Showcasing Community Resilience

SURF Covid Cross Sector Connector (SCSC) Service

SURF is delivering the Covid Cross Sector Connector Service (SCSC) as part of a package of programmes within its 20/21 agreement with the Scottish Government.

The SCSC is an expanded version of SURF’s successful People and Sector Connector Service, which had successfully worked with local government to share and promote knowledge and best practice on topical regeneration policy themes. The original programme provided networking and shared learning opportunities for more than 100 participants with regeneration related responsibilities in local authorities across Scotland.

The knowledge and experience of those members will remain at the core of the enlarged service. It will now include a wider range of regeneration partners. including those working in the community, voluntary, academic and private sectors, in addition to other public bodies such as Health Boards and national agencies.

Read more about SURF’s plans in the short paper below.

SURF COVID Cross Sector Connector Service

Find out more about the 5 regional events at: https://www.surf.scot/surf-covid-cross-sector-connector-service-regional-events/ 

SURF Covid-19: Building Community Resilience Report

This report is a follow up to SURF’s well-received first COVID 19 report – Lessons from the Frontline.

That original report, which you can download below, was based on analysis of more than 150 responses from SURF’s extensive network of organisations delivering frontline services, and cross sector agencies which support them across Scotland.

Lessons from the Frontline identified ten common themes (see Appendix) and lessons learned from those activities. This practice based learning from SURF’s active network, was promptly shared to help Scottish Government, and other key regeneration partners, to connect with, learn from and sustain these frontline examples of cooperative resilient action in place based communities.

This second report, Building Community Resilience, focuses on three of those ten themes:

• Mutual support – Collaboration/partnership working
• Relaxation of rules – Flexible funding
• Online Scotland – Digital access

SURF Covid-19 Building Community Resilience Report

SURF Covid-19: Lessons from the Frontline Report

SURF’s role as Scotland’s Regeneration Forum has become even more crucial during the COVID 19 crisis, as our network of community groups, local authorities, national agencies and funders responded to the lockdown’s disproportionate impact on the poorest people and places.

A key part of SURF’s work is to identify and share learning which can inform and improve regeneration policy and practice across Scotland. 

Since lockdown began in March 2020, SURF has provided a platform for SURF’s network to tell their stories of challenges, responses and resilience. These frontline responses – more than 150 of them – represent a unique resource, providing inspiring examples of the ways in which communities and their partners have responded nimbly and effectively to immediate needs.  These stories from all over Scotland form the basis of SURF’s COVID report.

SURF COVID 19: LESSONS FROM THE FRONTLINE  is a sound demonstration of the practical potential for a more collaborative approach to rebuilding our communities based on authentic local assets and aspirations.

SURF Covid-19: Lessons from the Frontline Report

SURF Special Bulletin Series

Over a collectively challenging 15 week period SURF is delivering a series of special SURF e-bulletins showcasing positive examples written by organisations delivering services or providing support to communities across Scotland, whilst we navigate through the Covid crisis. These special bulletins are part of SURF’s re-purposed Covid-19 Sector Connector Service, delivered in partnership with the Scottish Government.

All of the articles are featured in full in the News section of the SURF website, which each bulletin article will link to.

Edition 1              Edition 2              Edition 3              Edition 4

Edition 5              Edition 6              Edition 7              Edition 8

Edition 9              Edition 10            Edition 11            Edition 12

Edition 13            Edition 14             Edition 15

SURF Map of Community Resilience

This map shows the geographies of COVID-19 response initiatives, gathered by SURF – Scotland’s Regeneration Forum. Click on a project, organisation or location to access a summary on the SURF website.