The Scottish Men’s Sheds Association (SMSA) has today opened its prestigious ‘Shed of the Year’ Awards to applications from Men’s Sheds across Scotland.

***THE 2020 AWARDS ARE NOW CLOSED FOR APPLICATIONS***

The awards 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 this year, due to the Coronavirus pandemic, and has been timed to coincide with the Association’s Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 16th September 2020. If you want to attend the virtual event, through Zoom, click here to register.

Jason Schroeder, SMSA’s Executive Officer, said: “We are delighted to launch this year’s awards to celebrate and showcase the life-changing work being carried out in Men’s Sheds across Scotland. The Men’s Sheds Movement began in Scotland in 2009 – and the first Shed opened in 2013 – and we now have an impressive 188 Sheds across the nation – all dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of men over the age of 18 through friendship, support and camaraderie.

“We want to hear from Sheds across Scotland – their background, their journey and the impact they have had 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 this year, it certainly will not stop the Shedders ‘meeting’ digitally to network and learn from each other.”

Shortlisted Sheds will be selected from all of the applications by SMSA’s Trustees before going to a public vote in the run-up to the event – the winner and two runners-up will then be announced on the day. 

The winner will receive the esteemed targe trophy – designed and collectively created by SMSA and several Sheds – to display at their Shed for a year on top of a cash prize, a free machine competency and woodwork training day from David Young Training and a £100 gift voucher from Axminster Tools & Machinery.

Last year saw Aberchirder & District Men’s Shed (pictured above), scoop the title of the first Scottish ‘Shed of the Year’ in September 2019.  The Shed was recognised for the incredible work carried out since its inception in 2016 and the team of seven men who carried out 30,000 man-hours over the 104-week construction process on its Shed build before its official opening in May 2019.

Mike O’Brien, Chairman of the Aberchirder & District Men’s Shed, said: “Since winning the title in 2019, we have had a busy and successful time – our reputation just seemed to escalate.  We will not be applying for the award this year—proud in the knowledge that we were the winners of the inaugural competition—and wish our fellow Scottish Sheds the best of luck and urge them to apply. We hope that this year’s winner receives as much attention that we have had as a result of winning the targe.”

Scottish Sheds – that are SMSA members – can apply by midnight on Sunday 30^th August 2020.

Aberchirder and District Men’s Shed has scooped the award and title of the first ‘Scottish Men’s Shed of the Year’ and a £500 cash prize at the Scottish Men’s Sheds Association (SMSA) Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 11th September 2019.

The event celebrated the work carried out by Aberchirder & District Men’s Shed which began in 2016 with a team of seven men (‘The Magnificent Seven’) at the helm – fundraising and raising awareness of the Sheds Movement through popular coffee mornings and applying to local and national funders to secure a Shed.  Aberdeenshire Council granted the use of the land which the Shed now stands on and in 2017, the founding Chairman cut the first sod with a donated JCB digger.  By Autumn 2017, five cabins had been installed with toilets, a kitchen, a computing space and a social area followed by raised beds around the perimeter of the car park.

The team worked over 30,000 man-hours over the 104-week construction process, all the while, still engaging with its 72 members through monthly meetings and fundraising events and activities.  In May 2019, the Lord Lieutenant of Banffshire Clare Russell officially opened the Shed and revealed a wall plaque to commemorate the event with over 350 members of the local community in attendance.  A letter from Buckingham Palace, an invitation to the Royal Garden Party at Holyrood Palace and a meeting with Prince Edward were also amongst the celebrations to recognise the excellent work being carried out by the Shed.

During the period of the Aberchirder and District Men’s Shed, the Shedders have worked with local schools, charities, businesses and residents to provide planters, fencing, garden seats, hanging baskets, firewood and chicken coups in addition to being the envy of the community with its homegrown fruit and veg.

Mike O’Brien, Chairman of the Aberchirder & District Men’s Shed, said: “We are so proud to win this prestigious trophy in its inaugural year.  We look forward to proudly displaying the Targe at the Shed and wish to formally thank the Shed’s ‘Magnificent Seven’ for all the work they have done and, in particular, the founding Chairman Kenny Christie, whose shoes I will have a challenge to fill.  Now that we are at the end of a very busy two years, we intend to do what Men’s Sheds are all about and enjoy the company and craik.”

The awards presentation – to showcase the commitment, impact and outstanding work being carried out by Men’s Sheds in Scotland – recognised 15 entries and also saw Aultbea Men’s Shed and Cromarty Firth Men’s Shed tie for the runner-up places and each receive a £250 cash prize and gift vouchers from Axminster Tools.

Carse of Gowrie Men’s Shed in Dundee played host to the SMSA event and the engraved Scottish Targe presented to the winning Shed was produced thanks to the help, generosity and skills of several Men’s Shed members to truly encapsulate the ethos of Men’s Sheds.  SMSA Chairman, Derek Keiller, designed the trophy 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.

Jason Schroeder, Executive Officer at the SMSA and co-founder of the first Men’s Shed in Scotland in Aberdeenshire back in 2013, said: “Today’s event celebrates the success and growth of the Men’s Sheds Movement in Scotland.  By showcasing the award nominees and their life-changing impact it is hoped that more men will access Men’s Sheds to connect with their communities, to improve their health and wellbeing, and that new Men’s Sheds will continue to be developed across Scotland.”