Inverurie & District Men’s Shed presented with silver ‘Scottish Men’s Shed of the Year’ trophy
The Scottish Men’s Sheds Association (SMSA) today (Monday 13th February 2023) presented Inverurie & District Men’s Shed with their trophy and an array of prizes for coming second in the ‘Scottish Men’s Shed of the Year’ 2022 Awards.
The three worthy finalists – Inverurie & District Men’s Shed (IDMS), Lanark Men’s Shed and Men’s Shed Govan – battled it out to get their communities and supporters behind them to cast those all-important votes. With over 200 open or developing Men’s Shed groups now in existence across all 32 local authority areas in Scotland, Men’s Shed Govan was unveiled as the winner at the SMSA awards ceremony in December with Inverurie & District Men’s Shed pipping Lanark Men’s Shed to the post to claim second place.
The trophy presentation to IDMS had to be rescheduled at the end of last year due to severe weather. Jason Schroeder presented the Shed Chairman Alex Smith with a targe trophy (a smaller replica of the esteemed targe trophy received by the winner, Men’s Shed Govan) created by David Young Training to be displayed in their Shed to forever recognise them as 2022 finalists.
The Shed members were also presented with a £300 cash prize from the SMSA (paid for from SMSA Shed Membership fee income to give back to the Sheds), £150 vouchers from Scotmid Co-op, £100 vouchers from Axminster Tools, a shortbread hamper from Dean’s of Huntly and are also entitled to huge discounts on Machine Competency and Woodwork training from David Young Traininng worth £660 and a Shed accounts package from Thyme Accountants worth £360.
IDMS Chairman Alex Smith said: “We have come a long way since our inception back in 2014. As one of the first Scottish Men’s Sheds, we have grown over the years to offer a wide range of activities to our members so that there really is something for everyone including our community allotments, music group, craft modelling and well-equipped workshop. To win the silver award is a huge accomplishment when we consider how many Men’s Sheds now exist across Scotland.
“We are in this position due to the drive and hard work of our members and Trustees and we are well supported by the community, both residents and local businesses. Thank you to the SMSA and to all who voted for us – we will display our trophy with immense pride.”
Jason Schroeder, SMSA Chief Executive Officer, said: “The purpose of the awards is two-fold – we unite to recognise and celebrate the often-unsung contributions made by Men’s Sheds and the men, who are all volunteers, that attend them. Additionally, the awards exist to break down the perceptions that Sheds are just for older, retired men, that want to tinker in the workshop. They are so much more than that and Men’s Shed Govan certainly highlights this. Each of the Men’s Sheds groups across Scotland is unique in that the activities it offers is led by the members’ needs to benefit the health and wellbeing of all local men aged 18 or over.”
Head to the Shed – find the Shed closest to you on the SMSA website at www.scottishmsa.org.uk/find-a-shed