The Scottish Government has announced the launch of the prestigious national 2024 SURF Awards for Best Practice in Community Regeneration.

Some 80 guests attend a launch event, and received a specially recorded messages from previous SURF Award Winners; North Edinburgh Arts, Alchemy Film & Arts, DRC Youth Project, Aberdeenshire Council, Wild Skies Shetland and RIG Arts; and Awards partner the Scottish Government Regeneration Unit, formally announced the Awards open for applications.

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. The purpose is to highlight, celebrate and share the achievements of initiatives that address physical, social and economic challenges in communities across Scotland.

This year's five thematic categories include; Removing Barriers to Employability sponsored by the Institute of Employability Professionals, Creative Regeneration sponsored by Creative Scotland, Community Led Regeneration, Improving Scotland's Places sponsored by Scotland's Towns Partnership and finally an award for Housing and Regeneration sponsored by the Scottish Procurement Alliance.

The winners of the 2024 Awards will be announced by a leading Scottish Government Minister at a celebratory dinner event on the 5th December.

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The timescale for the 2024 SURF Awards is as follows

• Thursday 6 June - launch of Awards

• Monday 2 September - close of application period

• September - Shortlisting by 15 independent judges

• Late September to October - Visits and assessment period by judges

• Thursday 5 December – SURF Awards Presentation Dinner

A Scottish Government Spokesperson said: "We are pleased to continue supporting the SURF Awards in its 26th year, which presents an opportunity to recognise and celebrate some of the stand- out examples of community-led regeneration in Scotland.

The awards have a crucial role in showcasing best practice, in encouraging others, and in disseminating knowledge and learning across Scotland. They also highlight the wide-range of benefits that place-based community-led regeneration can deliver in supporting and enabling communities to help tackle issues of poverty, inequalities, boost local economies and tackle climate change. We look forward to learning more about this year's entrants, and wish them all the best of luck."

Brian MacDonald, SURF Chair said: "Last year we were able to celebrate our 25 years of acknowledging the range and scope of the tremendous work being undertaken in our communities.

"I have been both impressed and inspired by these activities. It's important, as we reflect over the last 25 years, that we look forward to the future and our desire to celebrate the work which continues to be done in our communities. It doesn't get any easier and it is therefore all the more important that we continue to provide the means to acknowledge the work which continues to be done.

"I look forward to seeing the entrants, best of luck to all of you."

Emma Scott, Events, Information and Communication Manager at SURF said: "For the 26th year the SURF Awards will again provide an opportunity to share best practice examples from communities throughout Scotland. Demonstrating what communities can achieve and providing a platform for them to tell their story. SURF looks forward to seeing this year's applications and hearing more about the remarkable work happening in communities across the country."

Karen Dick, Head of Place, Partnerships and Community Strategy at Creative Scotland said: "In our continuing partnership with SURF, Creative Scotland is a proud supporter of the Award for Best Practice in Creative Regeneration. We look forward to learning about the great work that community-led creative projects are achieving in their areas, which not only reflect local culture but also foster inclusion and a sense of pride and belonging among residents. Once more, these awards will inspire communities to harness the power of creativity to enact positive change and build a brighter future."