Scotland Loves Local Climate and Net Zero Town Award
Winner: The Furniture Project, Stranraer

A social enterprise which tackles poverty by reusing and recycling has landed a top prize for its vast work to help the environment and community.
The Furniture Project, Stranraer, was crowned winner of the Climate and Net Zero Town category, sponsored by Green Action Trust.
Judges were impressed by The Furniture Project’s commitment to social justice across Wigtownshire – backing the local response to the climate crisis by encouraging everyone to think more sustainably, particularly in providing affordable homeware options.
Its Community Reuse Shop receives and collects donations of household and office goods from the community for reuse and recycling throughout the district.
In the last year alone it has diverted 197 tonnes away from landfill – saving 117,221 kilograms of carbon emissions. The project has an agreement with Dumfries and Galloway Council to provide reuse services in Wigtownshire.
The ambitious enterprise, based at Stranraer Zero Waste Park, says it hopes to become the leader in landfill diversion in Dumfries and Galloway, working in partnership with public, private and third sector organisations.
Donna McKeand, Programme Manager at The Furniture Project, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to be winners. We’re super-proud.”
Employability Development Co-ordinator Aimee Green added: “The other finalists were fantastic and we would have been happy had they won, but it’s great that we did.”
The Furniture Project is also a vehicle for wider work supporting vulnerable people, providing skills, qualifications and jobs for young people, as well as operating a community cafe – which delivered 42,000 meals at the peak of Covid-19 – and projects such as winter warmth clothing, free school uniforms and Christmas hampers in partnership with Dumfries and Galloway Council’s anti-poverty team and social service teams.
It is also the vehicle for a number of other community initiatives, including Stranraer Scottish Week, Christmas events, and school visits to teach the importance of sustainability and Rhins Active Travel, working with schools and college students to reuse bicycles.
The runners-up in the category were Linlithgow Community Development Trust (Linlith – Go-Solar) and Visit Inverness Loch Ness TBID.
Runners - Up

Linlithgow Development Trust (Linlith- Go – Solar)

Visit Inverness Loch Ness TBID
Climate Town was sponsored by Green Action Trust
