Cruden Bay Community Association’s new “men’s shed”

The community association is a registered Scottish charity, established in 1984, to promote the wellbeing of residents in Cruden Bay, Aberdeenshire. The creation of a men’s shed will be a welcome addition to the bay, creating a home for residents to practice mending skills alongside meaningful social connections. They have proven benefits for the physical and mental health of attendees, improving overall wellbeing which is exactly what the community association was set up to do.

SUEZ is passionate about reuse as well as supporting the local community. Its existing reuse community fund in Aberdeen supports projects which benefit the environment or aids wellbeing in the community. The portacabin no longer had a use for the company and so it was donated to the community association along with wood for cladding the structure as one of the first projects for the residents who use the facility along with refurbishing the inside.

Colin Forshaw, Production Operations Manager, said: "As a long-standing promoter of community wellbeing and reuse in the Aberdeen area, we are proud to be able to support initiatives such as this new men’s shed. We hope it will provide a welcome social space for the residents of Cruden Bay and we look forward to seeing the upgraded look!”

The cabin is in its new home in the grounds of the village church and the refurbishment and cladding will be done in line with planning regulations.

Peter Abenheimer, Chair of the Cruden Bay Community Association, said: "We’re very grateful for the support from SUEZ. Their efforts have helped us to introduce a new wellbeing initiative for the area which we are sure will be very welcome and a valuable asset for the community for years to come."