National awards for two county projects
An inspirational community network and the transformation of a derelict golf course have been recognised on a national scale.
Larkhall Community Network, which has partnerships between third sector, private sector, local volunteers, the council and other public sector bodies, received a prestigious Special Recognition Award at the 2020 SURF Awards for their Ambitious Partnership for Improvement.
And the success in creating Fernbrae Meadows community greenspace where once stood a derelict golf course in Rutherglen was shortlisted at the same Awards in the Scotland’s Most Improved Place category.
The SURF Awards are aimed at: recognising and rewarding best practice and innovation in community regeneration; promoting and disseminating best practice across Scotland as means of sharing knowledge and experience, and thereby enhancing future policy and practice; highlighting the role that regeneration projects have in improving the wellbeing of individuals and communities.
SURF is Scotland’s Regeneration Forum and was formed in 1991 to improve the lives and opportunities of residents in Scotland’s disadvantaged communities.
Larkhall Community Network’s award recognised its response to the Covid 19 pandemic.
Working with all of its partners and more than 50 volunteers, the network has provided a significant amount of support to the local community, and continues to do so.
Just a small sample of the vast amount of work undertaken by the Partnership, between April and October last year alone, saw: 1209 pick-me-up packs, including food, delivered; 133 sanitary packs delivered; 646 prescriptions delivered; 13,272 wellbeing calls made; £1000 of school uniform vouchers distributed; 5457 lunch meals delivered; 1700 soup and sandwiches delivered; 250 Hallowe’en bags distributed.
Throughout the pandemic, the work continued to grow, expand and adapt to respond to the everevolving pandemic
Nancy Barr, Chair of the Larkhall Community Network, said: “We feel privileged to have received the SURF Special Recognition award considering all of the amazing effort being made across Scotland to support communities through the pandemic.
“Recognition for the people who have given their time and effort to help others is well deserved and we are grateful to everyone who has supported this work, including our public and private sector partners.”
South Lanarkshire Council has been delighted to be able to support the network as an active member, assisting mainly through food supplies and keeping constant open lines of communication with all partners.
Council Leader John Ross said: “The award for Larkhall
Community Network is testament to the dedication to supporting their community of every individual and organisation involved.
“It highlights what can be achieved to help people most effectively in times of need, when all partners sitting round the table are equal and open to working in true partnership, and when all care deeply about achieving the right results.”