Telford Centre pilot independent-living housing scheme in Fort Augustus wins prestigious 2021 SURF Award at ceremony in Glasgow
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An innovative pilot housing scheme in Fort Augustus has landed a top national award.
Highland Council’s Telford Centre housing development acts as a “stepping stone” between independent-living and residential care.
It took first prize in housing and regeneration, one of five award categories at the prestigious 2021 SURF Awards for best practice in community regeneration at Glasgow’s Voco Grand Central Hotel on Thursday evening.
The Telford Centre development pilots a new type of house – a flexible, adapted property designed to support residents with an increasing need to stay at home and live independently for longer.
The six houses are self-contained, with intelligent design making kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and exterior space flexible and easily accessible to residents.
These include an additional room to the rear which can be used for anything from a small dining area to space for an overnight carer or guests.
Patio doors onto the garden from the lounge allow residents to sit out, while a large covered porch can act as a dry entranceway or a place to park a mobility scooter.
Residents receiving care will continue to do so through care at home visit packages, but, by grouping the homes together, care delivery can be much more efficient without long distances between clients, allowing them to spend more time on care.
The awards ceremony heard: “Situated in the grounds of a rural care home, the development has provided independent living solutions for the ageing population in Fort Augustus, whilst also freeing up general need housing and care home places.”
SURF is a regeneration forum embracing over 300 cross-sector member organisations across Scotland in partnership with the Scottish Government.
The purpose is to highlight, celebrate and share the achievements of initiatives that address physical, social and economic challenges in communities across Scotland, which is particularly prevalent given the ongoing impacts of the pandemic.
SURF’s panel of 20 independent judges were drawn from national regeneration bodies and community groups.
They carefully assessed all of the varied SURF Awards nominations in the five thematic categories, visiting 15 different shortlisted initiatives from Dumfries and Galloway to Fraserburgh, before selecting winners.
Kate Wimpress, chairwoman of SURF, said: “The last 18 months have changed us all, with the least-resourced facing the hardest of challenges.
“As the bids to ‘build back better’ become muted against multiple competing agendas and the comfort of business as usual, the SURF Awards show in practical terms how better can be done.
“Across sector, country and scale, the shortlisted projects demonstrate the resilience, ingenuity and compassion of our communities, and crucially show how we can do things differently for, by and with those who have been hit hardest, pre and post pandemic. The Scottish Government’s community wealth minister Tom Arthur said: “The SURF Awards are a highlight of the calendar for community groups.
“They celebrate and share transformational initiatives and achievements that help address economic, social, environmental and physical challenges in communities across the country.
“The experience of the past 21 months has shown us what can be achieved when we look past traditional barriers to get the right service or support to people when they need it.”
