Glen Urquhart men (and women) get a new Shed

Tuesday, 08 April 2025

Local community group, the Glen Urquhart Men’s Shed (GUMS), has a new home thanks to the community acquisition of old offices from Forestry and Land Scotland.

Situated at Balnain, the three buildings were surplus to requirement after FLS moved to new premises at Shenval.

Seeing an opportunity to boost local resources, and with considerable community support, the Glen Urquhart Rural Community Association (GURCA) led on submitting an asset transfer request 

With the transfer now completed and the keys to the buildings formally handed over, the GUMS members will now take on the refurbishment and maintenance of their new home.

GURCA Chair, Susan Griffin said;

“GURCA are delighted that we have concluded the purchase of the Balnain site with Forest and Land Scotland.

“This has been a collaborative project undertaken with Glen Urquhart Men's Shed, which will now lease the site from GURCA, to allow its membership to grow and flourish. Organisations like Men's Sheds are key to our overall health and wellbeing strategy and provide opportunities for men from all backgrounds to come together to socialize and share their skills.

“It is the latest of GURCA's projects which aim to tackle health, wellbeing and social isolation following on from the purchase of our community woods in 2022 and another example of  community collaboration at its best.”

In the five years that GUMS has been active it has expanded from 8 to 20 members and has been looking for a permanent base and space to expand its membership and activities.

Consisting of a workshop building, a small office building and an office / meeting room, the Balnain site is ideal for a Men's Shed.

Glen Urquhart Men's Shed Treasurer, Erik Telfer, added;

“We are delighted to have a permanent base that will provide more space and the opportunity to fit out workshop facilities.

“A Ladies Shed has also started and is now a growing group that will be able to share some of these facilities.”

The Balnain site will also serve as a hub for other community groups, including Soirbheas, which provides support to communities in Glen Urquhart and Strathglass, a local watersports group, as well as Balnain Community Hall.

The workshop and office building are currently being refurbished with grant funding from Soirbheas, Highland Council’s Community Regeneration Fund, National Lottery Awards for All, and the Great Glen Energy Fund.

FLS’ CATS Assessment Panel representative, Bill Slee, said;

“Community Asset Transfers (CATS) are all about community empowerment and giving local people the means and the opportunity to strengthen community resilience and identity.

“This particular asset transfer will be a boost for several community groups but will perhaps be of greatest benefit to the Glen Urquhart Men’s Shed group.

“Their new premises will give them the chance to expand and develop their unique social hub, that as with all Men’s Sheds, aims to help all men (aged 18+) by reducing social isolation and so improve mental, physical and emotional well-being. Having been a founder trustee in the establishment of a men’s shed in rural Aberdeenshire, I have seen how much social value they can add to a community.

“The application included a tremendous level of community consultation and support and GURCA and GUMS members have a highly valuable and practical range of skills to refurbish the buildings on the site.

“The Panel would like to wish them every success.”

The Scottish Men’s Shed Association was established in 2014 and now has a network of Sheds across Scotland.

Notes to Editors

  1. Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) manages forests and land owned by Scottish Ministers in a way that supports and enables economically sustainable forestry; conserves and enhances the environment; delivers benefits for people and nature; and supports Scottish Ministers in their stewardship of Scotland's national forests and land.
  2. The Men’s Shed movement, founded in Australia in 1993, now has 3000 active groups in 16 countries worldwide. Scotland has 136 sheds (with a further 66 in development) that are regularly visited by just over 10,000 men.
  3. Home - Forestry and Land Scotland | twitter.com/ForestryLS
  4. Media enquiries to Paul Munro, Media Manager, Forestry and Land Scotland Media Office 07785 527590 or paul.munro@forestryandland.gov.scot