SURF – Scotland’s Regeneration Forum has announced that Girvan has joined its national regeneration programme.
Zanne Domoney-Lyttle has been appointed as SURF’s local facilitator, to lead on activities designed to improve the South Ayrshire town for residents and visitors.
SURF, a national charity that promotes the regeneration of places with economic challenges, runs an ‘Alliance for Action’ programme, which has supported communities in diverse places, including Dunoon (Argyll), Langholm (Dumfries & Galloway) and Govan (Glasgow), to progress regeneration plans and aspirations into ‘tangible’ improvements.
SURF’s Alliance for Action has been running since 2013 and is funded by the Scottish Government.
The part-time Girvan facilitator post is initially funded for two years. In the new role, Zanne will support local partners in the development of a range of regeneration activity. Following a series of consultation events, SURF will support enhanced collaboration on locally identified priorities.
Zanne previously held the role of project officer for Go Girvan, and she has also worked for Barr Community SCIO and the Girvan-based Adventure Centre for Education.
SURF policy manager, Derek Rankine, said: “Zanne has a keen passion for Girvan and is ideally placed to support positive change on a number of fronts. The recruitment panel was impressed with the depth of Zanne’s track record in community development, project management, fundraising and partnership working. Zanne has an excellent knowledge of local players and dynamics. We are delighted with the appointment.”
Zanne Domoney-Lyttle added, “I am really looking forward to engaging with local groups in Girvan, and helping projects progress and develop for the benefit of the community. This is an excellent opportunity for myself and for Girvan. I am excited about the possibilities my position with SURF brings.”
This summer, Zanne will be engaging with local stakeholders to discuss the nature of support that SURF can offer. That will be informed by recent community consultations, which identified several priority action areas, including improving the high street, attracting and retaining tourists, reusing vacant and derelict land and buildings, creating better connections between the town centre and seafront, and generating more economic opportunities for young people.
