Gairloch and Loch Ewe Action Centre delighted with SURF Award nomination for Wester Ross regeneration work
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THE efforts of a Wester Ross group working to regenerate the area through a variety of initiatives has seen it shortlisted for an award.
GALE Action Forum represents communities in the Gairloch and Loch Ewe area.
It’s purpose is to socially, environmentally and economically regenerate the area through participatory community action and community owned social enterprise.
The largest and best known of its projects is the GALE Centre, which acts as a community hub, providing year-round employment for around 25 employees.
GALE has been shortlisted in the SURF Awards 2023. The national awards scheme celebrates successful responses to regeneration challenges across Scottish communities.
GALE has been named as one of the three finalists in the Community Led Regeneration category.
GALE's managing director, Janet Miles, said: “Our operating model maximises the benefits of tourism for our community by involving as many local people as possible in servicing the needs of visitors and spreading visitor spend around as many local individuals and businesses as possible. Nowadays this is called community wealth building’."
SEE ALSO: Thistle Awartds nod for GALE
The SURF Awards have been identifying successful regeneration projects of all sizes across Scotland since 1998. It is a regeneration forum with over 300 cross-sector member organisations.
This year's shortlisted projects feature major place-making investments, employability initiatives, and activities delivered by community groups and arts organisations from both rural and urban contexts.
The 2023 SURF Awards are delivered in partnership with the Scottish Government, with additional support from Architecture & Design Scotland, Creative Scotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Institute of Employability Professionals, Scotland’s Towns Partnership and Scottish Procurement Alliance.
The shortlisted projects were selected by an independent panel of 15 judges who assessed applications from Shetland to Dumfries and Galloway. The winners of the five categories will be announced by Scottish Government Minister for Local Government Empowerment and Planning, Joe Fitzpatrick MSP, on December 7 at the 25th Anniversary SURF Awards Presentation Dinner.
GALE has voiced its gratitude to all those involved in the projects, collaborations, and initiatives that have led to the shortlisting.
The centre, operational since 2012, houses a community café, shop and tourist information.
More on the SURF Awards
SURF was established in 1992 as a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee. It is directed by a board of voluntary directors drawn from across its wide cross-sector membership of over 300 organisations. It is a charity, registered with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator.
SURF members range in size from small community groups to some of Scotland’s largest private companies. Membership organisations also include local authorities, housing associations, health boards, academic institutions, professional bodies, voluntary organisations and charities.
Since its inception, it has operated from two basic principles:
• Successful and sustainable regeneration is only achievable when all aspects of physical, social, economic and cultural regeneration are addressed in a holistic approach.
• The people who are the intended beneficiaries of any regeneration effort must be meaningfully involved in the process if it is to be successful in planning, implementation and maintenance.
