ONE of Scotland’s largest men’s mental health charities is on the verge of collapse after government funding was pulled with no replacement.

The Scottish Men’s Shed Association (SMSA) is reportedly months away from being wound down due to a lack of funding - with no alternative given.

The charity aims to establish grassroots communities in shared spaces with the goal to share experiences, skills and to form companionship.

SMSA aims to tackle social isolation amongst men and has more than 200 sheds across the country with a community of 10,000 members.

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The Government funding for the charity was axed back in April 2022, but £75,000 was agreed between SNP ministers and the charity last year after 40 MSPs rallied together to ask the Scottish Government to find the funding to ensure its survival.

However, there has been no agreement between the Scottish Government and the charity for this year leading to fears SMSA may have to close its doors by the end of 2024.

Speaking to The Sunday Post the charity’s chief executive, Jason Schroeder, says the impact of closing would be felt in communities across Scotland.

Schroeder is hopeful to be celebrating the foundation’s 10-year anniversary instead of closing.

He said: “We’ve got enough funding for about nine or 10 months and then we’ll be looking at winding up.

“That will mean the more than 200 groups lose all their support and all the new groups that are starting will have no support.

“We’ll be celebrating our 10th anniversary in October – hopefully we’ll be celebrating rather than closing.

“The truth is that the impact of us closing would be felt throughout the sector and in communities across Scotland.”

According to the paper, the charity has never received any funding from the government’s suicide prevention fund, despite SMSA’s “huge” impact on helping men with their mental health.

Schroeder also said he doesn’t understand why the charity is supported by MSPs in Parliament but can’t secure financial support from the Government.

He said: “This is working – and not a lot of things are – and now all of that could be lost.

“I cannot understand why they would just say ‘no’ – and not even give us a reason for it.

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“In parliament, they are all for it but when it comes to financial support for men’s health in this way, it’s just a no.

“I see what is happening and the millions that are going to other organisations that don’t have a preventative impact and I can only hope they just don’t understand it.

“The interest in women and minority groups is immense but I don’t think men’s mental health is being taken seriously at all.”

An online petition calling for the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to reverse the decision to cut the charity's funding has reached more than 4500 signatures online.

The Scottish Government said it has supported the charity from its beginning through £795,000 in direct funding.

It said: “Men’s Sheds continue to benefit from the many funding streams that Scottish Government provides to support third sector organisations, including the Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund for Adults, which has supported a number of Men’s Sheds across Scotland since 2021.

“In delivering our social isolation and loneliness strategy, A Connected Scotland, the Scottish Government will continue to engage with third sector organisations, including Men’s Sheds, to explore opportunities for people to connect.”