Strathaven & Avondale Men's Shed

The Shed started its life on 8th April 2025 when Paul Creechan from the Seniors Together team at South Lanarkshire Council arranged meetings at Avondale Community Wing in Strathaven to gauge interest in a Men’s Shed in Strathaven. 

After a few meetings, a management committee was formed in July of 2025, and was able to meet weekly using the facilities of the Strathaven Golf Club as a development plan was established. 

A constitution was agreed and from 1st October 2025 the Shed met in a small meeting room kindly supplied by the Crib Community Coffee House. This has been a big plus, as many groups planning a Shed go for a long time without a base, leading to discouragement and falling off of membership.

Having a physical space in which to meet from the outset has fostered a strong group formation. 

Visits to other Sheds, presentations by external organisations, and visit to local brewery/taproom have reinforced this group feeling.

The Christmas lunch was proof of this on-going development.

A bank account was opened in October 2025, followed in December with confirmation of charity status.

After the initial four months we moved out of The Crib and moved to the larger Drawing Room facility, kindly loaned on a weekly basis by local restaurant owners. 

This has permitted considerable expansion with games and general socializing. A well attended electronics group has formed and meets each week. Model building has started with The Bismark donated by one of the members.

A couple of guest speakers have visited to discuss and demonstrate.