News & Resources

In what has been an unprecedented year for everyone SURF is pleased to announce the 2020 shortlist for our prestigious national awards scheme, which showcases success in responding to regeneration challenges in communities across Scotland. This year pays particular focus to projectsand communities that have come together to support those most in need through current
challenges resulting from the Covid pandemic.

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.

By SURF - since lockdown began in March 2020, SURF (Scotland's Regeneration Forum) has provided a platform for SURF’s network to tell their stories of challenges, responses and resilience. 

Since lockdown began in March 2020, SURF (Scotland's Regeneration Forum) has provided a platform for SURF’s network to tell their stories of challenges, responses and resilience. 

The Urban Economy Forum (UEF) in collaboration with UN-Habitat is organizing the second “Urban Economy Forum 2020” virtually in conjunction with World Habitat Day on October 5^th and 6^th, 2020 in Toronto, Canada.

The Communities Recovery Fund is part of the £25m Third Sector Community & Recovery Programme announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government on 2^nd September.

This report introduces and walks through the process that has been used in Cupar, Fife to create the UK's first Digital Improvement District, Cupar Now. 

Established in 1986, CLES is the national organisation for local economies – developing progressive economies for people, planet and place. We work by thinking and doing.

Scottish Government - All of Scotland’s 32 local authorities and more than 25 individual community regeneration projects will receive a share of £30 million of new investment for regeneration and town centres.

VisitScotland is encouraging Scots to explore their local area with the social media campaign #HameTownTourist. 

National Library of Scotland - To play our part in the coronavirus pandemic response, the National Library of Scotland is documenting the impact of the pandemic on Scottish business and the economy. We are doing this as part of our legislative mandate to collect, preserve, and protect documents that reflect Scotland’s heritage.

The Age-Friendly Living Ecosystem project team, part of the Intergenerational National Network, is gathering further ideas on how best to design culture-friendly places and spaces.

CHERF are looking for your ideas and blue sky thinking on structural / strategic solutions that could fundamentally change the heritage landscape for the better. Closing date 21 September 2020. 

By Andrew McRae, (FSB Scotland Policy Chair) - 2020 has been a year like no other, coronavirus has turned life as we know it on its head. This has been true for everyone including for small business owners and entrepreneurs across the country who were forced into new ways of working and, for many, a prolonged state of hibernation.

Chair of STP, Professor Leigh Sparks gives an overview of the current Town Centre Action Plan review. Professor Sparks was asked by Scottish Government to chair the expert group which leads the review. This article was originally published in his blog, Stirling Retail.

Nominations sought to recognise remarkable efforts by those who work in our town centres and high streets during the Covid-19 lockdown and re-opening.