Scottish Men's Sheds Association (SMSA)

As Scotland's largest member-led men's health and wellbeing charity, the SMSA exists to inspire and support a movement built ‘by the men, for the men’ and its intergenerational community.

The charity provides bespoke support to volunteers across all 32 local authority regions to identify need and develop new and sustain existing Men's Sheds across Scotland (currently 200+ Shed groups engaging 10,000+ men) to help them thrive and address social isolation, loneliness, boredom and other issues faced by men across Scotland. The charity’s 4,300+ and growing membership, and their voices, shape everything they do to deliver ‘In Scotland, For Scotland’.

The last year has been defined by unity, impact, triumph and resilience for the SMSA. The charity celebrated its tenth year and its founder/CEO receiving an Honorary Degree nomination from Robert Gordon University, recognising his role in fostering social inclusion and improving men’s health.

The Scottish Government however announced a withdrawal of the Association’s core funding again, so its community took action. Over 5,000 petition signatures and cross-party political backing successfully overturned the decision.

This also resulted in attracting new funders and a development restructuring bringing us one step closer to our vision of a Shed in every Scottish town/village.