Nominate your Highland community champion for the 2022 Scotland Loves Local Awards – last year's recipients included an alliance involving Nairn Business Improvement District, Nairn Community and Arts Centre, Green Hive and Nairn Bowling Club
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Residents in Inverness and the rest of the Highlands will have a chance to nominate their local community champions who are making the region a better place to live.
Nominations open for the 2022 Scotland Loves Local Awards to recognise those whose dedication and innovation is making life better and shaping a stronger future.
The awards aim to see heroics on the high street rewarded along with efforts to tackle climate change locally.
Artistic flair, work to create new town centre homes, encourage enterprise, make streets more attractive, and digital innovation will also be recognised.
Organised by Scotland’s Towns Partnership (STP), the awards celebrate all that’s great about local towns and neighbourhoods and tireless work taking place to secure a stronger future in them.
Phil Prentice, STP's chief officer, said: “Whether through innovation or sheer determination, people and groups across the Highlands are working relentlessly to improve lives. Some are taking amazing action to make their communities more attractive. Others are creating jobs and leading the charge towards net-zero.
“The Scotland Loves Local Awards are a chance to recognise and thank them. To do that, we need you to tell us about the inspiring people and projects whose dedication and innovation is making a real difference where you live.”
This is the second year in which the awards have been held – among the recipients in 2021 was an alliance involving Nairn Business Improvement District, Nairn Community and Arts Centre, Green Hive and Nairn Bowling Club.
They took the Climate Town Award for the key role they are taking in the town's drive towards net-zero, including embracing solar power and eliminating single-use plastics.
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.
Community wealth minister Tom Arthur said: “These awards recognise those who are doing vital work to revitalise town centres and support local businesses and communities across Scotland. That is why the Scottish Government is supporting the Scotland Loves Local programme to help people live well locally and boost town centres.
“These awards are inspiring examples of the possible, showcasing the wonderful work undertaken by communities and local partners to make a real difference to the lives of people.”
The award categories are:
• High Street Hero – an individual or organisation making an exceptional difference in their community;
• Climate and Net-Zero Towns;
• Creative Town;
• Streets and Spaces;
• Digital Town;
• Town Centre Living;
• Enterprising Community.
Nominations can be made at the awards website 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 5pm on Friday, September 2, 2022. Winners will be announced at a celebration being held on Wednesday, November 23, as part of the annual Scotland’s Towns Conference.
