SURF's Up!

Each year, SURF (Scotland’s Independent Regeneration Network) and the Scottish Government team up to deliver the national SURF Awards for Best Practice in Community Regeneration. Creative Scotland has been working closely with SURF in recent years to promote and explore the role of creativity and the arts in community regeneration processes. Creative Scotland is proud to sponsor the 2013 SURF Awards Creative Regeneration category to highlight examples of success and innovation. If you know or are part of a successful regeneration project that deserves wider recognition, why not nominate it for a SURF Award this year? The deadline is 2pm, Monday 19th August, and all the details can be found here 

The purpose of the annual SURF Awards process is:

•        To recognise and reward best practice and innovation in community regeneration;

•        To promote and disseminate best practice across Scotland as means of sharing knowledge and    experience, and thereby enhancing future policy and practice;

•        To highlight the role that regeneration projects have in improving the wellbeing of individuals and communities.

There are five categories in this years awards,

• Town Centre Regeneration
• Support to Work
• Infrastructure and Social Benefits
• Creative Regeneration
• Community Led Regeneration

The benefits of entering include:

•        Demonstrate value to funders and partners

•        Develop a national profile

•        Acknowledge the achievements of staff and volunteers

•        Build on best practice: free developmental support for category winners

•        Share your success with additional showcase opportunities in 2014

The SURF Awards are open to any project or initiative, taking place in Scotland, which is currently in place or which has been completed within two years of the closing date. Entries are assessed by a panel of 20 independent judges, drawn from national regeneration-related organisations and community groups.

If you have any queries about any aspect of the 2013 SURF Awards application process, or any difficulties in accessing the application materials, please do not hesitate to contact Derek Rankine at SURF on 0141 585 6879 or email derek@scotregen.co.uk

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The SURF network aims to be the primary arena for debate on community regeneration in Scotland. It acts as a channel for information, consultation and policy proposals, based on the knowledge and experience of its extensive membership and wider connections.

SURF network activity includes seminars, conferences, international policy exchanges, annual awards for best practice and the distribution of the regeneration policy journal, Scotregen.

This all provides a truly independent network to explore current practice, experience and knowledge, with which to positively influence the development of successful regeneration policy and practice.

To read more head to their website