A MEN in Sheds group from Cornwall is “over the moon” to have gained national recognition for its work. 

The Gorran Haven and Mevagissey Men in Sheds group has been shortlisted in two categories of the UK Men’s Sheds Awards 2026. 

The awards celebrate the power of Men’s Sheds to strengthen communities and improve wellbeing.  

The Gorran Haven and Mevagissey Men in Sheds group is a finalist in the Community Shed of the Year and the National Shed of the Year categories.

Group members meet at the village playing fields hall on Bell Hill in Gorran Haven and use an adjacent 40ft container as a workshop and tool library. 

Approximately 40 men from surrounding villages belong to the group and around 25 attend a weekly breakfast. The members help out with repairs, guerrilla gardening and decorating.  

Their “legendary” full English breakfasts on a Friday morning are cooked by the membership on a rota basis. 

The group is based in the coastal village of Gorran Haven in Cornwall. (Picture: Andrew Townsend)
The group is based in the coastal village of Gorran Haven in Cornwall. (Picture: Andrew Townsend)

Member Mick Pritchard, 70, said: “We’re over the moon to be recognised nationally. Friday breakfast in our shed has become an inspirational weekly ritual for so many and this nomination is really for everyone who makes it special.” 

Paul Covell, 87, from Portmellon, who will be travelling with Mick to the award ceremony in Birmingham, said: “The fellowship, the contribution to our communities and the chance to learn new skills (like cooking for 25!) is a great thing to be a part of.” 

Winners will be announced at the UK Men’s Sheds Awards, run by UK Men’s Sheds Association, on November 19.  

The association is a support body for Men’s Sheds across the UK, promoting wellbeing, skill-sharing and community connection.  

There are more than 1,200 Men’s Sheds across the UK, each one being run independently and each providing space for men to meet, make and socialise.