The Scottish Ministers introduced the Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) legal form in April 2011 and it differs from other charities on the register in that its existence is dependent upon its charitable status.

A SCIO is required to have at least three charity trustees who have the general control and management of the administration of the SCIO and also a membership who have voting rights and help direct the charity in a democratic community led way.

The Inverclyde Shed was constituted as a SCIO September 2019.

Our constitution means that we refresh the board annually with members having the opportunity to vote on nominations.

We currently have over 456 registered members and held our fifth successful AGM on Wednesday October 23.

We elected a new board, including a ‘new Scot’ from Ukraine, and passed four resolutions for minor changes to our constitution, including on how we make joining clearer for people with disabilities and that we offer concessions.

You can read view our annual report here.

The AGM allows members to air concerns or seek clarification on any matter, but it is also a chance for organisations to reflect on what they have done, celebrate successes, thank the previous board, members, and supporters who have all sustained the organisation for the past 12 months.

The Shed’s accomplishments this year included:

• We ran sessions this year in woodwork, electronics, 3D printing, digital fabrication, spoon carving, upholstery, model making, creative writing, bass guitar, ukelele, art, crafts, sewing, cooking, wood carving, wood turning, songwriting, lego club, bee keeping and community gardening with the support of the National Lottery People’s Project runner up award.

• We developed a new growing space in Gourock at the Walled Garden whilst maintaining two other gardens at Shore Street and Muirshiel Lane.

• We were awarded the RHS UK and Scottish 2024 Community Engagement Awards

• We were awarded the Inverclyde Chamber ICON Award for ‘Sustainability’

• We invested in mobile sawmill equipment and training with the support of The National Lottery Community Fund Awards for All.

• We expanded our Port Glasgow bee apiary from one colony to seven.

• We held two open days for Doors Open Day & Community Land Scotland

• We supported Inverclyde’s inaugural STEM Festival

• We held social gatherings for Burns Night and St Andrews Day.

• We visited Lanark Men’s Shed, Leith Men’s Shed, Galgael and Edinburgh Tool Library with the help of the Scottish Community Alliance Community Learning Exchange Fund and hosted two SMSA Glasgow & Clyde Network Meetings.

• We installed seven school / community growing spaces across Inverclyde.

• We helped ten other organisations through a pilot partnership with Development Trust Scotland’s Community Ownership Support Service. 

A SCIO constitution coupled with good governance has been crucial to our success, both of our Community Asset transfer processes required it, one for our workshop in Greenock 2020 and the second for the walled garden project in Gourock 2024.

A constitution that is regularly reviewed by the board and membership demonstrates a health democracy and functioning organisation to funders and partners.

It also encourages and provides opportunities for ‘new blood’ to help direct the shed and develop what we do.

For advice on setting up a SCIO, contact Inverclyde Council’s Community Learning and Development Team at CLD.Admin@inverclyde.gov.uk and the Development Trust Association Community Ownership Support Service at coss@dtascot.org.uk.