“I’ve found a home in the shed”

meet, make, grow + share

The Inverclyde Shed is a 100% volunteer run grassroots organisation with the aim of providing spaces for people to come together, be involved, grow and share their skills & experiences. We operate a community workshop in Greenock and community growing spaces across Inverclyde at Port Glasgow, Greenock & Gourock.

We aim to reduce social isolation & loneliness through activities where people can build genuine lasting friendships, improve their physical & mental wellbeing and develop their capacity to share their skills and knowledge with others in the community.

We are a registered Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation, so when you join us, you are joining a community of people who are working together for our common good, you share that responsibility and will have a say in what we do.

Our membership is open to anyone over 18 years old and includes people from all walks of life.

  • Man wearing glasses and hat sitting by a wooden table, with a black and white photo in the background showing a similar man. Coffee cup and plaid jacket visible.
  • Person engaged in woodworking with tools on table, wearing orange apron and gloves.
  • Group of children learning about gardening in a garden with a male and female instructor, surrounded by flowering plants.
  • Group of six people sitting around an outdoor wooden table with papers, pens, and drinks.
  • Beekeepers inspecting a honeycomb frame
  • Workshop scene with a person working on a wooden boat model
  • Two beekeepers in protective suits holding honeycombs with bees in a garden setting.
  • Person playing a wooden electric bass guitar indoors, sitting on a yellow chair with kitchen appliances in the background.
  • Children gardening in raised beds and large planters, outdoors near a stone wall.
  • Elderly man in a workshop wearing a cap and apron, working with tools and wooden objects on a table.
  • Two men in a workshop discussing woodworking projects, surrounded by tools and materials.
  • A group of people sitting around a table with food in a room decorated with electric guitars on the walls.
  • Person holding a custom electric guitar in a workshop setting with tools on the wall.
  • Person's hand operating a manual sharpening tool
  • Group of people observing woodworking demonstration in a craft workshop.
  • Group of children with an adult in a community garden, smiling, with plants in containers, playground in background.
  • Man giving thumbs up in front of a large, black industrial building.
  • People tending to a community garden with raised beds and plants, urban setting, cloudy sky.
  • Close-up of arms crossed, tattoos visible, wearing plaid shirt and vest, with a watch.

visiting us?

Get in touch with us if you’d like to visit, have a group that you would like to organise a visit for, or you are a social connector linking socially prescribed people. We prefer that you contact us in the first instance so that we can agree a date to have someone show you around and answer questions.

“Joining the Shed has definitely been life-changing for me. I know that I'm coming here every day and it gets me out of the house. It gives me something to focus on and helps me be creative.”

— Niall Doran

Our board

Our board are all ordinary members of the shed. They provide governance and meet regularly to make strategic & operational decisions, discuss partnerships, ensure safety protocols are being adhered to, work with our supervisor team, apply for funding and act in the best interests of our members.

Man wearing glasses in a restaurant, monochrome photo

  • Trustee

    I recently moved to Castlebank, Port Glasgow from north of Aberdeen.

    My main interests are modelling railways, photography and travel, however, I recently developed an interest in 3d printing.

    My background is varied having attended Napier College in Edinburgh and served an apprenticeship as an electrician, then moved into administration enjoying positions as a clerk, dept manager, asst branch manager ( logistics) then area manager and regional manager ( manufacturing) and finishing as a general manager (logistics) until retiring 10 years ago.

    Upon retiring I joined the newly formed Ellon Mens Shed and was elected Trustee and Secretary in which post I remained in until my relocation to Port Glasgow.

Person with glasses and a cap, featuring a beard and tattoos, black and white photo

  • Trustee

    I have a wide spectrum of interests, including a wide variety of music from many genres which allows me to find a common ground to engage with people.

Smiling man in glasses with trees in background

  • Trustee

    Mark is married with three children and has recently retired after a 38 year career in a multinational technology corporation where he specialised in Logistics and Transportation operations.

    Throughout his career he held various technical and project/team leadership roles and most recently he was responsible for the corporation's compliance to the global regulations for the safe transport of Dangerous Goods by air, road and ocean.

    Mark is a Mechanical Engineering graduate of the University of the West of Scotland (Paisley Campus) and in addition holds an MBA from Strathclyde University Graduate Business School.

    Since joining the shed in December 2020, with no particular woodworking skills, Mark has particularly enjoyed learning to build small wooden models and jewellery/trinket box type projects.

Person taking a selfie on a mountain with a clear sky in the background.

  • Trustee

    I am a chartered mechanical engineer working as a senior (nuclear) waste consultant in the nuclear decommissioning sector.

    I am also a committee member for the greater Renfrewshire and inverclyde local action group (GRI LAG), distributing funds from Scottish government allocation to rural areas to support child poverty, the rural economy, the climate emergency and improving rural public services by supporting business and organisations in rural communities.

Black and white photo of a woman with glasses on her head, smiling in a modern, well-lit gallery space with large windows and sculptures.

  • Trustee

    Artist and Deputy Manager at The Wyllieum in Greenock. 

    Involved in the arts over the years, exhibiting, working in galleries and running workshops.  Previously worked in catering as a chef and then catering manager. Loves dogs, has a rescue sighthound and has run a dog walking business. 

    I have loved being a member of Inverclyde Shed for the last two years, getting involved whenever I could. 

    Through participating in many groups, I have appreciated learning new and useful skills, but the best thing has been the advice, practical help and warmth from fellow members and the friendships gained.

Person using a wood lathe in a workshop, wearing safety gear and an apron.

  • Trustee

     I grew up in the south side of Glasgow, then spent over 30 years in the south-east of England and made the move to Inverclyde almost 3 years ago. I have worked in a variety of fields, from working as a photographer to being an HGV trucker.

    Once I discovered the Shed I soon realised that it was somewhere I felt very welcome and comfortable. I thoroughly enjoy my time here and hope to help as it grows ever onwards and upwards. 

Black and white portrait of a woman with glasses, smiling, wearing a floral patterned shirt, against a textured background.

  • Trustee

    I am a retired Psychology Lecturer who moved into private practice in Alternative Therapies. Currently a Senior & Advanced Hypnotherapist, I have also worked on a voluntary basis at the local court, and previously in Social Care.

    I have considerable experience with people from varying backgrounds, of different academic levels, and also much family experience.

Our activity co-ordinators

Our activity co-ordinators are ordinary members who volunteer their time to co-ordinate sessions at the shed covering a broad range of activities from craft / sewing / mindful art/ carving, model making / wood turning / ukuelele and much more.

Black and white photo of a smiling elderly woman wearing a scarf and coat, with a textured background.

  • Activity Co-Ordinator

    Craft, Sewing & Games

Black and white portrait of a woman outdoors with a blurred background.

  • Activity Co-Ordinator

    Mindful Art

Elderly man with white beard and glasses in front of posters

  • Activity Co-Ordinator

    Model Making

Black and white photo of a smiling person with floral design overlay.

  • Activity Co-ordinator

    Ukulele

    Songwriting

Black and white photo of an elderly man wearing glasses and a jacket, looking to the side with a thoughtful expression.

  • Activity Co-Ordinator

    Wood Turning

Person in a workshop wearing a hoodie, smiling.

  • Activity Co-Ordinator

    Electronics

Smiling woman with earrings in black and white

  • Activity Co-Ordinator

    Wood Carving

Black and white photo of an electric guitar, resembling a Fender Stratocaster, with three single-coil pickups and a white pickguard.

  • Activity Co-Ordinator

    Bass Guitar

  • Activity Co-Ordinator

    Bass Guitar

Workshop Supervisors

Our volunteer workshop supervisor team are the ‘beating heart’ of the organisation and help ensure the safety of members using our workshop space & classrooms on a day to day basis.

Smiling man wearing glasses and a jacket with "Regatta Great Outdoors" branding, black and white photo

  • Workshop Supervisor

Person holding a musical instrument in a workshop setting.

  • Workshop Supervisor

Man in high-visibility vest smiling

  • Workshop Supervisor

Black and white selfie of a man wearing glasses, in a room with photo frame on wall.

  • Workshop Supervisor

Elderly man with glasses and a beard smiling

  • Workshop Supervisor

    Model Making Lead

Man using a wood lathe in workshop, wearing protective gear

  • Workshop Supervisor / Trustee

    Wood Turning Lead

Man holding wooden sculptures with golf club heads and golf ball noses

  • Workshop Maintenance

Elderly man smiling in workshop setting with tools in the background.

  • Workshop Supervisor

Garden Supervisors

Our volunteer garden & apiary supervisor team are the hard working team, supported by volunteer gardeners that organise and supervise our gardening activities across site in Port Glasgow, Greenock and Gourock.

Bearded man in flat cap, sweater with Nordic pattern, plaid scarf, and tattoos on arm. Black and white portrait.

  • Garden & Orchard Lead

    Walled Garden

    Shore Street Herb Garden

    St Laurence Orchard

Black and white portrait of a smiling woman wearing glasses.

  • Garden Supervisor

    Muirshiel Lane Community Garden

Man wearing beanie outdoors with mountain landscape

  • Garden Supervisor

    Muirshiel Lane Community Garden

Person wearing goggles holding a beehive frame

  • Bee Apiary Manager

“I was aware of the Shed, but I didn't realise the enormous impact it makes for the residents in this area. I became a member about 9 months ago when I signed up for the creative writing class and it's been a fantastic experience. I have since been involved with many other projects and I'm thankful for the opportunities we have been afforded. I'll be a member for life now.”

—Iris Potter