The Men's Shed initiative in Shapinsay was launched to foster camaraderie and shared activities among men, aiming to enhance their wellbeing.
The project began with a survey to assess interest. It received 16 responses with 100% support for the Men's Shed concept and indicated a weekly meeting on a Thursday and Saturday in the afternoons or evenings would be preferred. The survey also helped to identify the activities that the group could get involved in. These were:
- woodworking
- metalworking
- educational workshops
- social activities
- beach cleanups
- skill sharing
To further explore the concept, the Community Wellbeing Coordinator arranged a visit to the Men's Shed in Stromness with members from the Shapinsay Lunch Club. These discussions helped to emphasise the potential benefits.
On 9 January 2024 the new Men's Shed held their first meeting in Shapinsay. They also have planned a visit to the Westray Men's Shed. This was made possible after they secured a Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund grant through the Shapinsay Development Trust with support from the Community Wellbeing Coordinator. The visit will allow them to gather more ideas and strengthen the bonds between the groups.
Establishing the Men's Shed in Shapinsay has significantly improved participants' mental health and social connections. It provides a safe, supportive environment where men can connect, share skills, and engage in meaningful activities, fostering a sense of purpose and community. The group emphasises trust, fairness, kindness, inclusivity, open-mindedness, and collaboration and their activities contribute to their community, enhancing overall wellbeing and social cohesion.
A group member said:
Joining the group gave me more confidence to meet people again and chat and enjoy being in company again. I am now less anxious, more relaxed and more confident about being in company.
Another group member said:
I find that it has helped my mindset. I was in a rut and now I’m going out to the group where I have purpose and it’s really helping my mood.
The Community Wellbeing Coordinator continues to provide organisational support to the group and is working with VAO to formally set them up as a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO). They are also helping them to find further financial resource by organising events and securing donations like the £250 they recently received from Scottish Sea Farms. Their involvement means the group is able to sustain its activities and achieve what it set out to do - to provide a space for social and skill-based activities and also cultivate an environment that promotes mental health, confidence, and community engagement in Shapinsay.
