The Scottish Men’s Shed Association had been facing closure. 

The Scottish Men’s Shed Association (SMSA) has welcomed confirmation from the Scottish Government that it has once again reversed the decision to cut all finding ties with the organisation. 

The national support hub for Scottish Men’s Sheds had warned earlier this week that it faced being wound up by the end of the year if alternatives could not be found. 

Questions over the future of SMSA and the funding removal from the Scottish Government were raised by Labour MSP Paul O’Kane. 

He said: “Instead of receiving funding on time the Scottish Men’s Sheds Association was made to wait anxiously for an answer about its own future from the Scottish government.

“I want to see the Scottish government go further than it did today by coming forward with a plan for sustainable long term funding.

“The Men’s Sheds Association and other third sector organisations can’t plan for or invest in any long-term projects if they don’t have that guarantee of sustainable funding."

Social Justice Secretary, Shirley-Anne Somerville, told Holyrood: "The Scottish government has provided £795,000 worth of funding to the Scottish Men’s Shed Association since 2016, supporting the movement to grow from five sheds to 200 across Scotland.

"We understand that it’s a very challenging time for small organisations and that the SMSA are working to secure funding from charity donors and from the private sector.

"Given this, I can confirm today that we will work with the organisation to identify and to provide the funding for this financial year to ensure that we support them in the months ahead to develop broad, sustainable support for this important national organisation.

"We hope this will help to avoid future uncertainty and assist local sheds to flourish."

SMSA CEO Jason Schroeder said: “The government grant in 2016 of £75,000 was an initial start-up grant for the charity which supported, at that time, five Sheds and developing the movement across Scotland. 

“Unfortunately, that amount has never been increased as the movement grew and we immediately sought other grant funders. However, now post pandemic and with men needing more support than ever, we now require £360,000 per annum to deliver our development plans and support to over 200 Sheds across Scotland.

“With the growing and highest male suicide rates in Scotland – out of the whole of the UK – we require the Scottish Government to once and for all fully commit and get behind the most successful men’s health preventative model created in Scotland so the SMSA, the movement and the people of Scotland never end up in this situation again.

“We applaud the First Minister’s financial support statement today and welcome talks with the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP to further discuss our vital work through this men’s health and wellbeing model being carried out successfully across Scotland.”