Scottish Conservative MSP for Central Scotland, Graham Simpson, visited East Kilbride’s Men’s Shed to hear more about the benefits it brings to local residents and repeated calls for the Scottish Government to rethink their “worrying” decision to cut the charity’s funding.
Mr Simpson met volunteers and members of the Men’s Shed at their facility in St Leonards to hear first-hand how the organisation helps members of the community to be more socially active.
East Kilbride Men’s Shed, which currently has more than 60 members, secured £9,450 in funding from the National Lottery back in 2019 to help improve and extend their premises. As a result, in the last few years they have been able to reach out to more people at risk of social isolation and loneliness.
The group have also recently opened a Men’s Shed Shop on site, which is run by members and sells items that they have made.
Mr Simpson also raised concerns about funding, following the announcement earlier in the year that The Scottish Men’s Shed Association will receive no more investment from the Scottish Government after this year’s £75,000 allocation.
He has warned Deputy First Minister, John Swinney, that pulling back funding for this “essential service” will only “put additional pressure on mental health services in Lanarkshire and Scotland”.
MSP for Central Scotland, Graham Simpson said: “I was delighted to drop-in and meet members of the East Kilbride Men’s Shed, which is a huge asset to the local community and a vital support network for locals who may feel lonely or isolated.
“Since my last visit in 2019, the group have clearly put their additional funding from the National Lottery to good use with membership figures up and a new shop now on-site – which I would encourage residents to visits.
“The Scottish Government’s decision to cut the charity’s funding after this year is extremely worrying and I joined 40 other MSPs who signed a cross-party letter calling on John Swinney to rethink this detrimental decision.
“Men’s Sheds provide an essential service and the decision to cut their funding will put additional pressure on mental health services in Lanarkshire and Scotland which are already facing huge backlogs.”
