Scotland Loves Local Innovative Town Award
Winner: Creative Crieff and Radio Earn
A youth-led community radio station which has championed talent and created jobs has been rewarded for its positive impact.
The work of Creative Crieff and Radio Earn were named as winners of the Innovative Town category at the Scotland Loves Local Awards.
Judges decided that the accolade should head to Perth and Kinross after hearing how the station – launched in May, broadcasting to Strathearn and Strathallan – has become a community hub.
Not only is it promoting local businesses and the area’s economy, it has provided jobs for two young producers who are aged under 25 and paid a Real Living Wage.
In an interview aired as part of the celebration, Luke Duffin of Radio Earn said: “This was born as a way to communicate with the people here, to get them involved with what’s going on in the community and act as a catalyst to other things which are going on. “
Rachel Cook added: “It’s a very creative place that we live in. We want to enhance and be at the hub of that, showing that we are for the community and by the community at the same time.”
Runners - Up
Kilmarnock Business Association and East Ayrshire Council: The work done to roll-out the East Ayrshire Gift Card in Kilmarnock and surrounding towns has not only been credited with bringing a significant boost to the local economy, but also helping families to buy the likes of school clothes for their children, building on the work of Kilmarnock’s Town Centre Team to support the area’s businesses.
Dunbartonshire Chamber of Commerce and Milngavie Town Centre BID: Highlighted as a great example of the power that collaboration brings, its Digital Dunbartonshire campaign during the Covid-19 pandemic galvanised a range of communities, supporting the ethos of the Scotland Loves Local campaign. Highlights included more than 550 hours of digital support and mentoring from businesses and supporting a new eco-delivery by bicycle business covering Milngavie and Bearsden.
Innovative Town was sponsored by Commsworld
