2024 SURF Awards Shortlist Unveiled for Community Regeneration Excellence.

Scotland’s Regeneration Forum, SURF, is thrilled to unveil the 2024 shortlist for the esteemed SURF Award national awards scheme. This programme highlights successful responses to regeneration challenges in communities across Scotland, showcasing innovative projects that make a real difference.

The SURF Awards, organised annually by SURF in collaboration with the Scottish Government, have been running for 26 years. With over 300 member organisations spanning various sectors across Scotland, SURF is dedicated to promoting regeneration efforts throughout the country.

After meticulously reviewing applications from various regions like Orkney to Dumfries and Galloway, a panel of 19 independent judges from national bodies and community groups selected 15 projects for the 2024 shortlist. These projects are categorised as follows:

Housing and Regeneration:

Water Row Phase 1 (Govan)
An Faire Mor Housing (Colonsay)
Kirkhope Steading (Scottish Borders)

Removing Barriers to Employability:

DFN Project SEARCH Ninewells (Dundee)
Lone Parents, Poverty & Work (Fife)
Family Finances Key Workers (Glasgow)

Creative Regeneration:

Creative Recovery Inverclyde (Inverclyde)
Narture CIC (Ayr)
Music Broth (Glasgow)

Community Led Regeneration:

Cranhill Development Trust (Glasgow)
Conversion of Sanday Kirk (Orkney)
Bute Community Forest (Argyll & Bute)

Improving Scotland’s Places:

Kilmarnock Place-Based Projects (East Ayrshire)
Kenmore District Revitalisation (Perth & Kinross)
Molendinar’s Flourishing (Glasgow)

Since 1998, the SURF Awards have recognised successful regeneration projects of all sizes across Scotland. This year’s shortlisted projects include diverse initiatives ranging from major place-making investments to community-led activities in both urban and rural settings.

The judging panel will conduct site visits in October to gain a deeper understanding of the impact of these projects and the issues they address before selecting the winners in each category.

The winners will be announced by Tom Arthur MSP, Scottish Government Minister for Employment and Investment, on Thursday 5 December at the 2024 SURF Awards Presentation Dinner event in Glasgow’s Voco Grand Central Hotel.

The 2024 SURF Awards are presented by SURF in partnership with the Scottish Government, with support from Creative Scotland, Scotland’s Towns Partnership, and Scottish Procurement Alliance.

Speaking about the importance of the SURF Awards, Investment Minister Tom Arthur stated, “Regeneration, especially community-led initiatives, plays a vital role in enhancing the economic, social, and environmental well-being of people in Scotland. It is inspiring to see what communities can achieve, and these awards acknowledge those efforts and encourage others to create positive changes in their communities.”

SURF Chair Brian MacDonald shared, “In these challenging times, it is crucial to acknowledge and celebrate the hard work and achievements of those committed to community regeneration. The dedication and success of these projects serve as inspiration for others striving to make a difference in their communities.”

Emma Scott from SURF concluded, “The 2024 SURF Awards shortlist and the application process have once again highlighted the incredible work being done in communities across Scotland. We look forward to sharing more about the impactful projects recognised this year in the months ahead.”