UK Men's Shed Association

The UK Men’s Sheds Association, is the support body for Men’s Sheds across the UK.
- We work hard to inspire and support the development of as many Men’s Sheds as possible, for the benefit of men’s health and wellbeing.
- We are a member organisation, representing UK-based Men’s Sheds.
- We raise awareness of the Men’s Sheds movement and the many benefits of Shedding and we support Men’s Sheds in getting off the ground and thriving as community-driven, member-led entities.
- We don’t own or manage Men’s Sheds, but we champion them for miles around.
"Our mission is to enable access to a Men’s Shed for every man that would benefit from one and we won’t stop until we’ve achieved it."

Association History
The UKMSA was originally founded in 2013 in response to a need for a central body to represent and raise awareness of a small, but growing number of Men’s Sheds. Back then there were just 30 Men’s Sheds in the UK.
In 2015 we became a registered charity with a view to providing more formal support to the Men’s Shed movement. Fast forward to today and there are over 600 Men’s Sheds open and an additional 150 or more in planning at any one time. That’s around 13,000 or more Shedders, as we call them, benefiting from regular social interactions, new and improved skills, and regular, active participation in activities they enjoy. The rate of growth of Men’s Sheds is between six and nine a month.

Find the information you need about starting and running a Shed

How to, templates and advice
UK Men’s Sheds Association is the support body for Men’s Sheds across the UK. We provide support in a number of ways to individuals and groups wanting to start Sheds. We also provide support to existing Men’s Sheds, helping them to stay safe and sustainable for years to come.

Start a Shed
- Use our easy reference guide and checklist to understand the typical activities involved in starting a Men’s Shed and get useful tips
Finding a Shed Premises
- Our guide to finding the right premises for your Shed, so you can start Shedding.
Safety & Risk Management
- Simple tools and templates to help you put safety first in your Shed and continue to manage risks.
Health and Wellbeing Resources
- Guides to support the health and well-being of Shedders within your Shed, along with a list of other places to look for resources on specific health conditions.

Volunteer Ambassador Programme
Our Volunteer Ambassador programme champions grass-roots development and teams up experienced Shed leaders with like-minded peers who want to start Men’s Sheds in their own areas.
We equip and empower Volunteer Ambassadors across the UK to raise awareness of the Men’s Sheds movement and its life changing benefits, and share their knowledge and experiences with the next wave of Shed leaders. Our Volunteer Ambassadors are experienced Shedders who have a track record in setting up safe and sustainable Sheds.