Carpentry, comradeship and community connection run through the shortlist for this year’s UK Men’s Sheds award
When is a shed more than just a building? When it’s a potentially lifesaving refuge for men who are struggling. That’s the concept around which the Men’s Sheds movement – led in the UK by the UK Men’s Sheds Association (UKMSA) – is designed.
As they see it, while garden sheds and the activities that happen within them are often solitary in nature, Men’s Sheds are all about social connections and friendship building, as well as sharing skills and knowledge.
This week, the national finalists in the 2024 Shed of the Year awards were announced by the UKMSA, recognising the groups and individuals that have helped combat loneliness this year.
“Each year, entries get better and better,” said Rob Lloyd, chair of the organisation’s trustees. “With more submissions than ever, and of such a high standard, this year’s finalists have really highlighted the excellent work they are all doing in their local communities.”
Categories are health and wellbeing impact of the year, shed partnership of the year, shed volunteer of the year, community project of the year and overall shed of the year.
“We know how well men’s shed participation helps with loneliness, social isolation and both physical and mental health,” said Lloyd. “These finalists demonstrate the breadth, depth and creativity of the projects they each undertake and the impact they have on participants and the wider community.”
We’ve been trying to marry capable men with challenges that make them realise they are still alive and have a lot to offer
Among the groups nominated for shed of the year is the Shrewsbury Men’s Shed, based in Shropshire. Simon Rouse, its chairman and a UKMSA ambassador, told Positive News about their approach, as a relatively new group: “We’ve been trying to marry two things: capable men who have health problems with challenges that make them realise they are still alive and that they have a lot to offer.”
He explained that local authorities, charities and community groups have long lists of jobs they would love doing, but that they can’t afford. One of the Shed’s projects is the Severn Shuttle, a collaboration with Sabrina Riverboat – a passenger boat based in the town – and Shrewsbury Moves – a 10-year plan created by the local authority to get more people in the area moving – to create public transportation by boat.
“Our Men’s Shed has well-equipped workshops and skilled men with time on their hands and worries they might want to park for a while,” said Rouse. “If we put the two together, it’s a win for the men, their families, the NHS, the local authority or community group and – if we are wise – the environment as well.”
Rouse said that winning the award would be a rich reward for three years of “intense effort by men who might have thought the best was over for them”.
A total of 18,000 hours alone were put into converting a derelict stable block, without services or even a solid floor, into superb workshops and social space as the group’s base. “Now we’ll really see what we’re capable of,” he enthused.
Poringland and District Men’s Shed is another finalist for shed of the year. Opened in 2014, it was one of the first sheds established in Norfolk, and raises funds by holding activities throughout the area.
Peter Stuart, its chairman, said: “Our members have enjoyed supporting our local community via a whole variety of things, including repairing electrical equipment, refurbishing village benches and signs, and building a hollow reading tree as well as play equipment for local schools, planters for a veteran’s home and crazy golf course for a local care home.
Our Men’s Shed has well-equipped workshops and skilled men with time on their hands and worries they might want to park for a while
“Being a finalist is great,” Stuart continued, “but winning the shed of the year award would give our members another fantastic encouragement for them to continue to spread the word about the value of men’s sheds throughout the country.”
Finalists are invited to attend an awards ceremony and afternoon tea at the House of Commons, on 19 November: the event has been timed to coincide with International Men’s Day.
The bespoke Shed of the Year trophy for the winner was designed and crafted by 2023 champions Bootle Tool Shed, of Liverpool.
Main image: Poringland and District Mens Shed, finalists for shed of the year
To find out more about the UK Men’s Sheds Association, visit www.menssheds.org.uk
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