Oban is Scotland’s Town of the Year
Oban has been crowned as Town of the Year in the 2024 Scotland Loves Local Awards. It has lifted the title after judges heard how townsfolk have banded together to “reinvent” the picturesque Argyllshire community. The accolade comes amid a remarkable year in which the town has shone in the global spotlight, delivering a multi-million […]
TV’s Sean Batty helps celebrate as remarkable Perth project lifts enterprising title
An enterprise which is tackling poverty and the climate crisis in Perth has picked up the Scotland Loves Local Most Enterprising Community Award. Letham Climate Challenge was set up to improve lives in a neighbourhood where income deprivation and rates of child poverty are higher than average. In the past year alone, it has seen […]
National accolade celebrates leading Ayrshire businessman’s tireless local work
A prominent businessman has lifted a top national award for the “profound” impact he has had championing and improving his community Kilmarnock-based optician Peter Telfer has lifted the Scotland Loves Local Place Leader Award in recognition of his dedication in championing his hometown and the wider area. He was surprised with the honour at a […]
Army veteran’s Falkirk High Street heroics honoured
A life-saving Army veteran credited with keeping a town centre safe and clean has been hailed as a High Street Hero. Alan Sayers spends his days ensuring that the heart of Falkirk is a welcoming, safe and friendly environment, on top of additionally working at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow. Those efforts – and […]
Friendships flourish in Dalry’s special community garden
The team behind a gardening project which has bloomed into a vibrant community hub has been named as the Scotland Loves Local High Street Hero for West Scotland. Awards judges heard how Dalry Community Garden is creating new opportunities for people, as well as a supply of fruit and vegetables to residents of the North Ayrshire […]
Parliamentary praise for cake and coffee trail
The creation of a tasty town trail has been praised in the Scottish Parliament. The Kirky Cake and Coffee Trail in Kirkintilloch, East Dunbartonshire, was one of three launched across the country during Scotland Loves Local Week. It is part of a pilot project involving Scotland’s Improvement Districts (SIDs) technology firm Vicinity to help showcase […]
Thank you to everyone who supported Scotland Loves Local Week 2024
Scotland Loves Local Week 2024 was a resounding success – and thanks go to everyone who took part. Across the country, communities used our seven days of action as a platform to demonstrate how the simple act of choosing local will have a profound impact on their future. By getting behind the people, businesses and […]
Think local first: ‘Community’s support will allow our town to flourish’
Family business owner Douglas MacMillan knows all too well the critical difference that people choosing local makes, creating a thriving community which everyone can be part and proud of. He runs town centre business Jacks the Ironmonger, as well as being vice-chair of Discover Lanark Business Improvement District. The Hyndford Place enterprise, pictured below, has […]
Historic attraction makes commitment to boosting economy by choosing local
An award-winning historic Ayrshire attraction and community hub has vowed to do everything it can to help boost the region’s economy. The charity (SC031541), that oversees the daily running of Dundonald Castle and owns the Visitor Centre, has signed the Scotland Loves Local Pledge, promising to prioritise spending and supporting local enterprises whenever it can. […]
Glasgow Gift Card injects more than £8m into city economy
More than £8m has so far been spent with Glasgow businesses using a gift card which locks money into the city’s economy. There are just over 950 businesses across the city where the Scotland Loves Local Glasgow Gift Card can be spent. And there are hopes that millions of pounds more could follow as more businesses […]