UK Men’s Sheds Awards open to celebrate the people making a difference in communities
By Charities Correspondent
From repairing old furniture and creating wildlife areas to supporting veterans and bringing people together, Men’s Sheds across the UK are quietly making a big difference.
Now, the people behind those projects are being given the chance to have their work recognised, with entries opening for the UK Men’s Sheds Awards 2026.
The awards celebrate the people, groups and partnerships helping Men’s Sheds become an important part of community life, with around 1,100 Sheds now operating across the UK.
Run by the UK Men’s Sheds Association (UKMSA) and sponsored by Diageo/DrinkIQ, the awards are looking for stories that show what Sheds mean to the people who use them – and to the communities around them.
It could be a long-established Shed with years of achievements behind it, a new group finding its feet, or an individual member who is always the first to lend a hand.
There are eight award categories this year.
The Community Project Award will recognise projects that have made a real difference locally, while the Partnership Award celebrates successful collaborations with organisations, businesses, schools, charities and community groups.
The Health and Wellbeing Award focuses on activities that help improve physical, mental or social wellbeing, while the Armed Forces Award recognises Armed Forces Accredited Sheds supporting veterans, serving personnel and the wider armed forces community.
New for 2026 is the Green Shed Award, celebrating work in areas such as sustainability, conservation and wildlife.
The other category, the Heritage & History Award, will shine a light on Sheds helping to preserve and share the history and heritage of their local area.
There are also awards for the people at the heart of the movement.
The Shedder of the Year will recognise an individual who has gone above and beyond for their Shed and fellow members.
And every category entrant can also be considered for the overall Shed of the Year 2026 award.
Caroline Ellis, CEO of the UK Men’s Sheds Association, said the awards were an opportunity to celebrate the people and friendships behind the movement.
“The UK Men’s Sheds Awards are about championing the extraordinary stories of ordinary people – the volunteers, the friendships and the projects that are changing lives and building better communities.”
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She added that the awards reflected the growing range of work being carried out by Sheds, from supporting health and wellbeing and veterans to protecting the environment and local heritage.
“Every Shed has a story worth sharing,” she said.
Previous winners have included Sheds in Blaenau Gwent, Shrewsbury, Braunton, Ripon, Broadstairs and Reddish.
Entries for the UK Men’s Sheds Awards 2026 opened on Wednesday, August 26 and close at midnight on Sunday, September 27.
The finalists will be announced during the week beginning October 19, with the winners revealed at an awards ceremony in Birmingham on International Men’s Day, November 19, 2026.
For the Sheds, volunteers and members involved, it is a chance to celebrate not just what they have built, fixed or created – but the friendships and community spirit that have grown along the way.
