Daviot Care Home, run by leading care provider Meallmore Ltd, has opened a Men’s Shed.
Thought to be the first of these spaces in a care home in Scotland, a Men’s Shed is a place to practice skills and enjoy making and mending, whilst also facilitating social connections, friendship building, and sharing skills and knowledge.
L-R: Fionn Coffield, SCW; Jacob Miller, Care Assistant; Richard Bryan, Head Chef; Andrei Apetrea, Staff Nurse; Andrew Rodden, Deputy Manager; Jaimie Goullee Assistant Chef (front seated)
At Daviot, the shed offers a safe space for residents to come together to socialise and carry out a range of activities chosen by the shedders for themselves. It will bring lots of benefits to male residents’ health and wellbeing at the care home.
The shed provides tools for training and skills development and residents have already begun building garden benches and candle holders.
The shed was officially opened by actor Ron Emslie, who starred in the production of “Man Shed”, which was performed during the Edinburgh International Fringe Festival.
L-R: Jody Marshall, Meallmore’s Group Hospitality Manager; Ron Emslie, Actor;
Heather Cowan, Manager of Daviot Care Home
For the official opening, the care home hosted a party, where colleagues and residents were joined by friends, family and loved ones to celebrate with some delicious homemade canapes and fizz.
Heather Cowan, manager of the care home comments: “Being part of the Men’s Shed movement in Scotland and the welfare of men’s health is something we’re very passionate about at Meallmore. We’ve created this new space to facilitate connection, conversation and creativity for our male residents. It encourages people to come together to build, fix and restore, not only physical projects, but themselves included!
“It is of huge benefit our male residents and colleagues, and we’re already seeing the benefits of it. We’re really excited to see what objects they all make and continuing to see its impact on our little community in Inverness.”
Daviot is registered with the UK Men’s Shed Association.
Daviot Care Home (formally known as Meallmore Lodge) was Meallmore’s first care home, which opened in Inverness in 1987. Now, Meallmore has grown to become one of Scotland’s leading care providers. The company currently has a network of 26 care homes across Scotland, including offering care for the elderly and adults with mental health diagnosis.