Men’s Shed still needs new roof
Oban Men’s Shed organisation is still without a new roof over its head.
The peer-to-peer support group, which encourages men to socialise and be constructive, has been homeless since The Salvation Army put its own hall and the Men’s Shed space up for sale in November.
A closing date for offers on 16-20 Stevenson Street is expected in the next couple of weeks with at least £95,000 expected.
The commercial property has attracted ‘a lot of interest with one informal offer already on the table’ says Graham Sibbald agent Ryan Farrelly.
Despite pleas for help to find new premises in the town centre, nothing has turned up, says John McAllister, and men are missing out. Mr McAllister is worried men’s mental health could be at risk unless the group can start up its activities again soon.
‘Men are not as good as women are about socialising, organising meeting up and going out for coffees. Men just don’t tend to do that.
‘Our activities came to a halt when we were asked to quit our place in Stevenson Street and it’s left a gap that isn’t good for men’s mental health. We knew nothing about having to move out until the day the Salvation Army shut. We’ve just bought a shed from group funds to try and get us going ahead until we find a permanent home.
‘We’ve tried looking but nothing’s come up so far. We couldn’t afford to hire a space at Rockfield and storage for all our equipment would be just too expensive. Once the weather picks up we’ll be putting the shed up at a member’s home where we are working on restoring a boat - at least it’s something.’
Last year a grant of £1,965 from Argyll and Bute Council’s Supporting Communities helped to float the project to restore a 90-year-old clinker boat called the Mary Jane and bring a little piece of maritime history back to life.
The Men’s Shed relies on donations and considers itself a community resource, taking on projects and jobs from fixing benches to restoring shelves and garden equipment as well as one-off requests like partnering up with Argyll and Bute Council to bring a disused shack at the side of Ganavan toilets back into use as a public shelter.
Anyone who can help the ‘shedders’ should contact the group via its Facebook page.