Latest news with #TownoftheYear
Daily Maverick
6 days ago
- General
- Daily Maverick
People of Pennington: Tidy Towns pulls South Coast town into competition finals
Residents of Pennington, KwaZulu-Natal, are volunteering their time and money and working with the municipality to improve local services. Now, they're vying for Pennington to be crowned Town of the Year. Trimmed hedges, a walkable town, safety, cleanliness and a Blue Flag beach. It's these little things that improve the experience of a town, and despite challenges such as water outages and other service delivery issues, the residents of Pennington organise daily to help make the town pleasant and comfortable to live in. The chairperson of the Pennington non-profit organisation Tidy Towns, Viv Sandwith, says what they do is like putting lipstick on the town. Sandwith and her team at Tidy Towns played a big role in entering Pennington into a Town of the Year competition, which offers a R1-million prize. Sandwith and her team entered the town in the competition. They are all volunteers who do this work of organising the community over and above their day jobs or commitments. She said this was not possible without willing residents and daily community organising and building. She gave an example of a car park by the beach that Tidy Towns refurbished: 'You couldn't drive in this car park because of the potholes,' she said. 'So, we spent R350,000 repaving from scratch. We took out the tar and paved it. The bathrooms were unusable. They were so bad. And we got them renovated from head to toe. So, they're now like a five-star hotel inside. You can't go in because there's no water. So, basically, we put the lipstick on,' said Sandwith. Street groups 'Just to make our town look beautiful and feel clean. If the rubbish truck hasn't come because they're on strike, we organise rubbish collection. I've started a thing for street groups, so now every street in Pennington has a group and a leader. 'So, if I want to announce something, I put it on, and all the admins are in one group. I put it in one group and then they all spread it out. We can say, guys, rubbish trucks are not coming today, please keep your rubbish inside,' said Sandwith. Tidy Towns is a community-driven project. According to its web page, it is 'Supported by the joining hands of like-minded volunteers, private security companies, Umdoni Municipality, local Law Enforcement, the SAPS and the business sector. Participants are committed to restoring our public spaces to clean and safe environments, for the enjoyment of locals and visitors alike, whilst creating opportunities to improve the livelihoods of the committed cleaning teams created.' Sandwith said the street groups were also helpful because they helped foster safety, especially for the older people in the community. 'It's incredible, we're not living with potholes anymore. We're collecting money on our streets. We're fixing our potholes. Many of our streets are smooth sailing now because of the locals, so people are putting their own money in. But the important thing is that we never work outside of the municipality. I've got a very good relationship with them, with the beach manager. I had a meeting last week with the mayor, the municipal manager, and three of the GMs. We just sat and chatted,' said Sandwith. Despite continuous challenges with the Umdoni Municipality, the community pulls through to create a better community. A recent incident caused the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Umdoni Local Municipality to write to the Public Protector, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, as well as lay an official complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) 'over the Umdoni crisis that continues to cripple services'. This follows another staff strike that has paralysed operations amid calls for the mayor, Councillor Mbali Luthuli, and Acting Municipal Manager Nhlakanipho Khumalo, to go. The strike has entered its second week with no services being rendered. R1-million prize Pennington has got through the initial phases of kykNET's Dorp van die Jaar (Town of the Year) competition, beating competing towns in KwaZulu-Natal to become a finalist in the last round. Top towns from all participating regions in South Africa and Namibia are competing and the winner will win R1-million. Sandwith said they hoped to win so they could continue the work to upgrade and keep up the town. They hoped to buy a soccer kit for the local soccer team, install an outdoor gym, pay the guys who help clean up the town and other initiatives. 'We're going to refurbish the outside of the clinic and the library. Because this clinic serves a lot of Malangeni here,' Sandwith said. 'We want to add three bus stops. Oh, and we want to put in a fitness gym, [an] outdoor fit gym. So we want to put outdoor gym equipment for older people or kids. We want to help fix the roof of that hall because it needs work. We want to fix the showers up a bit here (at the beach),' said Sandwith. The town is small, and it is a retirement town, but it offers a variety of activities from golfing to beach activities and hiking. It also has special businesses such as the Basset Brewery, which has expanded to be a restaurant and nature sanctuary as it is built in what used to be a nursery. Andy Turner founded and runs the Doghouse Craft Café with his partner Natalie Danks. They offer tasting trays and advice on which meals to pair with the craft beer they offer. Turner said that the business originated when he was still making beer at home just for himself. Craft beers 'So I was brewing a little, 20 litres at a time, just trying to make the styles that I knew from Europe. 'And the first one I ever made that I was really proud of, which was good enough to show my friends, was an English bitter type of beer, so I called it Bassett Bitter.' Now they offer a variety of beers with certain crafts blended specifically for different seasons. Turner said the café and brewery had attracted beer enthusiasts from all over the world, along with their pies. He noted that a lot of people liked the beers that tasted most like commercial lagers, but others were more experimental and liked to be exposed to different beers. Danks moved to Pennington 17 years ago and says she loves the do-it-yourself spirit of Pennington residents — 'because either you are going to moan about the problem, or fix it'. DM
IOL News
08-07-2025
- General
- IOL News
Pennington reaches finals in Town of the Year competition
The coastal town of Pennington, on the KwaZulu-Natal south coast, has made it to the finals of the 2025 kykNET Kwêla Dorp van die Jaar (Town of the Year) competition. The competition celebrates the best towns in the nine provinces across South Africa and Namibia. The towns must be home to under 500 000 inhabitants. Three KwaZulu-Natal towns, namely Scottburgh, Paulpietersburg and Pennington were nominated. Tidy Towns Pennington, a community-driven non-profit organisation supported by volunteers and the local community, was responsible for entering the town. The organisation is committed to restoring public spaces to clean and safe environments. Apart from earning the title of Dorp van die Jaar, the winning town will receive R1 million from Lottoland to further enhance the region.
Daily Record
17-06-2025
- General
- Daily Record
People urged to celebrate high street heroes for 2025 Scotland Loves Local Awards
You can also put your home area forward for national accolades including Town of the Year. People across Lanarkshire are being urged to celebrate their high street heroes. Nominations have opened for the 2025 Scotland Loves Local Awards, celebrating the people and organisations who make communities better places to live, work and visit. And the region's residents are being encouraged to nominate those who they would like to be named as High Street Hero for Central Scotland. People can also put their home area forward for national accolades including Town of the Year. The awards are organised by Scotland's Towns Partnership (STP) as an extension of its wider Scotland Loves Local campaign encouraging people to back enterprises and organisations in their communities. STP chief officer Kimberley Guthrie said: 'Every day, people and organisations go above and beyond to make their communities better and I've been lucky to meet a few of them and see what brilliant work they do. "The impact of that determination to make a difference should never be underestimated. 'The Scotland Loves Local Awards are an opportunity to recognise and reward that success, celebrating collective and individual achievements. They are a fantastic way to say a special thank you.' The awards highlight the innovation and collaboration which will make towns and neighbourhoods stronger and more sustainable. The categories nationally are: Eight High Street Hero Awards will also be presented - one in each of the Scottish Parliament electoral regions - recognising a person or organisation who makes life better in their area. Award nominations can be made at 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 5pm on Wednesday, August 30. Finalists will be announced in September with presentations made to winners in October. A special reception will then take place in Edinburgh in November.
Daily Record
17-06-2025
- General
- Daily Record
Show the love for high street heroes in West Lothian by nominating them for award
Jim Allan from Bathgate was last year's winner for the region West Lothian residents are being urged to nominate their high street heroes for this year's Scotland Loves Local Awards. The awards celebrate the people and organisations who make communities better places to live, work and visit. Residents in West Lothian as well as those across Edinburgh, East Lothian, and Midlothian are being encouraged to nominate those they would like to see crowned High Street Hero for the Lothian region. Eco warrior Jim Allan, from Bathgate, an influential force in West Lothian Litter Pickers and its work to clear hundreds of tonnes of rubbish from local streets and spaces was last year's winner. Now in their fifth year, the awards are organised by Scotland's Towns Partnership (STP) as an extension of its wider Scotland Loves Local campaign encouraging people to back enterprises and organisations in their own communities. People can also put their home area forward for national accolades including Town of the Year. STP Chief Officer Kimberley Guthrie said: 'Every day, people and organisations go above and beyond to make their communities better and I've been lucky to meet a few of them and see what brilliant work they do. 'The impact of that determination to make a difference should never be underestimated. 'The Scotland Loves Local Awards are an opportunity to recognise and reward that success, celebrating collective and individual achievements. They are a fantastic way to say a special thank-you.' The awards highlight the innovation and collaboration which will make towns and neighbourhoods stronger and more sustainable. The categories nationally are: ● Town of the Year ● Most Enterprising Community ● Place Leader of the Year Eight High Street Hero Awards will also be presented - one in each of the Scottish Parliament electoral regions - recognising a person or organisation who make life better in their area. The closing date for nominations is Wednesday, August 30 at 5pm. Finalists will be announced in September with presentations made to winners in October and a special reception will take place in Edinburgh in November.
Scotsman
16-06-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Search launched for Town of the Year as Scotland Love Local Awards return
The search is on to find Scotland's Town of the Year as nominations open for the 2025 Scotland Loves Local Awards. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... And people across the country are being encouraged to shine a spotlight on their community's champions and the work they do to make a difference. As well as crowning Scotland's Town of the Year, the awards will also celebrate High Street Heroes, the nation's Most Enterprising Community, as well as an inspirational Place Leader. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The awards are organised by Scotland's Towns Partnership as an extension of its wider Scotland Loves Local campaign encouraging people to back enterprises and organisations in their communities. TV presenter Sean Batty and STP's Kimberley Guthrie celebrating Oban's 2024 Town of the Year win with community leaders STP Chief Officer Kimberley Guthrie said: 'Every day, people and organisations go above and beyond to make their communities better and I've been lucky to meet a few of them and see what brilliant work they do. The impact of that determination to make a difference should never be underestimated. 'The Scotland Loves Local Awards are an opportunity to recognise and reward that success, celebrating collective and individual achievements. They are a fantastic way to say a special thank-you.' As well as winners receiving trophies and public recognition, all awards finalists will be invited to a special Scotland Loves Local reception in Edinburgh. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The awards highlight the innovation and collaboration which will make towns and neighbourhoods stronger and more sustainable, tackling issues such as the climate emergency and cost of living, while also transforming places to become better, fairer, more attractive and successful. Oban, the 2024 Town of the Year in the Scotland Loves Local Awards Nationally, awards will be presented to: Town of the Year Most Enterprising Community Place Leader of the Year Eight High Street Hero Awards- recognising those who go above and beyond to make communities of all sizes better places in which to live, work and visit - will also be presented. One will be awarded in each of the Scottish Parliament electoral regions of Central Scotland, Glasgow, Highlands and Islands, Lothian, Mid Scotland and Fife, North East Scotland, South Scotland and West Scotland. Last year saw Oban named as Scotland's Town of the Year after judges heard how townsfolk have banded together to 'reinvent' the picturesque Argyllshire community. Popular television presenter Sean Batty helped community leaders celebrate their success. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad High Street Heroes ranged from a life-saving Army veteran, to people who had cleaned up their communities, a Business Improvement District and a life-enhancing community garden. Award nominations can be made at 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 5pm on Wednesday, August 30th 2025. Finalists will be announced in September with presentations made to winners in October. The Edinburgh reception will take place in November. Spearheaded by STP and supported by the Scottish Government, Scotland Loves Local is the movement encouraging people to create a better future for their community by choosing local. This is the fifth year in which the awards have been held.
