Members at three Men’s Sheds across Lanarkshire will be welcoming visitors and potential new recruits as they take part in the organisation’s inaugural open doors day later this month.
Stonehouse, Kirkmuirhill and Biggar will all be throwing open their doors to highlight the activities and friendship on offer through the local branches and to encourage more men to “head to the shed”.
The special event takes place on international men’s day on Tuesday, November 19, with organisers from the Scottish men’s sheds association (SMSA) hoping it will attract new interest in their activities and even become an annual event.
Stonehouse men’s shed on King Street will welcome visitors from 12.30pm to 3.30pm on the day, while the Kirkmuirhill & Blackwood shed on Thornton Road, behind the area’s community centre, will be open from 11am until 2pm.
Meanwhile, the Biggar shed in the converted former Walston Primary in Elsrickle will be open to mark the occasion from 10am to 4pm and 6pm to 9pm.
Described as “Scotland’s largest member-led men’s health and wellbeing charity”, SMSA has recently marked its 10th anniversary, and representatives hope the open day will “reach a wide audience and raise awareness of what sheds have to offer [including] the potential to really improve quality of life”.
Chief executive Jason Schroeder said: “People can go along to check out the shed and we are hoping we can get the word out to as many people as possible – including GPs, social prescribers, businesses, politicians, charities and the public to see a real Men’s Shed in action.
“We wanted to launch something new for international men’s day to reach more men and with doors swung wide open, this is an opportunity to raise the profile of Sheds and the age 18+ model, show people around, tell them all about what happens, meet and talk to members and answer any questions.
“Members of Scottish men’s sheds are all volunteers and we must recognise their achievements and the contributions they are making to our society.”
Lanarkshire has a busy men’s shed movement, with the Carluke shed last year becoming one of three finalists in the association’s annual awards – just as they prepared to move into their new home at the former Wilton cemetery keeper’s house at Kilmory Road in the town.
Members of Lowther men’s shed in Leadhills will also soon have their own premises, with the group working to relocate a former ski hut five miles from its previous hillside perch to the centre of their village.
Work is already underway to install the building on its new village foundations and refurbish it into a community base, supported by funding from South Lanarkshire Council.
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