A number of businesses across South Ayrshire are celebrating success after being crowned High Street Heroes as part of the ‘Scotland Loves Local’ campaign, which is coordinated by Scotland’s Towns Partnership.
Scotland Loves Local is a national campaign that encourages people to shop local to help support their town centres and high streets to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. The initiative is part of the Town Centre Recovery Campaign, led by Scotland’s Towns Partnership, alongside partners such as the Scottish Government.
The High Street Heroes were nominated by people in community and sought to recognise organisations and individuals who went the extra mile to support their communities during the pandemic. South Ayrshire’s regional champion is Daisy Chain/Prestwick Post Office; Unity Grill in Ayr received two highly commended awards; and a number of other local organisations received formal recognition too. You can read the full list of South Ayrshire’s High Street Heroes here.
Stephen and Cherlene Cooper, owners of Daisy Chain/ Prestwick Post Office, said:
“We’re really surprised, proud and grateful to have been nominated for this award. We have a duty to our customers to provide them with an excellent service, and in turn we are privileged to have the support of our local community who have helped to keep our business running for the last 14 years, especially over the last nine months.”
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in uncertain times for us all, and really has highlighted the importance of visiting our towns, supporting our retailers and shopping local first.
Our High Street Heroes and other local businesses look forward to welcoming you back on to our high streets when it is safe to do so.
A spokesman for the Scotland Loves Local campaign said:
"The nominations received from across South Ayrshire for the High Street Heroes Awards stand testament to the amazing ways in which people have rallied to support their communities during the pandemic.
"From helping the most vulnerable to creating safe environments in which to do business, the region's heroes have been there for you when you have needed them most.
"Our congratulations and thanks go to the teams at Prestwick Post Office and Unity Grill for their success, and their commitment to supporting the community and their customers. This really highlights why Scotland's towns are remarkable places, and how we must support the people and businesses to see us through the challenges of COVID-19 to build a stronger, more sustainable future.
"When you're Christmas shopping this year, please don’t forget to support local businesses, whether that be in person or online."
Councillor Siobhian Brown, the Culture and Economy portfolio holder for South Ayrshire Council, welcomed the achievement of our High Street Heroes. She said:
“Despite the incredibly challenging conditions that the coronavirus pandemic has brought to our high streets, it’s been heartening to see so many organisations step up to help their communities and each other. The number of nominations shows just how much our local communities have appreciated those businesses that have come forward to make life a little easier for people in these unprecedented times.
“I’m delighted to be able to celebrate the achievements of our High Street Heroes, who have inspired those around them to help out, be kind and support each other in these difficult times. It shows just how important our high streets and local businesses are and that we should support them, as they have supported us as we look forward to 2021.”
You can find out more about Scotland Loves Local at the following website: https://lovelocal.scot/