We visited Paisley's Men Shed to give away the latest batch of Help a Buddie match tickets for this Saturday's cinch Premiership fixture against Ross County.
The Shed was packed with a whole host of characters with Archie, Jim, Gerry, Ronnie and Taz all present and more than willing to show us around. We were given a tour around their workshop and shown everything the group had been working on. This ranged from small benches to a decorative paisley pattern pond. The 'Shedders' were very thankful for the donation and were all looking forward to attending the game.
Speaking on the ticket donation, the 'Shedders' had this to say:
The tickets provide another opportunity for the Shedders to enjoy a shared experience and it’s in line with our aims to reduce isolation and support our community."
About Paisley’s Men’s Shed
After Men’s Sheds were successfully established in Foxbar and Barrhead, Paisley Men’s Shed was set up with the help of the St Mirren Charitable Foundation and local charity, STAR Project. Members moved into a shed on the grounds of the SMiSA Stadium in March 2019.
The Men’s Shed is a community space where learning is made possible through shared connections. The activities are often similar to those of garden sheds but the difference is that garden sheds and their activities are often solitary in nature, whilst Men’s Sheds are the opposite. They encourage social connections, friendship building, sharing skills and knowledge and, of course, a lot of laughter.
The Paisley Shedders get together every Tuesday and Thursday to pursue practical interests at leisure and practise skills like woodworking, making and mending. They build everything from bird boxes to vegetable troughs.
The Shed and the community have a harmonious relationship. Tools and equipment required are often donated by the people of Paisley, which the Shedders use in their efforts to build things required to help the community.
The Shed brings together men from all walks of life. For example, men who have retired are happy to pass on their knowledge to the younger generation who are eager for an alternative way to spend their time. The Shed allows members to practice skills, grow in confidence, and engage in activities, whilst developing relationships and providing a sense of purpose.
This is what local Shedder, Archie had to say about the concept:
Men’s Sheds are basically community spaces for men to connect, converse and create.
"For us it’s that local men can benefit from regular social interactions, new and improved skills, and regular, active participation in activities they enjoy."
Before The Paisley Shed was founded, the site within the grounds of the SMiSA Stadium was a left-over space devoid of any use. The Shedders have worked hard to make the once empty plot of land a thriving hub for creativity, social life, and community empowerment – something that Paisley can be proud of.
Archie told stmirren.com about his involvement in starting up The Paisley Men’s Shed:
I volunteered my joinery and teaching skills for another local charity that had hopes of running a Shed.
"This didn’t come to fruition but some of the guys involved felt strongly that this type of movement had too much benefit to give up on. So a few of us approached STAR Project and asked for help to establish and register a Men’s Shed.
"We met in STAR Project premises and planned our Shed, though we remained 'shed-less' until St Mirren Charitable Foundation came on board as a partner and helped us with ground and cabins. It was a great team effort.
"Although STAR and St Mirren Charitable Foundation continue to support us, the actual development of the Shed is led by the men themselves and this is important in terms of ownership and autonomy."
Archie continued by telling us about the evolution of the charity saying: "The Shed and its membership evolves continually as the activities we do are based on the needs of our membership.
"For example, if someone comes along who has a skill with stonework, we might become involved in a community project that utilises that skill or we might purchase relevant equipment so that those skills can be shared."
Drop into Paisley Men’s Shed
The Shedders encouraged anyone who is interested in The Shed to drop in and have a look:
We’re all just a bunch of guys that initially felt nervous. We’re a friendly bunch, just pop in and see for yourself.
"If someone would rather bring a friend with them or even have someone meet them outside the gate, that’s ok too. Just let us know if we can do anything to help you take that step and the team at STAR Project can help with that."
Sheds around the country have increased health, happiness and connectivity among their members. Here is what Archie had to say about the 'Shed effect':
The Men Shed movement is a worldwide one and has well documented benefits such as reducing isolation and improving wellbeing. Having a physical and practical space here in Paisley, where men can meet up, share skills and talk together can have a huge impact on mental health and at the very least reduces the risk of loneliness.
"There’s no need to be lonely or miss out on some good company. Come and see us or go visit your nearest Shed if you’re not in our area. Increasing peer support, particularly for men, is vital to positive mental health."
We finished by talking about The Shedders’ goals for 2023 and the men had this to say:
We always have plans churning away in the background. STAR Project secured funding for an additional welfare cabin for the Shed so we can have extra inside space to accommodate new members and activities. Once that’s in situ we’ll have a lot of work to do kitting it out.
"We also intend to develop some of our outside space, rethinking what we need for our members and their interests. Lastly, we’ll be aiming to boost our membership further, so look out for us at community events and on social media."
Shedder Gerry had one last word regarding donations of timber: "All donations will be gratefully received but please ensure all wood has been de-nailed!"
To find out more about Paisley Men’s Shed please their visit the organisation’s Facebook page Paisley Men's Shed | Paisley | Facebook
About Help a Buddie
Help a Buddie is our brand-new initiative where St Mirren supporters have the chance to purchase and donate a match ticket for those less fortunate.
The Help a Buddie scheme will run for the entirety of the 2022/23 season and will continue to help benefit local community groups/organisations and those less fortunate supporters.
