UK Men’s Sheds Association (UKMSA) will be hosting a five-day event at Portcullis House in the Palace of Westminster estate from March 18th to 22nd, 2024. This event, titled ‘The Parliament Shed’, aims to raise awareness of men’s wellbeing and the Men’s Shed movement.
The custom-built shed will showcase the health, wellbeing, and social benefits of community-run Men’s Sheds. Expert partners from organizations such as the Zero Suicide Alliance and the Centre for Ageing Better will join UKMSA and shedders from across the UK to discuss important topics such as Suicide Prevention, Mental Health, Men’s Health, and Loneliness.
With over 1,100 Men’s Sheds and 33,000 ‘Shedders’ in the UK, UKMSA hopes to use this platform to engage with individuals working in the parliamentary estate and government to bring attention to the Men’s Sheds movement and its partners.
Charlie Bethel, UKMSA’s chief executive officer, stated, “Men’s Sheds work because they are a simple concept that people can relate to. Whether it is building bird boxes or fixing bikes for disadvantaged children, you can see the sense of pride and accomplishment in everyone who walks through the door of a Shed.”
In addition, UKMSA will be announcing a formal partnership with the Royal British Legion during the event. Bethel explained, “Many Sheds in the UK have veterans involved, and with the Royal British Legion, we hope to increase that number by making Sheds more accessible, especially for those with conditions such as PTSD. We believe this partnership will lead to the opening of more Sheds and a greater impact on communities across the UK. We are particularly proud to be working on establishing Dementia Sheds in the six RBL Care Homes.”
The Parliament Shed was generously donated by Wickes, Onduline, and Power Sheds and was adapted by Black Park Shed in Buckinghamshire for the week-long event at Parliament. Tools, equipment, and supplies were provided by Axminster Tools Ltd, TiteFix, and Ronseal.
This event is distributed by https://pressat.co.uk/ and aims to bring attention to the important work of Men’s Sheds in promoting men’s wellbeing and tackling societal issues such as loneliness and mental health.
