Events

This free half-day SURF Awards workshop event in the Pearce Institute, Govan on 21^st May provides an opportunity to explore successful current approaches towards regenerating Scotland’s places with two highly commended projects from the ‘Improving Scotland’s Places’ category and the winner of the ‘Community Led Regeneration’ category highlighted in the 2025 SURF Awards process.

Workshop guests will firstly hear from project a representative in the ‘Community Led Regeneration’ category winner Scottish Men’s Sheds. Located throughout Scotland, Men’s Sheds transform disused and underutilised buildings into vibrant community hubs where men can come together to connect, and share skills and knowledge.

This will be followed by the first highly commended nominee in the ‘Improving Scotland’s Places’ category Two Towns Big Ideas – Banff & Macduff. Launched in December 2023 and delivered by Aberdeenshire Council, the project aimed to tackle town centre challenges in two Aberdeenshire towns through participatory budgeting.

This will be followed by the second highly commended nominee in the ‘Improving Scotland’s Places’ category Kenmore and District Revitalisation. Working collaboratively with all sections of the local community, Kenmore and District Community Council are improving the area, its amenities, and its attractiveness for residents and visitors.

The event will close with a chaired panel discussion on wider policy issues, featuring the Scottish Government, Scotland’s Towns Partnership, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and South of Scotland Enterprise.  

The SURF Awards ‘Improving Scotland’s Places’ judging panel team – comprising representatives of Scotland’s Towns Partnership, the Scottish Government, St Paul’s Youth Forum and Historic Environment Scotland – 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 Highlands and Islands Enterprise, South of Scotland Enterprise, Community Development Alliance Scotland (CDAS) and Bute Community Land Company – were impressed by the high levels of community engagement demonstrated.

This workshop will be delivered with support from Scotland’s Towns Partnership, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and South of Scotland Enterprise.

Programme

10:00      Registration and networking

10:30      Welcome and Introduction: Euan Leitch, Chief Executive, SURF

10:35      Presentation, Scottish Men’s Sheds: Jason Schroeder, Scottish Men’s Sheds Association

10:50      Presentation, Two Towns Big Ideas – Banff & Macduff: David McCubbin, Aberdeenshire Council

11:00      Presentation, Kenmore and District Revitalisation: TBC, Kenmore and District Community Council

11:10      Questions and Comments with project representatives

11:35      Policy Panel Discussion: 

• TBC, Scotland’s Towns Partnership
• TBC, Scottish Government
• Murray Allan, Highlands and Islands Enterprise
• Rob Davidson, South of Scotland Enterprise

12:05      Summary, Thanks and What’s Next: Euan Leitch and Emma Scott, Awards & Communications Manager, SURF

12:15      Close and Networking Lunch

You can read more about the 2025 SURF Award projects in the SURF Awards Publication.

For event enquires please email emma@surf.scot