This free half-day SURF Awards workshop event in the Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh on 2nd May provides an opportunity to explore successful current approaches towards regenerating Scotland’s places with three winning projects from the ‘Most Improved Place’, ‘Housing’ and ‘Community Led Regeneration’ categories highlighted in the 2018 SURF Awards process.
SURF and the Scottish Government work together to identify and highlight excellence and innovation in initiatives that address social and economic challenges in disadvantaged communities through the annual SURF Awards for Best Practice in Community Regeneration.
Workshop guests will firstly hear from project a representative in the ‘Most Improved Place’ category winner the Orkney island of Westray. The community owned Westray Development Trust’s mission is to develop the economic, social and cultural sustainability of Westray by harnessing the quality of its resources, people and island environment. It has delivered a number of projects with real practical benefits for the island’s diverse demographic and its economy.
This will be followed by input from the ‘Housing’ winner Chapelpark: A new beginning. This Angus Council-led project successfully transformed a B-listed former school into 29 high quality affordable rented homes in the town centre. An eco-minimalist ethos involving high thermal insulation and airtightness, and passive solar gain, was used to provide comfortable and efficient homes, which the Council pre-allocated to existing tenants.
Finally, we will hear from the ‘Community Led Regeneration’ winner Papay Community Cooperative, based on the Orkney island of Papa Westray. In 1979, Papay Community Cooperative was established by local community members in response to an announcement that the island’s only shop was set to close. The group’s initial aim was to develop a community shop, accommodation for tourists, and a venue for community activities. It delivered these by repurposing a row of empty farm cottages, known as Beltane House, which have helped safeguard the island’s future.
Following an open discussion session with the projects attendees will hear from Scottish Government representatives who will give an overview of current priorities regarding place based regeneration. This will be followed by a short presentations from Scotland’s Towns Partnership on the role they provide in helping to regenerate Scotland’s towns and Highlands and Islands Enterprise on their current focus on place based regeneration. The floor will then be open for wider discussion on national policy.
Programme
10:00am Welcome and Coffee
10:30am Introduction: Andy Milne, Chief Executive, SURF
10:40am Presentation, Westray: Isobel Thompson, Westray Development Trust
10:50am Presentation, Chapelpark: Lynne Warburton, Angus Council
11.00am Presentation, Papay Community Co-op: Jennifer Foley, Papay Community Co-op
11:10am Open Discussion, Questions and Comments with representatives from the projects
11:30pm Presentation, Place-Based Regeneration: Susan Bolt, Scottish Government (TBC)
11:40pm Presentation, Scotland’s Towns Partnership: Phil Prentice, STP
11:50pm Presentation, Highlands and Islands Enterprise: TBC, HIE (TBC)
12.00pm Open Discussion on National Policy
12:30pm Summary, Thanks and What’s Next: Andy Milne and Emma Scott, Information, Communications & Events Officer, SURF
12:40pm Networking Lunch
When and Where
Date and Time: Thurs 2nd May 2019, 10am-1.30pm
Venue: The Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High St, Edinburgh EH1 1SR
Booking
To book a place at this free event please complete the booking form at the SURF event page here.
Supporting Scotland's Towns
Supporting Scotland's Towns