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.
The Scottish Men’s Sheds Association (SMSA) represents the Scottish Men’s Sheds Movement across many sectors as well as through our Scottish Ministers in Westminster.
At the recent Westminster Hall Debate for International Men’s Day 2021 various Ministers shared the difficulties men and boys face in our modern society today. Men’s health is more than often being overlooked by governments but there are new organisations and movements which celebrate and support a healthy masculine role model emerging to rectify the negative toxic male stereotype we have inherited and Scottish Men’s Sheds is one of them. The Scottish Men’s Sheds Movement welcomes men over the age of 18 to join Men’s Sheds which can create a unique intergenerational experience for all involved to experience camaraderie with purpose in a ‘shoulder to shoulder’ mentoring way.
Margaret Ferrier, Independent MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West, recognised the vital work of the SMSA and her recent meeting with Jason Schroeder, SMSA Chief Executive Officer commended the enormous impact Men’s Sheds have on the wellbeing of men of all ages that attend in her speech. Margaret’s speech begins at 21.40 mins into the video (below).
Check out the Hansard (Official Report) here. Margaret’s speech prompted some of the Members that followed to also acknowledge Men’s Sheds including Mrs Maria Miller (MP for Basingstoke) and Gavin Newlands (MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire).
Check out the video below for the full debate that took place on Thursday 25th November 2021:
The Scottish Men’s Sheds Association (SMSA) has today presented Westhill & District Men’s Shed with the esteemed ‘Scottish Men’s Shed of the Year’ targe trophy to mark and celebrate International Men’s Day.
Westhill & District Men’s Shed, the first-ever Men’s Shed in Scotland which opened in 2013, was crowned the winner at the ‘Scottish Men’s Shed of the Year’ Awards 2021 event earlier this month after receiving over a third of the votes from the public. The SMSA team hand-delivered the targe trophy, now engraved with the winning Shed’s name, to be displayed at their premises on Hay’s Way in Westhill, Aberdeenshire over the coming year.
The Association also presented a replica runner-up trophy, created by SMSA partner David Young Training, to Stonehaven & District Men’s Shed who came in a close second.
International Men’s Day, on the 19th November each year, celebrates the positive value men bring to the world, their families and communities – putting the spotlight on positive role models and raising awareness of men’s health and wellbeing. Jason Schroeder, SMSA Executive Officer, said: “Today, we are delighted to recognise men from all walks of life and the contribution they make to society. We can think of no better way to mark International Men’s Day than to showcase and reward the tremendous impact that Men’s Sheds are making in their communities and the life-changing effect and benefits this brings to their members.
“The Scottish Men’s Sheds Movement, now in its seventh year, has grown exponentially and we now have 192 known open and developing Men’s Shed groups across the nation and it continues to grow thanks to these men.”
Chairman of Westhill & District Men’s Shed, David Thomson, said: “On behalf of our trustees and members, I am delighted to receive this exceptional trophy today. I would like to thank our Trustee Stuart Ellis who prepared and submitted our application for this award and would also like to recognise our supporters who voted for us – not just from the UK but also many from overseas. I am extremely proud of the contribution that each of our 300 members have made to make our Shed such a huge success.”
The SMSA’s targe trophy was collectively created in 2019 by several Men’s Sheds and designed by former SMSA Chairman, Derek Keiller of Carse of Gowrie Men’s Shed for the first year of the Awards.
Derek designed and woodturned the targe from mahogany supplied by the Carse of Gowrie Men’s Shed from a 100-year-old billiards table followed by French polishing by Hamish Shepherd of Strathmore Men’s Shed in Coupar Angus. The trophy will now be displayed for a year at Westhill & District Men’s Shed on a unique stand designed by inaugural winner, Aberchirder & District Men’s Shed.
The winner and runners-up also receive a range of prizes from the SMSA and their partners and sponsors. The winner, WDMS, receives over £2,000 of prizes to support their Shed including a £500 cash prize from the SMSA (paid for through SMSA Shed Membership fees); a £125 voucher from Scotmid Co-operative; a £200 voucher for tools from Balfour Beatty; a £50 voucher from Axminster Tools; a free Machine Competency and Woodwork training day from David Young Training worth over £630; a year’s free Shed accounts package fromThyme Accountants worth £360 to support the Shed Treasurer; and goodies and hampers from their local Asda, Co-op and Tesco stores.
The public has voted and, out of five worthy finalists, Westhill & District Men’s Shed (WDMS) – the first-ever Men’s Shed in Scotland – has been crowned ‘Scottish Men’s Shed of the Year’ 2021 after receiving 35% of the total votes.
WDMS was announced as the winner live by the Scottish Men’s Sheds Association (SMSA), with 667 votes, at the Association’s AGM & ‘Scottish Men’s Shed of the Year’ Awards 2021 virtual event on Thursday 4th November 2021. Stonehaven & District Men’s Shed came a close second with 450 votes and next up was Dunoon Men’s Shed with 305, followed closely by Aboyne & District Men’s Shed with 277 and Dumfries Men’s Shed with 216.
Chairman of Westhill & District Men’s Shed, David Thomson, said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive this prestigious title that recognises the achievements, over the last eight years, from our extremely active and committed Board of Trustees and members. We have grown significantly over the years and now welcome over 300 members through our doors—averaging nearly 100 member visits per week.”
The first of its kind in Scotland, WDMS has been used as a good practice model for many Scottish Sheds and has evolved and diversified to meet the needs of its growing membership since its inception in 2013. The Shed offers impressive facilities to local men age 18 or over including a fully-equipped workshop and social, meeting and administration areas. Activities include lawnmower refurbishment, a bridge group, music group, 3D printing, model railway making and their new clock/watch repair service to name but a few on top of their projects for their local community including making benches, pergolas, garden furniture, planters, and signs for walking trails to generate income towards the Shed’s running costs.
The Shed also holds a series of talks on a variety of subjects including men’s health and wellbeing and local history and presents to local groups and hosts visits to raise awareness of their Shed and the Scottish Men’s Sheds Movement as a whole.
The Shed recently expanded, with an additional portable cabin, creating more much-needed space to accommodate its growing popularity. In June of this year, WDMS also received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service recognising the invaluable work carried out in their community and with special recognition for its COVID-19 work to produce 2,700 face visors for keyworkers. Their future plans include repairing the leaky roof of their original Shed building but first and foremost, their focus lies with encouraging existing members to return to the Shed with confidence.
Jason Schroeder, SMSA Executive Officer, said: “We are delighted that the first-ever Men’s Shed in Scotland has claimed the ‘Scottish Men’s Shed of the Year’ 2021 title. This year’s entries were of an incredibly high standard and were blind-judged by our Board of Trustees before letting the public decide on their winner.
“The pandemic and temporary Shed closures have certainly not put a stop to these men and they have demonstrated extreme resilience. The awards event not only showcases and recognises the immense achievements of individual Men’s Sheds and the impact they are having at a local level – to improve men’s health and wellbeing and make a real difference in their communities – but also celebrates the incredible growth of the Men’s Sheds Movement in Scotland over the last eight years to what we have today – over 190 Men’s Shed groups nationwide – and it continues to grow.”
The winning Shed will receive the esteemed targe trophy – created by 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 trophy will be hand-delivered to WDMS by the SMSA Chairman and staff team to mark International Men’s Day on Friday 19th November 2021. Each of the four runners up will also receive a replica of the trophy, created by David Young Training, to be displayed in their Shed’s to recognise them as 2021 finalists.
The winner and runners-up also receive a range of prizes from the SMSA and their partners and sponsors. The winner, WDMS, receives over £2,000 of prizes to support their Shed including a £500 cash prize from the SMSA (paid for through SMSA Shed Membership fees); a £125 voucher from Scotmid Co-operative; a £200 voucher for tools from Balfour Beatty; a £50 voucher from Axminster Tools; a free Machine Competency and Woodwork training day from David Young Training worth over £630; a year’s free Shed accounts package fromThyme Accountants worth £360 to support the Shed Treasurer; and goodies and hampers from their local Asda and Co-op stores.
SMSA members can register to attend the virtual SMSA AGM and ‘Scottish Men’s Shed of the Year’ Awards 2021 on Thursday 4th November 2021, 10am to 1pm on Zoom.
Hear from the SMSA on its key highlights of the year and future plans. On the day, the SMSA will also announce who will be crowned 2021’s ‘Scottish Men’s Shed of the Year’.
Confirmed speakers (pictured left to right) include: Sir Harry Burns (SMSA Patron), Charles Wallace (Scottish Veterans Commissioner) and Professor Barry Golding (Internationally-published researcher and writer – talking about his new book, ‘Shoulder to Shoulder: Broadening the Men’s Shed Movement’).
This not-to-be-missed event is for SMSA members only and has limited places. If you are not already an individual member, why not join for FREE today?
This online national gathering, on Tuesday 5th October 2021, hosted and organised by the Scottish Government was targeted at community groups with an interest in asset transfer.
With over 100 delegates logging on through Microsoft Teams – with an interest in making an asset transfer request, learning more or wishing to share their experience of the process – there was good representation from Men’s Sheds across Scotland and the Scottish Men’s Sheds Association.
Scottish Government’s Asset Transfer Policy Manager, Malcolm Cowie, has shared the presentations and associated information with the SMSA to send out to the Shed Networks.
There is still time to apply for the prestigious ‘Scottish Men’s Shed of the Year’ Awards 2021 from the Scottish Men’s Sheds Association (SMSA).
The awards, which opened for applications on the 2nd August, recognise and reward the contribution and impact Men’s Sheds make to society – telling the story to raise awareness of the benefits of Sheds to men, their family and friends and the community as a whole.
The awards event will take place virtually on Zoom again this year as part of the Association’s Annual General Meeting on Thursday 4th November 2021.
Jason Schroeder, SMSA’s Executive Officer, said: “We are delighted to launch these awards, for the third year, to celebrate and showcase the life-changing work being carried out in Men’s Sheds across Scotland. Sheds are committed to improving the health and wellbeing of men (aged 18 and over) through friendship, support and camaraderie and we want to hear from Scottish Sheds on the impact they are having within their localities.
“We also want to know about the challenges they have faced and how they overcame them so that other Sheds can learn from their experience. Although, the event is being carried out online again this year, it certainly will not stop the Shedders coming together to share experiences and learn from each other.”
Scottish Sheds, that are members of the SMSA, can apply via the SMSA website before midnight on Sunday 26th September 2021. Shortlisted Sheds will then be selected by SMSA’s Trustees before going to a public vote for two weeks from Monday 4th October 2021 in the run-up to the event. The winner and two runners-up will be announced on the day. The winner will receive the esteemed targe trophy – designed and collectively created by SMSA and several Scottish Sheds – to display at their Shed for a year in addition to receiving an array of prizes from supporting organisations.
Deadline for applications: Midnight on Sunday 26th September 2021
Shortlist announced and open to public vote: Monday 4th October 2021
Closed to public vote: Midnight on Sunday 17th October 2021
Winner announced at SMSA AGM/Awards event: Thursday 4th November 2021
Tuesday 5th October 2021 12.30 pm – 4.00 pm (on Microsoft Teams)
The Scottish Men’s Sheds Association (SMSA) has been approached by Scottish Government’s Asset Transfer Policy Manager, Malcolm Cowie, to share information to Scottish Men’s Sheds about this upcoming national event.
This very important online meeting, hosted by the Scottish Government. is targeted at community groups with an interest in community asset transfer. Your Shed might be considering an asset transfer request; have already been through the process; or are just interested in learning more.
It is hoped that Tom Arthur MSP (Minister for Public Finance, Planning and Community Wealth) will join for part of the event and there will also be presentations from those involved in asset transfers and a chance for you to interact and discuss experiences.
An agenda is currently being finalised and will be issued shortly. In the meantime, please save the date in your diary.
Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, Princess Anne, today unveiled a commemorative plaque marking the official opening of Banchory and District Men’s Shed in Aberdeenshire.
Her Royal Highness was greeted on arrival by Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant for Kincardineshire, Mr Alastair Macphie, who introduced the Deputy Lieutenant of Kincardineshire, Mrs Claire Maitland, and Mr Paul Evans, the Chairman of Banchory and District Men’s Shed. Mr Evans introduced Mr Alastair Black, Legion Scotland Area Chairman for Aberdeen, Banff and Kincardine, then invited the Princess Royal to enter the Men’s Shed workshop.
The Princess Royal toured the new facility, accompanied Mr Paul Evans, who said: “We are honoured to welcome HRH The Princess Royal to mark the opening of our Men’s Shed. It has been heartening to see this project finally come to fruition after many hurdles. It can now go forward as a resource for men in our community who are looking for new social contacts and activities, for example after retirement.”
In the workshop, Mr Evans presented members Mr Fred Harrott (silversmithing), Mr Alan Pumfrey (bird table construction) and Dr Bill Byth (bicycle maintenance). Entering the Men’s Shed social area, Mr Evans presented members Mr John Dunnett (model steam engines), Mr John Mason (clock repair) and Mr Duncan Davidson (Treasurer). Mr Alan Pumfrey demonstrated his model railway and showed models of Banchory railway buildings that he had made.
Banchory and District Men’s Shed is the first ‘Shed’ in Scotland to link up with Legion Scotland and it was unfortunate that one of the champions of this, Mr Jason Schroeder – Executive Officer of the Scottish Men’s Sheds Association (SMSA) – could not take part on the day due to illness. Jason is an ex-serviceman and championed this collaboration from its origin in 2015. Mr Schroeder said: “After so many years in the making, I was personally gutted to not be able to attend the opening due to illness; however, the SMSA still ensured representation at this very special event. It was kind of HRH Princess Anne to convey her best wishes for a speedy recovery and I shall be concentrating on just that. I look forward to visiting the Shed and the guys as soon as it is safe for me to do so.”
The Princess Royal then spent some time chatting outside the Shed with other members and their wives and some invited guests including Gerry Robb, the architect upon whose plans the Shed premises were based, and Bruce McCombie, the building contractor for the conversion.
Mr Evans then invited Her Royal Highness to unveil the plaque to commemorate the opening, which was hand-engraved by member, Mr John Mason. Mr Alan Pumfrey then presented Her Royal Highness with a gift of a bird box made by himself.
*£580 for one full-day on-site training for your Shed. £290 for the first five Sheds that apply (with a low bank balance)!
David Young Training has offered an additional 10% discount on his machine competence and woodwork training courses for reopening Sheds as an SMSA Shed Membership benefit.
Original discounted price for Sheds: £638, new discounted price: £580 and the SMSA will pay 50% of this fee for the first five Sheds that apply (with a low bank balance). REGISTER YOUR INTEREST HERE.
David Young Training at Garnock Valley Men’s Shed
As runners up in the 2020 ‘Scottish Men’s Shed of the Year’ Awards, Garnock Valley Men’s Shed (GVMS) received a 50% discount on machinery competence and health and safety training through SMSA’s partner, David Young Training.
Having recently lost their Shed Manager to full-time employment, GVMS decided to follow the example of other Sheds and have a group of Supervisors available on a rota system. David Gardner, Vice-Chair and Treasurer of GVMS, said: “We quickly realised that our new group of Supervisors required training on our workshop equipment so decided to take up the offer of the discounted prize from David Young Training.
“Arranging the date was difficult, due to COVID-19 restricting travel and numbers, but we eventually settled on Wednesday 14th July 2021. The trainer, David Young, arrived at our Shed at 10am on the day and having been shown around and introduced to the training volunteers he started what proved to be a very successful day.
“The comments from each of the guys at the end of training were very upbeat and complimentary (see right for a few examples). We felt that the investment in this training was excellent and we would have no hesitation in recommending David Young Training to carry out professional, instructive and user-friendly training for other Sheds.”
Jason Schroeder, SMSA Executive Officer, said: “To support Sheds during the reopening process, we are delighted that our partner, David Young Training, has offered an additional 10% off his already discounted price for Scottish Sheds that are members of the SMSA.
“On top of this, the SMSA would also like to offer to pay 50% of the cost (now £580) for the first five Sheds that receive training within the next 60 days meaning that those Sheds will received a full day’s training—for up to eight of your members in your Shed—for just £290. With machinery being dormant for over a year and the need for refresher training, this is the perfect opportunity to come back to the Shed and stay safe.”
Feedback from GVMS
“May I take this opportunity to express my appreciation/ privilege to have been involved. The theoretical and practical aspects of ‘best working practices’ were inclusive, extensive and delivered in a most understanding manner. I took from the workshop, a broader knowledge base of the safe working operation of the various machinery as instructed. Much appreciated and recommended” Sandy
“Gave us exactly the training we needed, in our own workshop. David is extremely knowledgeable, helpful and a very enthusiastic trainer. Highly recommended!” Stewart
“This training gave me confidence to handle some machinery for the first time, it reinforced safe use and also gave us a knowledgeable assessment of our equipment. It highlighted what we need to do to make a more efficient and safe working environment” Steve
“As someone whose tool of choice is a pen, I found David’s training day fascinating. I now know what some of the machines in our Shed do. I was particularly impressed by his emphasis on safe use of potentially dangerous devices.” Henry (GVMS Chairman)
