Tannahill team’s award is a ‘big win’ for Ferguslie Park
Centre dedicate regeneration title to the community
A bustling community hub is celebrating a top award for their work supporting residents in Ferguslie Park.
The Tannahill Centre won in the community-led regeneration category at the SURF good practice in regeneration awards.
Nominated alongside charities Bridgend Farmhouse Community Hub and Rom Romeha, the award win recognises the work undertaken by staff and volunteers at the Tannahill Centre to turn around its fortunes over the past few years.
Since it began, the centre has been transformed from an unwelcoming community space, to a trusted community hub that has led on the Covid-19 response in Ferguslie Park over the past year.
Staff and volunteers at the Tannahill Centre have been working round the clock since the beginning of the pandemic to ensure those who need help in the community are looked after.
The team have taken on a number of initiatives since March last year to support families and those in need by delivering over 5,000 meals to people in Ferguslie and the surrounding areas.
They have also designed and delivered activity packs for families which were delivered to people’s doors to help them keep children occupied.
They have worked hand in hand with smaller community groups such as Own Yer Bike and Darkwood Crew to make sure they reached out to as many people as possible.
Most recently, the centre helped provide 50 families with Google Chromebooks to ensure they had proper access to digital devices at home during the pandemic.
This year, due to Covid-19, the ceremony was held online for the first time.
The 150 attendees joined the live stream to hear about the nominees and watch Aileen Campbell MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government announce the winners.
On announcing the winners, Kirsty Fowler, on behalf of the judging panel said: “The Tannahill Centre utilised volunteers and community activists, who joined with the staff them, to improve local people’s lives.
“The centre demonstrated the strength of the programmes developed by the community, high levels of community engagement, and a commitment to create local jobs, training and volunteer opportunities.
“The judges enjoyed hearing about future opportunities and community anticipation to be involved in new services and activities.
“Further opportunities being developed by the community include a men’s club for wellbeing and sharing resources to inspire others to lead.
“When the covid pandemic started the community responded quickly, in partnership with the Tannahill Centre, before they had received any form of support aid.”
“The defining moment for the judges came when the group outlined that the community sought to look after neighbours, where support was not available within the Tannahill Centre.
“They took the ethos of the centre to the streets to continue the vibrant work being carried out by all involved.”
Accepting the award on behalf of the Tannahill Centre, Jamie Mallan, business transformation manager said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive this award, especially when we were up against some really inspiring community projects from across Scotland.
“Whilst this is a fantastic achievement for the Tannahill Centre, its staff and volunteers, this is also a big win for Ferguslie Park.
“We know that winning a SURF Award brings with it a lot of attention, and we hope that this attention will help challenge the unfair reputation that Ferguslie
Park has, and highlight that it’s a community full of passionate, creative and enterprising people.”
Running since 1998 the SURF Awards recognise and reward best practice and innovation in community regeneration.
Through the awards, SURF Scotland aims to promote and share examples of best practice.
It also aims to highlight the role that regeneration projects have in improving the wellbeing of individuals and communities.
More information on the awards and other winners can be found at www.surf.scot
We hope that this award helps challenge the unfair reputation that Ferguslie Park has