BARRHEAD Men’s Shed has cause to celebrate this week after being awarded nearly £50,000 to support its work.

The National Lottery Community Fund, previously known as the Big Lottery Fund, has revealed its first list of awards for the year, with the local men’s shed receiving £49,150 to help grow its membership.

The local men’s shed is already changing lives and giving retired and often lonely people a place to call home. 

The money will be used to expand its activities so that it can boost its membership from 50 to 80 people, who will get the chance to learn and share new skills while building new friendships.

Treasurer and Barrhead Men’s Shed SCIO, Ross McKemmie, said: “Thanks to the National Lottery, this award will give us greater sustainability which allows us to reach further into our community and encourage more isolated men to come along to our shed.

“We have a great range of skills to pass on and our members get great satisfaction carrying out a range of services for the local community including children’s nurseries and care homes.

“Our members still have a lot to contribute and the shed means a lot to them so it’s absolutely brilliant that we will be able to keep going well into the future and support even more people who need our help.”