More than three dozen MSPs have written to Scotland's Deputy First Minister, John Swinney, calling for a complete U-Turn on the government's decision to cut funding for the Scottish Men's Sheds.
The Men's Sheds, which have various branches across Glasgow, have been providing support and comfort to men since it came to Scotland in 2015.
They were initially given £75,000 and started with two sheds in Scotland. Over the years they received more funding but each year the funding decreased before a decision was made to cut it completely, according to the CEO of Men's Sheds, Jason Schroeder.
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Though they have other funders putting cash into the global men's movement, the Scottish Government provided the 'core funding' for the Scottish sheds.
Jason told Glasgow Live: "They had a meeting in February 2022 and I got a letter saying they will give £75,000 as a last payment and then from 2023 onwards we will receive nothing.
"There’s such a big need in our community for men’s health and the Men’s Sheds are becoming the world's biggest health movement for men.
"We can’t understand why the government wouldn’t, like Australia and Ireland, be increasing the funding because it saves them millions and could actually save the NHS. It makes no sense to us.
"When they delivered us the bombshell that they are stopping the funding we thought they were making a mistake and we needed to let them know."
A petition calling for the government to rethink their decision to cut the funding has already been signed by over three thousand people.
Jason added: "We want them to go back on this decision and start funding us and give us the increased funding we require otherwise we are going to see a serious loss of the movement or a collapse.
"They didn’t give a reason why and it’s not acceptable. It’s going to have a massive impact.
"The men’s shed is the one place where men are going where there is camaraderie, feeling safe and men are talking. Men don’t do that outside of the shed.
"We will be closing our doors without the funding. We want the government to make a complete U-turn on this decision and increase the funding."
MSPs from across different political parties have rallied together and penned a letter to the Deputy First Minister John Swinney, calling for the Scottish Men's Sheds to get their funding back.
It's been signed by 40 MSPs, including Glasgow's Paul Sweeney and Annie Wells.
Paul Sweeney, Scottish Labour MSP said: “The role Men’s Sheds play in supporting and safeguarding the wellbeing of our local communities is indisputable. I have seen and heard first hand of the benefits they have brought to the lives of many constituents, and it is devastating to think of the impact this decision will have on their services.
“My challenge to the government is simple – if they are going to pull the funding, they need to explain why and they need to explain what adverse consequences they believe their decision will have. It’s not good enough to just shrug their shoulders and attempt to brush this off as a political decision.
"It’s bigger than politics, and the fact MSPs from across the political spectrum have signed this open letter proves that. It’s a decision that needs to be reversed urgently.”
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party MSP, Annie Wells said: “The work that Men’s Sheds do is fantastic. They are an essential help to many people across Glasgow and the whole country.
“I’m happy to support any efforts that force the SNP Government to reverse the decision to cut core funding to this brilliant organisation.”
The Scottish Government told Glasgow Live it has provided £570,000 funding to the Scottish Men’s Sheds Association since 2016.
A government spokesperson said: “The Scottish Government funding for men’s sheds has helped the movement to grow from five men’s sheds in 2013 to more than 200 sheds today, with more than 3,000 members.
"The £75,000 provided by Scottish Government this financial year will help the Scottish Men’s Sheds Association build further success as they continue to develop their business model and new funding partners come on board.”
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