Nominations are being sought to recognise and reward those working tirelessly to secure a stronger future for people and places across the country
Special awards will be presented to honour the inspirational and innovative work making Scotland’s communities better places to live.
A high street hero, place leader and those leading the charge to tackle climate change will be among those recognised in the Scotland Loves Local Awards.
Nominations open today (Monday 28 June), with people being urged to speak up about the individuals and organisations making a difference to life in their area.
The awards are being organised by Scotland’s Towns Partnership (STP) to celebrate all that is great about towns and neighbourhoods - recognising creativity and commitment towards shaping a sustainable, successful future.
STP chief officer Phil Prentice said: “Day in, day out people are working tirelessly to make communities across Scotland better places to live, improving the lives of those around them. The Scotland Loves Local Awards are a chance to say thank you for all that they do.
“We need people to help us highlight the people, places and projects making communities cleaner, greener, stronger and fairer whether through design, delivery or sheer determination.”
Scotland Loves Local, spearheaded by STP with the support of the Scottish Government, is the campaign encouraging everyone to strengthen their community by supporting the businesses and people around them.
Scotland’s community wealth minister, Tom Arthur MSP, is backing the call for award nominations.
He said: “Over the past year our communities have come together to support each other through the pandemic, from supporting local businesses to helping vulnerable neighbours.
“The Scotland Loves Local Awards importantly recognise those who have gone above and beyond. If you know of a person or organisation that has made a difference, I would urge you to nominate them to receive well-deserved recognition.
“The Scottish Government has committed to a £10 million Scotland Loves Local programme to help revitalise our town centres. As we recover from the pandemic we are pushing forward with an ambitious agenda of economic transformation by building wealth in local communities and delivering greater, greener and fairer prosperity.”
The award categories are:
- High Street Hero (a business, organisation, constituted charity or social enterprise - including individuals associated with the organisation - which has gone above and beyond to support those around them)
- Place leader
- Climate Town
- Creative Town
- Innovative Town
- Streets and Spaces
- Town Centre Living
Nominations can be made online, where full category criteria can also be found. There, you can briefly share the details of your nominee and why you would like to see them recognised.
The closing date for nominations is Friday 10 September 10. Winners will be announced in a virtual celebration to be broadcast on Thursday 25 November, as the culmination of Scotland’s Towns Conference - this year being staged as an online showcase in a series of events over three days.
