A Drumnadrochit project which provides supported homes for the elderly has scooped a prestigious award in the community regeneration 2019 SURF awards.

Glenurquhart Care Project, a community based charity, won the Housing and Regeneration category and were congratulated on their inspiring work by the Scottish Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Communities, Aileen Campbell MSP.

The awards are delivered each year by SURF, a regeneration forum with over 300 cross-sector member organisations across Scotland, in partnership with the Scottish Government. The purpose is to highlight, celebrate and share the achievements of initiatives that address physical, social and economic challenges in communities across Scotland.

Margaret McSporran, Strengthening Communities & Place at HIE commented: “In recognising the importance of community engagement in regeneration, it’s a humbling and inspiring experience to witness the range and depth of activity being undertaken by communities across Scotland; to improve their place, enhance quality of life and to build resilience. The SURF Awards is a fantastic medium for promoting this work.” 

SURF’s panel of 20 independent judges are drawn from national regeneration bodies and community groups. They carefully assessed all of the varied SURF Awards nominations in five thematic categories, visiting 15 different shortlisted initiatives from Dumfries and Galloway to Inverness and Drumnadrochit, before selecting the following category winners:

• Community Led Regeneration: Ochiltree Community Hub (East Ayrshire). The community aimed to save the community centre by taking it into community ownership and expanding its service provision.
• Creative Regeneration: WHALE Arts (Wester Hailes, Edinburgh). The community led arts charity and social enterprise create the conditions for the community of Wester Hailes to work alongside artists and cultural practitioners to become agents for change.
• Housing and Regeneration: Glenurquhart Care Project (Drumnadrochit, Highlands). Led by the GCP, the ambitious project developed suitable housing and facilities in Drumnadrochit that enable elderly people to remain in the community and be cared for locally.
• Supporting Youth Employability: Achieving the Right Transferable Skills for Todays Job Market! (Dumfries and Galloway). Led by Dumfries and Galloway Council, the programme helps young people bridge the gap between education and employment, with a particular award focussing on careers in farming.
• Scotland’s Most Improved Place: Calton Barras (Glasgow). Over the last ten years, Glasgow City Council, in consultation with local residents, traders and other stakeholders, have worked to respond to challenges of deprivation and poor urban connectivity and environment through a series of strategies and action plans.

The five winning projects all demonstrate the value of a long-term approach to regeneration, with dedicated partners working strategically and inclusively to develop comprehensive plans and deliver real and sustainable benefits for all.

The SURF Awards Presentation Dinner was attended by 290 guests from a wide range of public, private, and third sector organisations. The evening concluded with an after dinner speech from renowned Actor and Director David Hayman, who spoke about his humanitarian organisation, Spirit Aid, which he founded to support children whose lives have been devastated by war, poverty, disease or lack of education and opportunity.

The SURF Awards are delivered by SURF in partnership with the Scottish Government, with additional support provided by Architecture & Design Scotland, Creative Scotland, HIE, Scotland’s Towns Partnership and Skills Development Scotland towards the delivery of the thematic categories.