The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Mental wellbeing charity for men ‘in peril due to cuts’
Scotland’s largest men’s mental health charity faces being wound up in a matter of months after the government pulled all funding.
Critics warn the Scottish Government is “presiding over a loneliness time bomb” after cutting ties with the Scottish Men’s Shed Association.
The charity tackles social isolation among men and aims to improve quality of life for its 10,000 members across more than 200 independent sheds.
They help volunteers set up shared spaces, where people from all walks of life can gather to learn new skills, pass on their experience and benefit from companionship.
The first Men’s Shed was opened in Westhill by John Swinney – and now the newly appointed first minister is being asked to act to save their future.
Government funding was scrapped in April 2022 but a last-minute sum of £75,000 was agreed between SNP ministers and the charity last year.
However, no funding has been agreed since and the charity now faces being wound up by the end of the year.
Politicians warn that would heap further pressure on already struggling health services.
There is also confusion over which area of government could support the charity after Tom Arthur, who previously held the community wealth portfolio, confirmed it is “not supported by a specific minister”.
The charity’s chief executive, Jason Schroeder, said: “We’ve got enough funding for about nine or 10 months and then we’ll be looking at winding up.
“That will mean the more than 200 groups lose all their support and all the new groups that are starting will have no support.
“We’ll be celebrating our 10th anniversary in October – hopefully we’ll be celebrating rather than closing.
“The truth is that the impact of us closing would be felt throughout the sector and in communities across Scotland.”
The P&J has seen a letter sent to John Swinney from West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine MP Andrew Bowie.
It warns the Men’s Shed movement in Scotland is “very much at a precipice” and a clock is ticking on the existence of the organisation.
Mr Bowie says the NHS and council budgets “definitely feel the benefit of third way intervention for loneliness and isolation before more costly cures are required.”
The Scottish Government said it has been supportive of Men’s Sheds since their inception, supporting the movement to grow from five sheds to 200 through £795,000 in direct funding.
It said: “Men’s Sheds continues to benefit from the many funding streams that Scottish Government provides to support third sector organisations, including the Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund for Adults, which has supported a number of Men’s Sheds across Scotland since 2021.
“In delivering our social isolation and loneliness strategy, A Connected Scotland, the Scottish Government will continue to engage with third-sector organisations, including Men’s Sheds, to explore opportunities for people to connect.”