Scotland Loves Local Awards are seeking your nominations across Ayrshire, as people are being urged to make their voices heard to honour the inspirational and innovative work making the region a better place to live.

Organised by Scotland’s Towns Partnership (STP), the awards will celebrate all that is great about our towns and neighbourhoods.

STP Chief Officer Phil Prentice said: “Day in, day out people are working tirelessly to make communities across Ayrshire better places to live, improving the lives of those around them. The Scotland Loves Local Awards are a chance to say thank you for all that they do.

The award categories include: High Street Hero, Place leader, Climate Town, Creative Town, Innovative Town, Streets and Spaces, and Town Centre Living.

Nominations can be made at www.lovelocal.scot/awards, 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 Friday, September 10 2021 with winners announced in November.

Scotland’s Community Wealth Minister, Tom Arthur MSP, is backing the call for award nominations.

He said: “Over the past year our communities have come together to support each other through the pandemic, from supporting local businesses to helping vulnerable neighbours.

“The Scotland Loves Local Awards importantly recognise those who have gone above and beyond. If you know of a person or organisation that has made a difference, I would urge you to nominate them to receive well-deserved recognition.

“The Scottish Government has committed to a £10 million Scotland Loves Local programme to help revitalise our town centres. As we recover from the pandemic we are pushing forward with an ambitious agenda of economic transformation by building wealth in local communities and delivering greater, greener and fairer prosperity.”

, as the culmination of Scotland’s Towns Conference - this year being staged as an online showcase in a series of events over three days.