SMSA Scottish Men’s Shed of the Year Award! 

Will it be your Shed?

Tell us why your Shed deserves to be the Scottish Men’s Shed of the Year. What has your Shed done for your community, a man or group of you who have gone above and beyond…. challenges you have overcome. Don’t be shy, tell us all your good stuff.

• Your entries will be considered by the SMSA board of Trustees and their decision will be final.
• Your Shed or Developing Group needs to be a paid up SMSA Shed member to be able to apply.

First prize will be £500 and the 2 runners up £300 and £200 consecutively. This money is to be spent in the best way you see fit for helping keep your Shed sustainable.

We have a created a Scottish Targe as the trophy which will have a silver shield with the winning Shed attached to it and the winning Shed can proudly display it for the year in their Shed. Every year a new silver shield will be attached to the Targe creating a lineage of winners over the coming years.

Send your entries to : jason@scottishmsa.org.uk before Sunday 8th September midnight to qualify.

Winners announced at our AGM on the 11 September in the Carse of Gowrie Men’s Shed, Dundee.

Get your free tickets now – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/meet-the-shedders-and-smsa-annual-general-meeting-2019-tickets-69304875749

SMSA Chairman Derek Keiller joined two pieces of mahogany, kindly supplied by the Carse of Gowrie Men’s Shed, from the sides of a 100 year old billiards table. The wood was then turned on his lathe into the targe. French polishing of 13 coats was kindly undertaken by Hamish Shepherd of Coupar Angus Men’s Shed. Derek then completed the wood burning on the edge, added the individually hand made iron nails round the border. The centre piece is made from Italian olive wood and the cap with the SMSA badge is inset into oak.

The multiple skills of these men, the generosity of materials and labour all embody the essence of the SMSA Men’s Shed of the Year Award – good luck!

Please share widely so everyone has a chance.

Photo: Derek Keiller (centre), Hamish Shepherd from Coupar Angus Shed who did the French polishing (right) and Nick Tindell from Carse of Gowrie Shed (left) who supplied the mahogany.

Good news is we now have an agreement with Axminster for our paid up Shed members to get a 5% discount.

Once we issue our paid up Shed members the code and you apply, Axminster create a new account record for the applying Shed. To that account they assign a discount which entitles most purchases through the Shed to a discount. The discount is a 5% discount applied to most products.

Motion debated,

That the Parliament recognises the important contribution that the Men’s Sheds movement makes to people’s wellbeing; notes that there are now sheds running or in development across the length and breadth of the country, including in Lauder, Galashiels, Peebles, Mayfield and Roslin; understands that the activities and groups vary from community to community but that, by and large, the sheds provide a meeting place for men to undertake activities in a friendly, supportive and social environment; believes that such groups can have a positive impact on men’s mental health and wellbeing by providing supportive groups that offer an opportunity for them to feel more able to open up about anything bothering them as well as helping them build positive ties in their community, and hopes that more sheds can continue to be established.

The Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government (Aileen Campbell) concluded by saying, ‘ I think that we all agree that men’s sheds are brilliant things. They are safe places in the hearts of our communities throughout Scotland, from Shetland to the Borders, that bring people together and enable people to support each other through friendship and trust. They are simple but impactful, and they tackle serious issues that vex Government and society, including wellbeing, mental health and loneliness, to name but a few.

Getting behind the men’s sheds movement is therefore in all our interests. That does not mean the Government alone; a partnership approach will be required. I am grateful for the support that the Government receives from Age Scotland, the Scottish Men’s Sheds Association and Glasgow Caledonian University, to name but a few organisations.

We can go further. I urge all our partners—local authorities, the third sector, the NHS and community workers—to get behind sheds so that we can all together play a role in developing and supporting that important initiative. Social prescribing is particularly important: with an ageing population, it is absolutely in all our interests. These simple projects help us to create the connected and resilient communities that contribute to the betterment and wellbeing of our country.

For the Men’s Sheds part of the full day of Parliaments debates download from the link below.

Scot Parliament Mens Shed debate 2019 cut version

The Scottish Men’s Sheds Association (SMSA), working collaboratively with the Australian Men’s Sheds Association (AMSA) is calling attention to the benefits of ‘mateship’ across the international Men’s Sheds community this Men’s Shed Week (23-30 September 2018).

This is the first time the two national associations are simultaneously promoting the awareness of Men’s Shed Week in both countries, Scotland and Australia.

“The benefits of Men’s Sheds are now recognised globally with thousands of Sheds established across every continent” said AMSA Executive Officer David Helmers.

Mateship is an important pillar of every Men’s Shed. First and foremost, the Shed is a place for men to be together with a group of like-minded mates.

Friendship, loyalty and camaraderie are highly valued in Men’s Sheds around the world, where Shedders are offered with a place to belong and contribute.

“Social isolation is a key contributing factor to poor health and wellbeing particularly in men whether they are unemployed, retired or have extra time on their hands. Men’s Sheds provide a place for men to connect and find purpose in a relaxed and interesting environment” said SMSA Executive Officer Jason Schroeder.

Men from all walks of life form very strong bonds within the Shed, many of whom would not have crossed paths if not for their participation in the Scottish Men’s Sheds community.

Last week, the largest ever gathering of Men’s Sheds was held in Cork, Ireland hosted by the Irish Men’s Sheds Association with almost 500 Shedders in attendance.

“Ireland is about 3 years ahead of Scotland in Men’s Shed development. We aim to hold the first Scottish Men’s Shed gathering in 2019. With now over 120 Shed groups across Scotland we feel the time is getting near to be able to host such an event” said Mr Schroeder.

Men’s Sheds are vital community investments delivering initiatives that foster community spirit and contribute to building a more inclusive Scotland.

To find a Scottish Shed near you : www.scottishmsa.org.uk/find-a-shed