15 May 2025
Investing in place-based regeneration: SURF Awards Shared Learning Event
This free half-day SURF Awards workshop event in Civic House, Glasgow on 15th May provides an opportunity to explore successful current approaches towards regenerating Scotland’s places with two winning projects from the ‘Improving Scotland’s Places’ and ‘Community Led Regeneration’ categories highlighted in the 2024 SURF Awards process.
Overview
Workshop guests will firstly hear from project a representative in the ‘Improving Scotland’s Places’ category winner Molendinar’s Flourishing. St Paul’s Youth Forum, a crucial community anchor organisation, have been supporting the transformation of the area, including the reopening of Molendinar Community Centre, creation of a community farm, and the opening of a world-class community golf facility.
This will be followed by the ‘Community Led Regeneration’ winner Bute Community Forest. The project aims to increase access to woodland assets, through recreation and environmental education activities.
The event will close with a chaired panel discussion on wider policy issues, featuring the Scottish Government and Scotland’s Towns Partnership.
The SURF Awards ‘Improving Scotland’s Places’ judging panel team – comprising representatives of Scotland’s Towns Partnership, the Scottish Government, South of Scotland Enterprise and the Improvement Service – were struck with the wide ranging programme of activity that has secured the participation of public, private, community and third sector organisations, all working together from the start. The SURF Awards ‘Community Led Regeneration’ judging panel team – comprising representatives of Foundation Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland, Govan HELP and Bellsmyre Development Trust – were impressed by the high levels of community engagement demonstrated.
This workshop will be delivered with support from Scotland’s Towns Partnership.
Programme
10:00 Registration and networking
10:30 Welcome and Introduction: Euan Leitch, Chief Executive, SURF
10:35 Presentation, Molendinar’s Flourishing: Neil Young, St Paul’s Youth Forum
10:50 Presentation, Bute Community Forest: Richard Whitcomb, Bute Community Land Company
11:05 Questions and Comments with project representatives
11:30 Policy Panel Discussion:
- Mhairi Donaghy, Scotland’s Towns Partnership/Scottish Futures Trust
- Tricia Ma and Mark Lawson, Scottish Government
11.50 SURF Manifesto – Call for feedback: Euan Leitch, SURF
12:05 Summary, Thanks and What’s Next: Euan Leitch and Emma Scott, Events, Information & Communications Manager, SURF
12:15 Close and Networking Lunch
About the SURF Awards
Please visit www.surf.scot for more information on the SURF Awards and the outcomes of the 2024 process.
Check the SURF website for information on how to apply for the 2025 SURF Awards, which will launch on Thursday 5th June and close for applications at 5pm on Monday 1st September.
