Can you give Paisley’s Men’s Shed a home?
Friendship group on the hunt for a community space
The fight is on to set up Renfrewshire’s first registered Men’s Shed.
Local lads young and old can share knowledge of their trade, learn a new skill, make friends or simply get out the house at the Paisley Men’s Shed.
Men’s Sheds allow men to come together once a week to pursue practical interests, practice skills and enjoy making and mending.
Building benches and friendships, the sheds are about social connections and fighting isolation in the community.
Formerly based at the Kibble Centre, the Paisley group has temporarily moved to the STAR Project, in Wallace Street, but is looking for its own premises.
Archie McAuley told the Express that finding a suitable warehouse is their first main goal.
“We’re reaching out to the local community to see if anyone knows of a space that we can use to properly set up the Paisley Men’s Shed,” he said.
“Ideally, we just need somewhere like a big, empty warehouse.
“That way we can adapt it the way we like and make the best use of it possible.”
After retiring from the education system a few years ago Archie wanted to help with the Men’s Shed to give back to the community.
“I started volunteering at Kibble and the Men’s Shed came from that,” he added.
“It’s really important that men have a place to make friends and share skills. “It gets us out the house as well. “Making sure Paisley has its own officially registered Men’s Shed is so important for the community in the long term.”
One of the group’s longest standing members is 70 year-old Buddie Iain Downie.
The former construction worker is encouraging lots of men in his position to come along to the meetings.
“My daughter suggested I try the Men’s Shed in January last year and it’s been just great,” Iain said.
“The thing is, men sometimes aren’t the same as women when it comes to socialising.
“I think it’s more difficult for us to sit and chat and have a cup of tea.
“I like doing things and sharing skills I’ve learned over the years in construction.
“If I didn’t have this I’d be sitting in front of the TV doing nothing.
“I really hope we get a premises and continue the good work.”
If you would like to help the Paisley Men’s Shed in any way or join the group contact Archie via email at PaisleyMensShed@ hotmail.com or call 0141 889 5850.
If I didn’t have this I’d be sitting in front of the TV doing nothing. I really hope we get premises Iain Downie