Published: 10 Dec 2021
RIG Arts project, image courtesy of SURF Awards
The outcomes of the prestigious 2021 SURF Awards for Best Practice in Community Regeneration were announced at a celebratory presentation event in Glasgow’s Voco Grand Central Hotel on Thursday 9 December 2021.
SURF were delighted to be back in the ballroom once again to celebrate the 23rd annual SURF Award programme.
Representatives of the five category winning initiatives for 2021 were personally congratulated on their inspiring work by the Scottish Government’s Minister for Public Finance, Planning and Community Wealth, Tom Arthur MSP, who unfortunately could not be there in person.
The SURF 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, which is particularly prevalent given the ongoing impacts of the pandemic.
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 Fraserburgh, before selecting the following category winners:
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 evening concluded with an after dinner speech from After Dinner Speaker Writer, Comedian and Co-Aurthor of 'Brickwork: A Biography of The Arches' David Bratchpiece. David is a writer, comedian and occasional actor. As a comedian he has performed around the UK, including at the Glasgow Comedy Festival and Edinburgh Fringe. His short plays have been shown around Scotland including The Tron Theatre and the Gilded Balloon. He recently co-authored the critically acclaimed book ‘Brickwork: A Biography of The Arches’ with fellow ex-Arches employee, author Kirstin Innes.
Since 2003, the SURF Awards have been delivered by SURF in partnership with the Scottish Government. SURF is also grateful for additional support provided by Architecture & Design Scotland, Creative Scotland, Highlands & Islands Enterprise, Scotland’s Towns Partnership, the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations and Skills Development Scotland towards the delivery of thematic categories.
Kate Wimpress, Chair of SURF, said: “The last 18 months have changed us all, with the least resourced facing the hardest of challenges. As the bids to ‘build back better’ become muted against multiple competing agendas and the comfort of business as usual, the SURF Awards show in practical terms how better can be done. Across sector, country and scale, the shortlisted projects demonstrate the resilience, ingenuity and compassion of our communities, and crucially show how we can do things differently for, by and with those who have been hit hardest, pre and post pandemic. All of the projects shine a bright light on what people can do when given the right tools and the go ahead. I thank them for their dedication and thank our committed set of judges for bringing their work to national attention.”
Euan Leitch, Chief Executive of SURF, said: “Judging the SURF Awards is not a clinical exercise in identifying excellence, it’s a journey into how communities have delivered regeneration. As in previous years this has been an emotional experience for the judges, witnessing first-hand the outcomes achieved and hearing about the barriers that were overcome to deliver needed change. The 2021 nominees amply display what can be achieved when communities are given the resource, support and agency needed for success.”
Community Wealth Minister Tom Arthur said: “The SURF Awards are a highlight of the calendar for community groups. They celebrate and share transformational initiatives and achievements that help address economic, social, environmental and physical challenges in communities across the country.
“The experience of the past 21 months has shown us what can be achieved when we look past traditional barriers to get the right service or support to people when they need it.
“We’ve long known that local knowledge and understanding is key to developing sustainable local responses and the SURF Awards provide welcome recognition for those who support their community to thrive.
“By working together with the same energy, imagination, and urgency as we approached the pandemic, we can drive a recovery that delivers more for all of Scotland.”
Karen Dick, from Creative Regeneration Award Sponsor Creative Scotland, said: “Visiting the shortlisted projects across Scotland this year, judges have seen the positive impact of people working together to address multiple challenges, from the COVID-19 pandemic to the climate crisis, and effect change in their communities. It’s more important than ever for the SURF Awards to shine a light on this work, and continue to champion community leadership. We’d like to congratulate everyone for their exceptional work in difficult circumstances.”
Each year, SURF and the Scottish Government team up to deliver the SURF Awards for Best Practice in Community Regeneration. The SURF Awards offer an opportunity for regeneration projects of all sizes to demonstrate value to funders and partners, support team building and develop a national profile. For more on the SURF Awards, including information on previous annual processes, visit the website.
SURF is a registered charity that aims to improve policy and practice in community regeneration in Scotland. It runs an annual activities programme to share knowledge and experience between its 300+ member organisations. In addition to the SURF Awards, SURF organises conferences, seminars, research, policy recommendation reports, study visits, and policy manifestos.
The Scottish Government has been SURF’s main SURF Awards partner since 2003. The devolved government for Scotland has a range of responsibilities which include: health, education, justice, rural affairs, housing and the environment. Its current Regeneration Strategy, Achieving a Sustainable Future, emphasises the need to tackle regeneration in a holistic way that addresses the physical, economic and social needs of Scotland’s communities.
Creative Scotland is the public body that supports the arts, screen and creative industries across all parts of Scotland on behalf of everyone who lives, works or visits here. It enables people and organisations to work in and experience the arts, screen and creative industries in Scotland by helping others to develop great ideas and bring them to life. Creative Scotland distributes funding provided by the Scottish Government and the National Lottery.