The 2010 SURF Annual Conference - 24/03/2010

Sustaining and Reinventing Community Regeneration

The 2010 SURF Annual Conference

24th & 25th March, Edinburgh

Background

In a time of economic inactivity, dramatic reductions in public spending, and rising levels of unemployment and poverty, the focus of all regeneration efforts should be on practical, pro-active and cooperative responses to the very real threat of substantial degeneration across the board. 

This key Scottish regeneration event will look squarely at the challenges ahead; but its concentrated and constructive focus will be on linking people, projects and practice across the SURF network to examine the real opportunities for supporting more sustainable community regeneration in this time of change.

In cooperation with the Public Policy Network of the University of Edinburgh, the first day of the conference will link Scotland’s extensive regeneration oriented academic resources with the practical challenges at hand for practitioners and policy-makers.

The second day will focus on cooperation in policy and practice. Key speakers, debates, presentations and panel sessions will link the policy process to the realities of delivering positive change in Scotland’s most disadvantaged communities. In doing so, we will showcase the assets and resources that are at hand to support and sustain regeneration, despite the increasingly difficult economic climate and related challenges.

Key speakers include:

• Mike Foulis Director of Housing and Regeneration, Scottish Government
• Prof. Duncan MacLennan International expert on housing & regeneration (University of St. Andrews)
• Prof. Greg Lloyd Professor of Urban Planning, University of Belfast
• Jim McFarlane Managing Director of Operations, Scottish Enterprise
• Dominic Munro Head of Communities Analytical Services, Scottish Government

Programme

Day One Beyond Academic Interest   University of Edinburgh School of Social & Political Science Chrystal MacMillan Building 15a George Square Edinburgh EH8 9LD   12:30 Registration & Networking Lunch 1:30 Welcome & Context 1:45 SURF & Public Policy Network – Shared Interests 2:00 Panel Session 1: Beyond the Ivory Towers – Knowledge as a Resource for Change 2:45 Coffee Break   3:00 Panel Session 2: Practical Application – Local Authorities and Local Regeneration 3:45 Panel Session 3: Community – Point of Impact and Essential Feedback 4:00 The Role of Research in a Flourishing Scotland 4:30 Conclusions and What’s Next 5:00 Thanks and Close (with invitation to attend social/business networking event to 6:15pm)

Day Two All Together Now: Policy and Practice   Roxburghe Hotel 38 Charlotte Square Edinburgh EH2 4HQ   9:00 Registration & Coffee 9:45 Welcome & Introduction 10:00 Praxis: Practical Links with Academia 10:15 An International Perspective 10:45 National Government Support 11:15 Coffee, Networking and Examples of Success   11:45 The Big Question – Centralise to Sustain or Devolve to Deliver? Interactive Panel Session 12:15 Constructive Debates – Choice of 5 Themed and Facilitated Breakout Sessions 1:15 Lunch   2:00 A Shared Enterprise 2:20 Constructive Debates Feedback 2:40 Electronic Voting – Priorities & Opportunities 3:00 Making It Real: Resources & Support. Interactive Panel Session 3:40 National Priorities – Local Delivery 4:00 Summary 4:10 Close and Coffee

How to book

The cost of attending the conference is:

Both days

SURF members: £120 (ex VAT)

SURF non-members: £180 (ex VAT)

Day one only

SURF members: £50 (ex VAT)

SURF non-members: £80 (ex VAT)

Day two only

SURF members: £80 (ex VAT)

SURF non-members: £120 (ex VAT)

You can register online via the events booking page of this website by clicking here.

Alternatively, you can download a copy of the booking form by clicking here (PDF format).

Please do not hesitate to contact Derek at SURF with any enquiries about any aspect of the event.

Contact: Derek Rankine
Position: Events and Communications Officer
Tel: 0141 585 6879
Email: derek@scotregen.co.uk