No less than 37 projects have been entered into our 2012 Southern Staffordshire Regeneration Awards competition. Following a challenging short listing exercise the following projects are going forward to the final judging in November, and all will be showcased at the Awards event on the 5th December at the Action Trussell Moat House
Economic Regeneration: Staffordshire Business Support Fund; Dunston Business Village; Tamworth 4 Business Programme; Burton Workclubs; I54 Strategic Investment site; Burton Worklessness project; South Staffs Workclubs
Social regeneration: Tamworth Community Café; Cherry Orchard Garden Services Burntwood; Springfields Cannock; BMX Track Fazeley; Langan Tea Rooms Burton; STAR Foundation Burton
Environmental Regeneration: Bargates Burton; Dunston Business Village Phase 2; East Staffs Low Carbon Community; Lichfield Heritage Parks; Travelodge Burton; Foster Centre Rodbaston College; Rugeley Quarry
Cross Cutting Projects: Lichfield S106 Agreement funded projects; Cherry Orchard Garden Services; Himley Lane Swindon (rural housing exception site); Inner Burton Housing Initiative 2; The Dimbles Shops Lichfield; St Georges Park (FA Centre) Burton; Lichfield Heritage Parks
Over the past few years the Awards have helped play a role in putting the area firmly on the regions regeneration map, with community groups, local authorities, businesses and local partnerships across Southern Staffordshire once again all contributing entries to this year’s Regeneration Awards.
Though Southern Staffordshire may not, in the traditional sense, be seen as a centre for regeneration activity it has already benefited from a range of economic, social and environmental interventions though these are often overshadowed by those of its neighbouring more urban areas.
Commenting on the initiative Partnership Director Jeff Marlow notes, “We are keen to address regeneration in a holistic way and strive to make our communities more economically and environmentally sustainable in the longer term. An Awards Competition will be central to this as we seek to recognise and promote the breadth and quality of regeneration activities across southern Staffordshire. In addition to some of our flagship multi million pound projects we are, in particular, keen to showcase those enduring initiatives that are inspired by local people which enhance our local neighbourhoods and communities”
This month a small team of practitioners from across the area will meet to do the challenging but rewarding shortlisting exercise. Southern Staffordshire is one of the few non urban areas to run such an Awards Programme reflecting the importance that is given to economic, environmental and social regeneration across the area. It is likely that any project in the area will be able to enter as there are individual categories for economic, for social and for environmental regeneration projects
The Awards are part of a wider initiative to develop the knowledge base on regeneration using exemplar projects, promote and share best practice on regeneration schemes across southern Staffordshire, create a culture of, and reputation for, innovative regeneration, and to raise the profile and relevance of economic regeneration within the partner organisations.
Jeff added, “Whilst the Awards Competition will reward the best in Southern Staffordshire this is as much about supporting all the projects, organisations, individuals and groups involved in regeneration. We want to show that in many cases we have the ability to deliver, and that we are always looking to boost our capabilities and skills. This is key to whole initiative where we will be looking to support continuous improvement and development across all those involved in regeneration. As well as for projects in the specific themed categories we also have awards for individuals, and for young people.”
The Partnership is also keen to adopt as wide a definition of regeneration as possible noting firstly that towns, communities and business are continually going through a renewal process and secondly that small scale projects addressing community safety, service provision, skills development and environmental improvements are as relevant as many of the larger scale redevelopment programmes.
There are Award categories to cover Economic, Social and Environmental regeneration and renewal activities as discrete interventions. These would broadly reflect interventions that impact on business, people and place respectively. However we recognise that some activities have more than just an economic, social or environmental focus and we will therefore allow projects to be entered into up to two categories, and we have also included a “cross cutting” category for projects that clearly make contributions to all three areas of activity.
In addition we recognise the important role that individuals can have on regeneration activity and therefore this year we have a category to recognise an outstanding contribution made by an individual during the past 2 years, and also one for a group of young people who have made a contribution to local regeneration.
Our objectives are to:
- develop the knowledge base on regeneration using exemplar projects
- promote and share best practice on regeneration schemes across southern Staffordshire
- create a culture of, and reputation for, innovative regeneration, and
- raise the profile and relevance of economic, social and environmental regeneration within the partner organisations.
- Promote and celebrate volunteering
- to reward the best in regeneration across southern Staffordshire
The awards recognise work that was carried out or completed during the period 1st June 2010 to 31st August 2012. Judging will take place during November and will be carried out by an independent team of judges.