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. 2024 marks the 26 years of the SURF Awards process.

Having assessed applications from Orkney to the Dumfries and Galloway, across five categories, SURF’s independent panel of 19 judges, drawn from national bodies and community groups, have agreed upon 15 shortlisted projects for 2024. By category, they are:

Housing and Regeneration:

• Water Row Phase 1 (Govan)
• An Faire Mor Housing (Colonsay)
• Kirkhope Steading (Scottish Borders)

Removing Barriers to Employability:

• DFN Project SEARCH Ninewells (Dundee)
• Lone Parents, Poverty & Work (Fife)
• Family Finances Key Workers (Glasgow)

Creative Regeneration:

• Creative Recovery Inverclyde (Inverclyde)
• Narture CIC (Ayr)
• Music Broth (Glasgow)

Community Led Regeneration:

• Cranhill Development Trust (Glasgow)
• Conversion of Sanday Kirk (Orkney)
• Bute Community Forest (Argyll & Bute)

Improving Scotland’s Places:

• Kilmarnock Place-Based Projects (East Ayrshire)
• Kenmore District Revitalisation (Perth & Kinross)
• Molendinar’s Flourishing (Glasgow)

Since 1998, the SURF Awards have identified successful regeneration projects of all sizes from across Scotland. This year’s shortlisted projects feature major place-making investments, employability initiatives, and activities delivered by community groups and arts organisations in both urban and rural contexts, from the Scottish Borders to the Inner Hebrides.

The judging panel will be carrying out visits throughout October to all of these diverse projects to develop a better understanding of their impact and the situations they are responding to. Before deciding on a winning project in each category.

The five category winners will then be announced by Scottish Government Minister for Employment and Investment, Tom Arthur MSP, on the evening of Thursday 5 December at the 2024 SURF Awards Presentation Dinner event in Glasgow’s Voco Grand Central Hotel.

The 2024 SURF Awards are delivered by SURF in partnership with the Scottish Government, with additional support from Creative Scotland, Scotland’s Towns Partnership and Scottish Procurement Alliance.

Investment minister Tom Arthur said: “The SURF awards are an excellent opportunity to recognise and mark the dedication and hard work that takes place in communities across Scotland.

“Regeneration – and specifically community led-regeneration – plays an important role in improving people’s economic, social and environmental wellbeing. The Scottish Government’s ongoing work with SURF showcases what communities can achieve and helps inspire others to make positive changes in the places they live.

“I congratulate all of those who have been shortlisted and look forward to presenting the successful projects with their awards later in the year.”

SURF chair Brian MacDonald reflected: “Last year, SURF celebrated 25 years of the SURF Awards. This year we carry on that tradition in times which continue to pose challenges for community regeneration. In these circumstances it continues to be important to recognise the endeavours and successes of those involved in efforts which go the extra mile to bring advantages for their communities, and which can act as an inspiration for others.”

SURF’s Emma Scott concluded: “Yet again the shortlist, and wider application process, for the 2024 SURF Awards has showcased the wealth of inspirational activity taking place in communities throughout Scotland. SURF looks forward to sharing more about the work being done by this year’s shortlisted projects over the coming months.”