Wind farm funding helps Kirkmuirhill and Blackwood Men’s Shed open a new chapter

A community group supporting men’s health, wellbeing and social connection in South Lanarkshire has opened the doors to its new premises thanks to funding linked to a nearby wind farm.

Kirkmuirhill and Blackwood Men’s Shed has received £25,000 from the Kype Muir Wind Farm Community Fund, owned by renewable energy developers OnPath Energy, to support the purchase and refurbishment of the former pub building next door to its original base.

The Men’s Shed, which has been operating since 2019, began life in a converted shipping container owned by the Thornton Road Community Centre Association. However, as membership grew, the group quickly outgrew the space, with only three or four members able to work comfortably inside at any one time.

The new premises will give the group significantly more room for its activities, improve accessibility for disabled members and create additional opportunities for local people to come together.

Kirkmuirhill and Blackwood Men’s Shed currently has 64 members, with 11 new members joining since work began on the new building.

The group provides a social space where men can meet, share skills, work on practical projects and build friendships. Members mainly undertake woodworking activities, with plans to expand the range of activities and create space to display work made by members and other local craft groups.

The original shipping container will now be moved beside the new premises and used as a dedicated machine room, while a large garage at the rear of the building will provide further workshop space in the future.

Bill Dewar, trustee of Kirkmuirhill and Blackwood Men’s Shed, said:

“Having this new space is a huge step forward for us. I have all the woodwork tools I need in my own shed, but I work alone in there. The Men’s Shed is about much more than making things. It is about camaraderie and banter, giving men somewhere to go where they can talk face to face rather than shoulder to shoulder. It has really helped people who are lonely, living on their own or dealing with mental health problems.

“Nearly all the people I know through the Men’s Shed are people I did not know before I joined. They have become friends. I think our wives are glad to have us out of the house! My wife says it’s like I have a second career. To have the funding we have had has been absolutely fantastic.”

The group officially marked the opening of the new workshop with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by 89-year-old Charlie Johnson, its oldest member.

OnPath Energy is one of the UK’s leading renewable energy developers, its community funds are designed to build long-term community value for local people. Last year alone, more than £2.1 million in community funding was awarded by the company to over 100 community groups and environmental projects across the UK.  

Aileen McCreadie, community and partnerships manager at OnPath Energy, said:

“This is a wonderful new space for Kirkmuirhill and Blackwood Men’s Shed. The group plays such an important role locally, creating a welcoming place where men can come together, build friendships and support one another.

This funding is a great example of how wind farm community funds can make a genuine difference, helping groups like this grow, reach more people and continue providing that all-important sense of connection and support.”

Aileen McCreadie, community and partnerships manager at OnPath Energy

“We would really encourage other local groups to explore what funding opportunities may be available to them, as there are so many fantastic projects out there that could benefit from this kind of support.”

The Kype Muir Wind Farm Community Fund supports projects in communities close to the wind farm, helping local groups deliver initiatives which support community facilities, health and wellbeing, social welfare and environmental improvement.

The fund is administered by the Kype Muir Community Panel and its representative on the Blackwood and Kirkmuirhill Coordination Group, Johnny Hamilton, said:

“The Kirkmuirhill and Blackwood Men’s Shed group is a fantastic example of a community group coming together to support each other and share experiences and skills for the benefit of themselves and other.

“The group has carried out many projects for our community, which have enhanced the villages and benefitted all age groups and this new facility will allow the group to grow, carry out more projects and let other groups share their premises. It is a fantastic success story.”

The Men’s Shed movement began in Australia in the 1990s and has since spread internationally. The International Men’s Sheds Organisation says the movement now has more than 3,300 sheds in over 15 countries.

Dr Jason Schroeder, CEO of the Scottish Men’s Sheds Association, said: 

“Men’s Sheds have become one of the most important grassroots movements supporting men’s health and wellbeing, not just in Scotland but internationally.

“Groups like Kirkmuirhill and Blackwood show exactly why this movement continues to grow and thrive. This funding is a fantastic achievement, helping unlock a new chapter for the group and strengthening the vital role it plays in supporting local men’s wellbeing and community connection for today and future generations.”

Local communities can find out if they may be eligible for funding by visiting www.onpathenergy.com/kype-muir