A vital service providing support for men in Renfrewshire could cease to exist in six months unless the Scottish Government commits to more funding, say the association behind it.
The Scottish Government announced plans last year to cut all funding to the Scottish Men’s Shed Association (SMSA) in 2023, which would have seen their expansion plans scuppered and also posed a threat to existing groups.
But a letter signed by a group of 40 cross-party MSPs was submitted to the First Minister earlier this month calling on her to reverse the government’s decision to cut core funding to the SMSA.
This saw the organisation offered a 12-month reprieve, with Nicola Sturgeon saying the government would continue to fund the SMSA for the next year.
However, SMSA chiefs said the current offer would only keep the association’s doors open for another four to six months before the threat of closure looms again.
Men’s Sheds, such as the Paisley group, have been a lifeline to men in the area, providing them with a place to improve their mental health and wellbeing, as well as combating social isolation and loneliness.
And the benefits have been felt by others in the community too, including Marion Burns.
Due to having cerebral palsy, Marion needs custom-built objects to help with everyday tasks – for example, a stand for her specially-adapted keyboard and sticks for pressing the keys, allowing her to use her computer.
After hearing about the Paisley Men’s Shed, she reached out to see if they could help her.
“The woman who I got in contact with joked, ‘they like a challenge and I’m sure they are sick of making bird boxes’,” said Marion.
She added: “A man called Richard came along to my house to see what I would require. Richard measured my other sticks and my stand checking on angles. He made a few visits to the house to check the exact measurements. Just last week my new stand was complete and beautifully painted white.
“Thanks to the Paisley Men’s Shed, especially Richard, for all your time and effort to make me two important items in my life.”
Archie McAulay from the Paisley Men’s Shed told how the SMSA has been vital in getting their group up and running. SMSA provided the group with materials to help keep them afloat in the first two years of their existence and also aided them with development.
He added that if SMSA were to fold, it would greatly hinder their ability to expand their reach.
He said: “As a network we are able to develop best practice in a variety of activities that are offered in sheds across the country. We are still developing Paisley Men’s Shed, SMSA has guided us to this point, without SMSA oversight we lose a driving force in achieving our aims.”
While welcoming the Scottish Government’s decision to get back round the negotiating table, SMSA chief executive officer Jason Schroeder says the new offer doesn’t take into account “our in-depth proposal to expand the national hub to meet the needs of and reflect the rapid growth of the movement” and “disregards the proposed start-up and development funding pot for new shed groups to emerge”.
He added: “These community groups are needed now more than ever to improve men’s health and wellbeing and combat social isolation and loneliness in a post-covid world and need immediate financial discretionary government backing during the present cost-of-living crisis.”
West Scotland Labour MSPs Paul O’Kane and Neil Bibby were among those to put their names to the letter urging the government to reverse its decision.
Mr O’Kane said: “I’ve been lucky enough to visit Men’s Sheds across West Scotland and see what a great source of community bonding, friendship and purpose it is to the people who use them.
“The rate at which the influence and popularity of men’s sheds has grown in the last 10 years is incredible but it shouldn’t be taken for granted that the network of sheds can sustain itself without government support.”
Mr Bibby welcomed the U-turn on but said it was “a disgrace that it was ever considered”.
He added: “Men’s Sheds do such vital work in our communities; especially post-pandemic and in a cost of living crisis, they are vital tools to tackle social isolation and mental health problems. I know from speaking with local people that Paisley Men’s Shed is a vital and valued community asset.
“As the backlash to this decision has demonstrated, far from threatening to cut their funding, Nicola Sturgeon should be pledging to safeguard Men’s Sheds and help them develop well beyond this year.”
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