Glen Urquhart Men’s Shed Opens Doors to New Home in Balnain

On Tuesday 15th July, Kara, David, Malcolm, and Erik (who is also a Men’s Shed member) from Soirbheas were pleased to attend the Open Day hosted by Glen Urquhart Men’s Shed at their newly refurbished premises in Balnain. This event marked a significant milestone for the Men’s Shed and the wider community, celebrating the completion of major refurbishment works and the transition to a permanent home.

Following a successful Community Asset Transfer (CAT) led by Glen Urquhart Rural Community Association (GURCA), the Men’s Shed moved from their previous temporary premises at Glen Urquhart Public Hall to the Forestry and Land Scotland site in Balnain. This transfer provided a unique opportunity to develop a dedicated community space tailored to the needs of the Men’s Shed members and other local groups.

Since 2023, Soirbheas has supported the project with a £10,000 grant and assisted with community consultations and planning activities. The total project cost was around £60,000, with additional funding from the National Lottery (£14,000), Great Glen Energy (£20,000), Highland Council (£10,000), and contributions from the Men’s Shed themselves (£6,000).

The funding contributed towards essential refurbishment works, including replacing roofs and windows, rewiring the workshop, installing insulation to improve energy efficiency, and adding a new lean-to storage extension. These upgrades have transformed the site into a welcoming, functional space featuring a spacious workshop, office, meeting rooms, and a separate rental office available to local groups and individuals.

The project has already had a positive impact on membership and community engagement. The Men’s Shed now supports 25 members, including a growing number of participants in the newly formed Ladies Shed, alongside various other community groups who benefit from the facilities. Members have noted the importance of having a permanent base, which has enabled them to expand their activities and projects, maintain momentum, and attract new members from neighbouring areas such as Invermoriston and Fort Augustus.

Importantly, the refurbishment works also contribute to environmental sustainability goals by improving the energy efficiency of the buildings and reducing carbon emissions. This aligns with the Men’s Shed’s ambition to develop the site as a net-zero community facility.

The Balnain site not only provides a much-needed permanent home for the Men’s Shed but also offers a new community facility with potential for further development and income generation through rental spaces. This helps address two common challenges faced by Men’s Sheds: securing suitable premises and ensuring long-term sustainability.

Overall, the project represents a significant step forward in supporting community wellbeing, local economy, and environmental responsibility. We are proud to have played a role in supporting this inspiring initiative from the early stages and look forward to seeing the continued growth and success of Glen Urquhart Men’s Shed.

For more information or enquiries, please contact Glen Urquhart Men’s Shed at [email protected].