26th October 2023

Men’s Shed is an organisation that was started in Australia some 20 years ago in an effort to address the imbalance in health outcomes between men and women.  In particular the movement sought to stem the tide of male suicide in remote communities. Such was the success of the Sheds that the idea has gone worldwide and has been enthusiastically adopted in the U.K. to tackle social isolation particularly among men. The first Scottish Men’s Shed opened in 2013 and the number has exploded since then.

Men’s Sheds are meeting places (not necessarily a shed) where men (and the occasional like minded woman) can come together and take part in a variety of mutually agreed activities. These ‘activities’ can involve carpentry, wood turning, wood carving, electronics, playing chess, dominoes, cards, simply having tea or coffee and having a natter. Each shed is completely different and it is up to the members (called Shedders) to decide what they want to do within their shed. The members can be 18+ years of age.

The Biggar Men’s Shed is now established in its new home in the former Walston Primary School, near Elsrickle. These are permanent premises where the members have been able to create a very well equipped workshop.