Glasgow Caledonian University’s (GCU) Yunus Centre for Social Business and Health has secured funding for a co-design community project to develop realist programme theories around the impact of Men’s Sheds on positive health and wellbeing of socially disadvantaged, working-age men.
The Yunus Centre for Social Business and Health previously led on the Sheds for Sustainable Development Project which focused on supporting Men’s Sheds in Scotland to be both financially and socially sustainable.
Dr Danielle Hutcheon said: “We are delighted to announce that we have received this funding from the Chief Scientist Office (CSO) to conduct a one-year study of the health and wellbeing impacts of Men’s Sheds on working age men from socially disadvantaged areas.
“The study will use a realist approach to explore ‘what works, for whom, in what circumstances, and how’. More specifically, the study will be used to: understand how Men’s Sheds can support positive behaviour change and health and wellbeing of men who may be involved in unhealthy lifestyle behaviours, socially-isolated and/or unemployed, and; how the Shed model can be tailored to address the needs of working age men in socially disadvantaged communities who might not already be engaged.
“The study will be led by Dr Julie Cowie, Senior Research fellow from the Yunus Centre for Social Business and Health, and will commence in October 2024. The team will be in touch with the SMSA and Scottish Shedders closer to the time with more information, but are very much looking forward to doing more important research to support the Scottish Men’s Sheds Movement!”
