Sheds and Moustaches unite to bring men's health to local decision-makers

Today at Shed Cwtch, hosted at Lisvane Men's Shed in Cardiff, Movember and UK Men's Sheds Association (UKMSA) announced a new partnership to work together on the men's health agenda where it matters: in local communities, and with the decision-makers who shape them.

Two movements, one shared purpose

Movember's UK Policy and Advocacy team has worked alongside UKMSA for the past two years, standing side by side with sector partners to make the case for a Men's Health Strategy for England. This new partnership builds on that foundation, formalising the relationship and expanding the work into local government action on men's health.

What we'll achieve together

Sheds across the UK are supporting the health of men in their local communities, and there is so much we can learn from them. Through the partnership with UKMSA we will support Shedders, Sheds and Shed networks by helping them to deliver change locally. This involves supporting an understanding of what more can be done to support decision-makers - including local councils and NHS trusts - to engage with men and how to share those insights with other programmes and leaders in communities. 

Tom Ellis, UK Country Director, Movember shares:

"Sheds are incredible places which are supporting the health and wellbeing of men all over the world . Shedders have so much in common with the Movember community and this partnership serves as a constant reminder to always be listening and learning from our communities who are creating change. Movember has funded, and continues to fund, community programmes for over 20 years, and this partnership shows how we're learning from those programmes to inform change at the highest level."

Caroline Ellis, CEO, UK Men's Sheds Association said:

"There's no better place to announce this partnership than Lisvane, as the Shed celebrates five years and opens its doors to Sheds from across south Wales. Men’s Sheds hold real insight into what keeps local men well, and decision-makers hold the levers to act on it; the two rarely connect. Our partnership with Movember is about building that bridge: giving Sheds a route to share what they know, and giving councils and NHS trusts a reason to listen. Change happens when that conversation runs in both directions."

Chris Griffiths, Chair of Lisvane Men’s Shed and UKMSA trustee said:

“At Lisvane Men's Shed we strive to counter isolation, loneliness and depression, as well as combat male suicide. We’re not carers, we’re just a group of men in a Shed, a safe environment offering friendship, camaraderie and support, through fun, laughter and chat over a cup of tea. Standing 'Shoulder to Shoulder' we follow the ethos of Men's Sheds worldwide and have come together today with our friends from neighbouring Welsh Sheds. To announce the UKMSA/Movember partnership at our 'Sied Cwtch' is perfect. The partnership working to aid men's health and wellbeing is a great fit with what we do here.”

Part of a bigger picture

This partnership sits alongside the nine policy and advocacy partnerships Movember announced earlier this year to keep men's health firmly on the political agenda. You can read more about that work in Better together: raising the profile of men's health for policy makers.

'Amplifying the voice of Shedders, Sheds and the Shedding movement' is one of four key pillars in UKMSA’s strategy for 2025-2030. This partnership will be central to delivering this as it will empower the Shedding movement to engage decision makers on the issues that affect them. 

Together, Movember and UKMSA will continue to advocate for locally based mens health action across the United Kingdom.