The Scottish Men’s Sheds Association (SMSA) has received a £20k funding boost to support more men across the country. 

The funding pot, which will enable SMSA to retain its development officer and improve men’s health and wellbeing, was handed over by the Bank of Scotland Foundation’s Reach programme.

With over 3,400 individual members and 148 Men’s Shed group members, the movement, which alleviates social isolation, loneliness and boredom, voluntarily engages over 10,000 people across Scotland.

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Glasgow Times:

Speaking on the new funding, MSA CEO Jason Schroeder said: "We are absolutely delighted to have secured funding to continue providing one-to-one localised support to Scottish Men’s Sheds on their journey to sustainability and help create new Sheds in communities where there is identified need, disadvantage and social exclusion.

"Due to our prior trial success of having a Development Officer on the ground meeting face-to-face with Men’s Sheds in a post-COVID world, this grant will enable us to further this work and extend our reach across Scotland to empower men to engage with Sheds as part of an active and healthy pathway.

"This grant contributes towards a fully-funded and permanent dedicated SMSA Development Officer post for the next year and is vital to our work and achieving our outcomes."

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Donald MacKechnie, Chair of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees and Insurance & Wealth Transformation and Strategy Director, Lloyds Banking Group added: "We are delighted to award the SMSA with £20,526 of funding.

"The cost-of-living crisis means many charities are struggling with increasing expenditure, at a time when the demand for their services is as great as ever.

"Our grant awards will help charities through the challenging months ahead."

You can find your local Scottish Men's Shed HERE