The Sheds for Sustainable Development Project focuses on supporting Men’s Sheds in Scotland to be both financially and socially sustainable. Key components include: the collection and analysis of data pertaining to the development challenges that sheds may face; the co-creation of viable solutions to help sheds develop and sustain; and the evaluation of the potential health and wellbeing benefits associated with being a member of a shed, and taking part in shed activities. The project has two key aims: 

• To identify the key development challenges facing sheds and, through action research, implement entrepreneurial changes enhancing the sustainability and viability of the sheds; 
• To explore, using mixed methods, the health and wellbeing impacts of shed activities on their users and how sheds may contribute to a preventative spending approach to health and care.

Publications

• Kelly, D., Steiner, A., Mason, H. and Teasdale, S. (2019) Men’s Sheds: a conceptual exploration of the causal pathways for health and wellbeing, Health & Social Care in the Community, 27(5), 1147–1157.  
• Kelly, D., Steiner, A., Teasdale, S., Mason, H. (2020) Sheds for Sustainable Development Project: Men’s Sheds as an alternative route for male health engagement, Policy Briefing, Glasgow Caledonian University. 
• Kelly, D., Steiner, A., Teasdale, S., Mason, H. (2019) Sheds for Sustainable Development Project: the health and wellbeing impacts of Men’s Sheds on their users, Policy Briefing, Glasgow Caledonian University. 
• Kelly, D., Steiner, A., Teasdale, S., Mason, H. (2019) Sheds for Sustainable Development: Briefing Paper 1, Policy Briefing, Glasgow Caledonian University. 

Project Lead: Artur Steiner

Project Team: Danielle Hutcheon, Artur Steiner, Simon Teasdale, Helen Mason 

Sustainable Development Goals