Billy looks back on his first two months as UKMSA Armed Forces Lead – from his first Shed visit to Armed Forces Weekend, with a fair few brews along the way.
By Billy, Armed Forces Lead – billy.tainton@ukmsa.org.uk
My first Shed visit, with Giles, one of our ambassadors, who arranged and hosted the visit to Debenham Shed.
Two months have somehow flown by since I joined UK Men’s Sheds Association as Armed Forces Lead. It has been busy, varied and mostly spent talking to people – which is probably as it should be.
I took over the Armed Forces work from Stuart Gray at the end of May. Stuart had already done a great deal to get the accreditation up and running and support the Sheds taking part, so my job is to pick up the baton and keep it moving. As a Veteran myself, I know how much purpose, routine, practical activity and good company can matter during service and afterwards. Sheds offer all of that naturally, without making a great fuss about it.
My first job was simply to listen: to understand what was already working and where I could be useful. Veterans are one of several groups still underrepresented in Sheds. This is not about putting them on a pedestal. It is about making sure people who could get a great deal from being a Shed member know they are there – and feel welcome walking through the door.
First stop: Debenham
My first Shed visit took me to Debenham Shed, in Suffolk, where I was given a warm welcome and a proper introduction to just how much can sit behind the word “Shed”.
There were areas for woodwork, metalwork and welding, as well as a sizeable space for raising young trees for the local council. It was a great example of a Shed using practical skills to do something useful for its wider community.
That visit brought the job to life very quickly. Maps and guidance documents have their uses, but the real work happens in places like Debenham: people sharing skills, having a brew, working alongside one another and getting something worthwhile done.
Debenham Shed has space for woodwork, metalwork and welding, as well as raising young trees for the local council.
Recognising the good work already happening
A big part of my role is the Armed Forces Community Shed Accreditation. It recognises UKMSA member Sheds that welcome serving personnel, Reservists, Veterans and their families, while helping them think about what they might do next.
There are Bronze, Silver and Gold levels. Bronze covers the straightforward foundations and should be within reach of every UKMSA member Shed. Silver recognises well-established support, while Gold is for Sheds that have shown sustained, excellent work. Every level counts, and nobody needs a long list of formal partnerships before getting started.
The online form takes around 20 minutes, and Sheds can look through the questions beforehand. Evidence might be an Armed Forces Day activity, a local contact, useful information on display or simply asking new members whether they have an Armed Forces connection.
At the time of writing, 38 Sheds have expressed an interest, 18 have achieved Silver, and Axminster Community Shed became the first to achieve Gold in June 2026!
Armed Forces Weekend
Another early highlight was Armed Forces Weekend at the National Memorial Arboretum, where I joined Stuart Gray as the handover continued. It was a chance to speak directly with members of the Armed Forces Community, explain what Sheds offer and hear their reactions to the idea of a practical, welcoming place to meet others.
It was also encouraging to see the Royal British Legion giving the Men’s Sheds and Veterans poster a prominent place in its open foyer. Small things like that matter. They help people discover Sheds through organisations and places they already know and trust.
With Stuart Gray at Armed Forces Weekend at the National Memorial Arboretum during the handover of the Armed Forces Lead role.
The Royal British Legion prominently displaying the Men’s Sheds and Veterans poster in its open foyer.
A map with a purpose
Alongside the visits and events, I have been mapping where Sheds, Veterans and Armed Forces organisations are around the country. The aim is not to make a map for the sake of it, it is to spot places where there are plenty of Veterans but few nearby Sheds, or where one simple introduction might be helpful.
A map cannot tell us what will work locally, of course. It can show us where a conversation may be worth starting, but the next step must always be to listen to the people who know the area.
Tea, biscuits and a useful chat
A visit to Ware Men’s Shed with members of the Royal British Legion was another reminder that good working relationships often begin very simply. We were wonderfully hosted by Jim on a lovely day, with much of the conversation taking place outside over tea, biscuits and the occasional chocolate.
It was relaxed, but useful. Shedders, UKMSA and Royal British Legion colleagues could talk openly about what local Veterans might need, what a Shed can offer and when an introduction to specialist support may help.
That distinction matters. Sheds are not clinical services and should not be expected to become them. Their strength is companionship, practical activity and belonging. The right outside support can be there when needed, while the Shed remains a Shed.
Partnership working, Shed style: conversation over tea and biscuits at Ware Men’s Shed.
Members of Ware Men’s Shed with representatives from UKMSA and the Royal British Legion.
Next stop: ShedFest
The next big date in the diary is ShedFest at the University of Worcester Arena on Thursday 13 August.
I will be hosting a panel about the Armed Forces Community Shed Accreditation and the wider work of welcoming members of the Armed Forces Community into Sheds.
During the session, Axminster Community Shed will talk about its journey to gold accreditation, Chertsey Men’s Shed will share how welcoming Veterans has helped the wider Shed, including opening doors to funding and other opportunities and The Royal British Legion will bring its Armed Forces perspective. We’d love plenty of Shedders to attend so please join us on the day!
There will be plenty of time for questions. Some Sheds already have strong Armed Forces links and others are simply curious – both are equally welcome. Getting started can be as modest as asking a new member about an Armed Forces connection, putting up some useful information or saying hello to a local organisation.
Two months in
There is plenty still to do, but these first two months have been encouraging. I have met Shedders quietly making a real difference, Armed Forces organisations keen to work with local communities and colleagues helping to turn ideas into something practical.
The accreditation and the map give the work some shape, but the photographs and conversations tell the better story: a busy workshop in Debenham, a poster in the Royal British Legion foyer and a circle of chairs beneath the trees at Ware.
Ultimately, this is about helping more members of the Armed Forces Community find somewhere to use their skills, enjoy good company and become part of something worthwhile. In other words, helping more people discover what Sheds already do best.
I am here to support any Shed that wants to know more about the accreditation or build stronger links with its local Armed Forces Community. Questions are always welcome – and, as these first visits have confirmed, the kettle is rarely far away.
