The Scottish Men’s Shed Association (SMSA) has welcomed the funding announcement by the Scottish Government for the organisation.
Shirley Anne Somerville, the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice in the said:
“The Scottish Government has provided £795,000 of funding to the Scottish Men’s Sheds Association since 2016, supporting the movement to grow from five sheds to 200 across Scotland.”
She confirmed that the Scottish Government will work with the SMSA “to identify and to provide the funding for this financial year to ensure that we support the SMSA in the months ahead to develop broad, sustainable support for this important national organisation. We hope that that will help to avoid future uncertainty and will assist local sheds to flourish.”
And she added: “I am happy to confirm that we will continue to support the national core funding as well as those funds, which remain available for the local men’s sheds.”
SMSA CEO Jason Schroeder said:
“The government grant in 2016 of £75,000 was an initial start-up grant for the charity which supported, at that time, five Sheds and developing the movement across Scotland. Unfortunately, that amount has never been increased as the movement grew and we immediately sought other grant funders. However, now post pandemic and with men needing more support than ever, we now require £360,000 per annum to deliver our development plans and support to over 200 Sheds across Scotland.
“With the growing and highest male suicide rates in Scotland – out of the whole of the UK – we require the Scottish Government to once and for all fully commit and get behind the most successful men’s health preventative model created in Scotland so the SMSA, the movement and the people of Scotland never end up in this situation again.
“We applaud the First Minister’s financial support statement today and welcome talks with the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP to further discuss our vital work through this men’s health and wellbeing model being carried out successfully across Scotland.”
The First Minister of Scotland, John Swinney commented that he was pleased that Scottish Government funding would be available to “support this important work.”
The Scottish Men’s Shed Association supports the local organisations of Shedders throughout Scotland.
