019, their purpose was to celebrate, recognise and reward Scottish Men’s Sheds for the work they are carrying out in their Sheds to improve men’s health and wellbeing and the impact that they are making in their local communities. Since then, the awards have grown tenfold.

“It is a level-playing field for all the Sheds that apply – some have been on the go for over ten years now and some are new and developing. Banff, Macduff and District Men’s Shed, as the new Shed on the block, is now the fifth Shed to receive this prestigious title and has proved through this win that these groups of volunteers are making just as big of an impact in a short space of time. Our previous Shed finalists and winners over the years report gaining immense status not just where they live, but also nationally with funders, supporters and the media which was unprecedented.”

The Association’s CEO Jason presented the Shed members with the unique SMSA targe trophy which was the brainchild of former SMSA Chairman Derek Keiller – engraved with the Shed name and displayed in a very fitting Shed-style stand designed and produced by inaugural winner, Aberchirder & District Men’s Shed who was also present at the event. The Shed will hold the trophy until the 2024 award winner is announced.

Along with the title and trophy, the Shed receives £2,000 of prizes to support the running of their Shed including a £500 unrestricted cash prize from the SMSA (paid for through SMSA Shed Membership fees); a £150 voucher from Axminster Tools; a £250 voucher from Scotmid Co-operative to keep the guys going for a while in tea and biscuits; a free Machine Competency and Woodwork training day from David Young Training worth £638; and a year’s free accounts package from Thyme Accountants worth £360 to support their Treasurer.

SMSA CEO Jason then went on to present the ‘Battle of the Shed Bands’ prize to the Shed donated by partner organisation, 12 Guitars – the social enterprise uses the guitar as an enabler to provide the enjoyment and life-changing benefits that playing guitar can bring to people of all ages and backgrounds. The band was overwhelmed to receive the prize – a Michael Batio MAB Gold Relic guitar manufactured by Dean Guitars.

Shed Chairman Bob Copland who is in the band said: “We couldn’t believe it when we won the Scottish Men’s Shed of the Year title, and then were doubly gobsmacked when we went on to be announced as the winner of the inaugural Shed bands contest too. We thank the SMSA, 12 Guitars and everyone that voted for us for both – it has created such a buzz in the Shed. When we shared the news with our members that our band had also won, they were delighted thinking that they had won a photo print of the guitar, then found out that we had actually won the guitar itself! We are over the moon to say the least.”

At the presentation event, the Banff & Macduff Shedders band – vocalist Graham Souter, drummer Alex Sutherland, Bob Copland on bass, John Bloor on rhythm guitar and lead guitarist Bob Brown playing the new guitar – not only entertained guests to the Shed with their winning song ‘Don’t Rock the Jukebox’ but also performed live on air to Deveron FM listeners who were also treated to a live interview from the SMSA sharing the great news.

Chairman Bob Copland (now 62), who suffered his first stroke at the age of 29, said: “The Battle of the Shed Bands was a great opportunity to feature that there are more to Men’s Sheds than just woodwork. Some men are just not interested in DIY and have so many other hobbies and interests that can bring them together for better conversations. Our band members have all performed in other bands in the past and playing together at the Shed has been great.

“I returned to play the guitar as part of my recovery process following a stroke which affected my left side. My left hand used to seize up and I thought, if I can just keep working my hand it will come good, and through playing the guitar regularly, it did. Many of our members have a background story to tell, our vocalist Graham is a recovering alcoholic and our drummer Alex didn’t leave the house for years following a horrific attack and was left for dead. Our rhythm guitarist John Bloor is also recovering from prostate cancer which was only discovered when he decided to go to his GP to get checked after a conversation with another Shed member. It really is fair to say that joining the Men’s Shed and playing in the band is truly life-changing for all of us.”

Jason added: “We are trying to get the message out there to men living in Scotland that you don’t have to know how to make a bird box to join a Men’s Shed. The Shed is just the place that brings men together either with common interests or with skills and talents that they can share with others or just come along for the craic and a cuppa whilst improving your health and wellbeing. Both commonalities and diversity make for better conversations in the Shed.”

Head to the Shed – find the Shed closest to you on the SMSA website ‘Find a Shed’ map.

The Scottish Men’s Sheds Association (SMSA) has revealed the winner, chosen by the general public, of the 2023 ‘Scottish Men’s Shed of the Year’ title as Banff, Macduff and District Men’s Shed at their national gathering, AGM and awards event today.

The announcement was made following three weeks of public voting. The votes came down to the wire for three worthy finalists – Banff, Macduff and District Men’s Shed, Carluke Men’s Shed and Carse of Gowrie Men’s Shed – as they rallied for their communities and supporters to get behind them.

Over 200+ open or developing Men’s Shed groups, across all 32 local authority areas in Scotland, were invited to apply for the awards process before being shortlisted to three by the SMSA Board of Trustees. Banff, Macduff and District Men’s Shed was then unveiled as the winner – live by the SMSA at the awards ceremony on Friday 10^th November 2023 receiving a tremendous 46% of the votes with Carluke Men’s Shed coming a close second – with only 45 votes between them – and Carse of Gowrie Men’s Shed in third place.

Commenting on the award, Banff, Macduff and District Men’s Shed Chairman Bob Copland, said: “We are absolutely gobsmacked, we really did not expect to be shortlisted let alone win. We wish to take this opportunity to congratulate and recognise the outstanding work being carried out by our fellow finalists Carluke Men’s Shed and Carse of Gowrie Men’s Shed and all the Sheds across Scotland.

“We are overwhelmed, and thankful to the SMSA, for the amount of publicity and interest that the awards have drummed up for us. Thanks go to each of our members for everything they do to make the Shed a success and to every single person that voted for us.”

Banff, Macduff and District Men’s Shed’s journey began back in 2017 when a group of eight men began meeting in a room above the Railway Inn Banff. In 2018, the Shed set their sights on the former Fife Street School in Macduff – a large empty granite building that was up for sale. After a few hiccups and a pandemic in the way, the Shed gained access in September 2022 and signed a 99-year lease in March of this year.

The Shed’s varied activities include woodwork, gardening, machinery maintenance, computing, music group/band, snooker, table tennis, cards and board games, group debates, presenting shows on their local radio station and photography to name but a few. The Shed has also dedicated two rooms solely to let to community groups including Deveron Camera Club, puppy training classes, a street dance group, the Macduff Crafters and the North Aberdeenshire Integrated Drug and Alcohol Service Health and Social Care Partnership which holds weekly acupuncture classes for people suffering from addiction.

The Macduff Market has full use of the premises once a month and there is also a regular presence from the Community Food Initiative North East’s mobile food service van to serve the community. The Shed recently hosted Macduff’s first-ever car boot sale which was a great success. Their list of projects is vast and they have had a huge impact with the younger and older generations in their community in such a short period of time. The Shed has mentored Macduff Primary pupils within the Nurture Hub, worked with Banff Academy and the local Brownies group to build bird boxes as well as refurbished a sun house, seating and built a greenhouse for the local sheltered housing complex.

Jason Schroeder, SMSA CEO, said: “Our three finalists are all excellent examples of best practice and the reason behind showcasing these Sheds through these awards. Our winner is not only improving the health, wellbeing and general quality of life of the members that attend but this group of volunteers has also saved this building from demolition and brought it back for immense community benefit. They are sharing this fantastic community resource with other local groups – as there was a lack of suitable and affordable meeting spaces in the area – resulting in bringing the community together through shared premises, assets and knowledge and to also generate income towards the running of the facility to ensure it is here for many years to come.”

Banff, Macduff and District Men’s Shed were presented with the esteemed SMSA targe trophy – created and designed by former SMSA Chairman Derek Keiller and several Men’s Shed members – engraved with the Shed name and displayed in a unique stand designed and produced by inaugural winner, Aberchirder & District Men’s Shed. The two runners up received a replica trophy, created by David Young Training, to be displayed in their Sheds to recognise them as 2023 finalists.

The winner and runners-up also receive a range of prizes from the SMSA and their partners and sponsors. Banff, Macduff and District Men’s Shed receives £2,000 of prizes to support their Shed including a £500 cash prize from the SMSA (paid for through SMSA Shed Membership fees); a £150 voucher from Axminster Tools; a £250 voucher from Scotmid Co-operative; a free Machine Competency and Woodwork training day from David Young Training worth £638; and a year’s free Shed accounts package from Thyme Accountants worth £360 to support the Shed Treasurer.

This year’s event, the first gathering of Scottish Men’s Sheds since the pandemic, included a new fun entertainment element entitled ‘Battle of the Shed Bands’ with performances from three Shed bands – Simply Shed’ from Stonehouse Men’s Shed, ‘The Woodshedders’ from Culter & District Men’s Shed and the ‘Banff & Macduff Shedders’ – who competed for votes from the event delegates.

Banff, Macduff and District Men’s Shed celebrated a double win as they were selected by the audience to win a Michael Batio MAB Gold Relic guitar manufactured by Dean Guitars donated by the social enterprise 12 Guitars which uses the guitar as an enabler to provide the enjoyment and life-changing benefits that playing guitar can bring to people of all ages and backgrounds. The Banff & Macduff Shedders band formed almost six years ago to ‘get together to play some tunes for fun’. Commenting, Bob Copland, said: “All we want to do really is have a bit of fun and not let our instruments, or ourselves, collect dust.”

Jason added: “We are not just about woodwork in Men’s Sheds – far from it – as strongly evidenced by the Sheds celebrated at today’s event. Sheds are all unique and offer a diverse range of activities to meet their members’ needs and the volunteers all have talents and skills they wish to utilise and share with others. Music and bands were just one element that we wished to showcase at our national gathering.”

John Conroy from ‘The Woodshedders’ group from the Culter & District Men’s Shed said: “We use our group to promote the health and wellbeing benefits of singing as it can boost confidence, encourage expression and social bonding. Music and singing are really good for you, the known physical benefits include enhancing lung function, helping to relieve stress and anxiety, also improving memory.

“Current members Erik Stein, Peter Helms, Graham James, Paul Bothamley, and I never set out to be a performing group but were encouraged by former Shed Chairman Bill Jamieson to start performing at Shed events before venturing out to public engagements. Our ethos is that ‘music is the universal language of mankind’ and the recording played at the SMSA event was from our first-ever public performance at Deeside Golf Club, Aberdeen, so it is very close to our hearts.

“It is hard to describe the feel-good factor that our group gains from singing in a relaxed environment. We love to make our audience happy and hope to continue for as long as we can. We urge other Sheds to consider setting up their own music groups and encourage members of the public to consider joining or starting up a music group at their local Men’s Shed.” Head to the Shed – find the Shed closest to you on the SMSA website at www.scottishmsa.org.uk/find-a-shed

THE PUBLIC VOTE HAS NOW CLOSED, THE WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED AT THE AWARDS EVENT

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE EVENT ON FRIDAY 10TH NOVEMBER 2023

The Scottish Men’s Sheds Association (SMSA), the national support hub for Scottish Men’s Sheds, announces its three finalists, shortlisted by the SMSA’s Board of Trustees, for this prestigious award that recognises and rewards the contribution and life-changing impact that these vital and invaluable volunteers – also known as ’Shedders’ – across Scotland are making to their own lives and in their communities.

The three 2023 finalists are Banff, Macduff and District Men’s Shed; Carluke Men’s Shed; and Carse of Gowrie & District Men’s Shed.    

Bob Copland, Chairman of Banff, Macduff & District Men’s Shed, said: “We are delighted and honoured to be shortlisted for this year’s awards. It has come as a huge surprise given the high standard of the Sheds across Scotland that we read about in the SMSA’s magazine, ‘The Scottish Shedder’.

“I am extremely proud of our Shed and all of our members.  We continually hear about the benefits of Men’s Sheds in communities all around the world and I am delighted that our Shed is being recognised for the achievements and progress that has been made in the short time that we have been in our new premises.  We would also like to wish the two other finalists the best of luck and look forward to meeting them at the awards event.”

Bill Beckers, Secretary of Carse of Gowrie & District Men’s Shed, said: “We are thrilled to be in the running for this year’s awards and it is great to see a good spread across Scotland with the Shed finalists. We would not be in our tenth year of running our Shed without the hard work and dedication of our members. Without their co-operation and each member having the opportunity to voice their opinions to run ‘their Shed’ at monthly meetings, we simply would not still be here a decade on. The members and the trustees really do go over and above to make the Shed a success, meet the needs of our 70-strong membership and deliver for our community.”

Tom Kennedy, Treasurer of Carluke Men’s Shed, said: “The men just can’t believe it – we are over the moon. This is huge recognition for all of our hard work over the last four years. We stuck to it, through the pandemic, and our Shed has really grown in popularity and accomplished so much in our community. We are only a few weeks away from moving into our new premises and now have even more of a reason to celebrate. Onwards and upwards.”

Jason Schroeder, SMSA’s CEO, said: “Our awards, now in their fifth year, offer the chance to showcase the positive impact that Men’s Sheds are making in their localities to improve the health and wellbeing of men aged 18+ across Scotland. Each year, the awards get bigger and better and we received a record response and exceptional applications.

“It is now time to give the public a chance to have their say. There is however no fierce competition and I am delighted that all three finalists are supporting each other and wish each other well – which is what the Men’s Sheds Movement is all about. This event is about showcasing and celebrating the work being carried out and raise awareness so that every man in Scotland is aware of and has the opportunity to attend his local Shed if he wishes to do so.”

For the first time since the pandemic, Sheds across Scotland will physically gather at the awards event on Friday 10^th November 2023 at Carse of Gowrie Men’s Shed, 10am – 3pm. The event will coincide with the Association’s AGM business and also be an opportunity for a national gathering for Sheds to connect, learn, share and network.  The SMSA will also update its members on the MOT4Men preventative men’s health programme to be delivered in Sheds and also feature some entertainment from Shed bands.

The winner will be announced live at the event and receive the esteemed targe trophy to display at their Shed for a year on top of a cash prize from the SMSA (paid back from SMSA Shed membership fees) and goodies from sponsors and partner organisations including Machine Competency and Woodwork training through David Young Training.

The public has until midnight on Sunday 29th October 2023 to vote to crown the winner which will be announced at the SMSA national gathering, AGM and Awards event on Friday 10th November 2023. Click here to register your place.

THE 2023 AWARDS ARE NOW CLOSED FOR APPLICATIONS

The awards, now in their fifth year and delivered by the Scottish Men’s Sheds Association (SMSA), recognise and reward the contribution that Men’s Sheds make and raise awareness of the huge impact that they are having in our Scottish communities. 

With over 200 Sheds now open or developing across all 32 local authority areas, this prestigious award aims to celebrate and showcase the life-changing friendships, connections and camaraderie taking place to benefit men’s health and wellbeing.

The awards also afford the opportunity to hear all about the great things happening in Sheds – from the intergenerational projects to partnership working and doing our bit for the environment – in addition to highlighting the challenges and barriers that Sheds are experiencing and what support they require to enable them to grow and thrive.

With trophies and an enviable array of prizes up for grabs for the top three shortlisted Sheds—you gotta be in it to win it.

For updates, please visit scottishmsa.org.uk/smsotyawards

Last year’s winner was Men’s Shed Govan. Commenting on the award, Men’s Shed Govan Chairman Martin Haddow, said: “We are absolutely delighted to win this award. We have purposefully offered a wide and varied range of activities to meet our members’ needs – after all, not everyone likes woodwork and that is not the be all and end of Men’s Sheds.

“There is such a strong sense of camaraderie and the Shed has improved the quality of lives of its members by giving them a purpose, people to talk to and things to try and do. We are extremely proud to have turned a previously derelict nursery and undeveloped outdoor space that was being used as a dumping ground into a vital resource for our community that is hugely benefitting the physical and mental health and wellbeing of 70+ members.”