Westhill Men’s Shed has won the Achieving Better Outcomes Gold Award at the Cosla Excellence Awards held at St Andrew’s Fairmont Hotel.
The award is given to projects and organisations that demonstrated creative approaches to partnership working and integration in their local area. The men’s shed has attracted over 3,000 visitors since it opened in February last year and there are now plans to open more across Aberdeenshire.
Aberdeenshire Deputy Provost Norman Smith who was at the awards ceremony said: “I would like to congratulate all those at the shed on winning this well deserved award as well as those at the council and in the community who helped in establishing the shed. It has changed the lives of the people who attend there.
“Hopefully in a few years men’s sheds will be common place not just in Aberdeenshire but throughout Scotland.”
Some of the projects that have been taken on by people at the shed, include the restoration of a standalone engine and water pump, a ‘friendship bench’ being constructed for a local primary school, and a set of raised flowerbeds for a retired local gardener.
The men who use the shed have also carried out a variety of personal projects, from boating chairs to camping boxes.
Chair of Social Work and Housing committee, Cllr Karen Clark said: “The men’s shed is the type of community project we are keen to promote. It allows retired people to use the skills they have gained to help others and it enables people to remain active in to later life.
“Aberdeenshire Change Fund has agreed to fund a post that will aim to build on the achievements of Westhill Men’s Shed and to help other communities to establish a similar project near them. Plans are currently in place for sheds in six communities across Aberdeenshire with hopefully more to come.”
Members of the Westhill Men’s Shed Board have been travelling to other parts of Scotland to help people set up sheds in their area. With the help of Age Scotland there are now more than 30 sheds planned throughout Scotland.
Chairman of Westhill & District Men’s Shed, Marty Kehoe, said: “The Men’s Shed has been well received in Westhill by offering many opportunities for local men to get together, work on projects, share ideas and have a satisfying and enjoyable time.
“Although our shed is the first in Scotland, visits from staff from voluntary agencies around the country have been impressed with our set up, have recognised the benefits for health and well-being that this kind of facility brings to its members and are looking to set up sheds in their own communities.”
Men coming to the shed do not require any prior training or expertise. Whilst the shed does have men with a lifetime of craft, engineering, and teaching experience, there are also amateur DIY enthusiasts and men who have worked in non-manual jobs.
Councillor Ron McKail who helped in getting the Men’s Shed up and running said: “The success of the Men’s Shed has shown just how much the local community needed this type of project. The community has benefited from the work the men are doing and it has improved the health and wellbeing of men in the area at the same time.”