Rostrevor Men’s Shed reaches UK Shed of the Year final

Rostrevor Men’s Shed, the volunteer group that runs 16 The Square community centre, is one of three finalists for the overall UK Men’s Shed of the Year 2026 award. The winner will be announced on Thursday 19 November at Baskerville House in Birmingham, on International Men’s Day.

It’s the second year running that the County Down Shed has reached the UK awards finals, following its shortlisting for a Special Recognition Award in 2025.

At the heart of the nomination is 16 The Square, which the Shed manages on behalf of the council. Volunteers handle bookings, open the building and get rooms ready for the groups that use it. The centre hosts activities such as yoga and mindfulness and provides a base for Life & Time, the charity that supports people receiving end-of-life care at home.

For members, the Shed offers a regular place to meet, learn new skills and spend time with others. Some work on woodworking projects, grow vegetables in the polytunnel or join the Sunday Walking Group. Others drop in for a cup of tea and a chat. Those regular get-togethers give men something to look forward to, a chance to build friendships and people who notice when they haven’t been around for a while.

The volunteers’ work reaches beyond 16 The Square. Members have helped clean up the local river, repaired benches and taken on practical projects for schools and community groups. Through woodworking workshops with Newry’s Magnet Youth Centre, they’ve also helped young people build confidence with tools.

The Shed wants to change perceptions of men and growing older by showing what its members actually get up to. Through short films, music parodies and stories from the workshop, members show how much there is still to learn, make and try together.

One of the more ambitious examples was Greek Odyssey. In May, 18 Shedders, including three experienced skippers, spent a week sailing three yachts through the Greek islands. Several had never sailed before. They shared responsibilities on board, helped the newcomers find their feet and came home with stronger friendships and the satisfaction of having done something ambitious together.

Gethin Hughes, PR Officer for Rostrevor Men’s Shed, said, “I’m proud of the lads who took on the sailing trip, and I’m just as proud of the volunteers who turn up week after week to open the doors at 16 The Square. Every time we get a room ready for a local group or help a young person make something they didn’t think they could, that’s the Shed doing what it does best. That’s the story we’re taking to Birmingham.”