A COMMUNITY group in the Wee County has this month scooped a prestigious national award.

Sauchie Community Group has been named Tenants Group of the Year at the annual Tenants Information Service National Excellence Awards.

The coveted award was judged by the International Union of Tenants, who were impressed by the group's creative approaches in encouraging communities to work together and make a difference.

Having started in 1992, the group has been supporting tenants in the area for almost three decades, organising events and activities for communities.

Craig Miller, co-community manager at the group, was "delighted" after the winners in the awards scheme were announced this month.

He said: "It is testimony to the hard-work and dedication of all our board members, supporters and participants at all our meetings, activities and events that we have come out on top.

"The competition on the evening was of the highest standard and we congratulate the other finalists for making the shortlist.

"Throughout the pandemic we have continued to serve our community, adapting where possible to ensure that we can offer support to those in need.

"We are currently planning our official re-opening of the resource centre, which has now had its much needed extension, which will result in us being able to run more activities and increase participation in the area."

Despite the pandemic, Sauchie Community Group has managed to keep going, online where needed, with its tiny tots group four mornings a week and various groups including folk singing, knitting, arts and crafts, carpet bowls, gardening, a community choir, dementia singing group, a film club, a monthly soup and sandwich club, the veterans group and more.

June Anderson, chairperson at Clackmannanshire Tenants and Residents Federation (CTRF), nominated Sauchie Community Group for the award.

She was pleased when they won "what can only be described as a much deserved highest accolade, even more so, this past year, than previous years".

The CTRF chair added: "Sauchie Community Group has made an outstanding contribution and achieved great practice that others can learn from in the future.

"Each year they get better and better, coming up with innovative, participation and consultative capacity ideas and initiatives."

The achievement was also recognised in the Kilncraigs chamber when the Place Committee met on March 18.

Sauchie councillor Derek Stewart said: "I've got to give credit to the chair and committees, they never seem to get tired, they seem to come up with different ideas every time."

He added: "It's well deserved, they work hard for the community and I just hope they keep up the good work."

Congratulating the group, Cllr Craig Holden, committee chair, added: "I know they are a very valuable group to local community and one which has been operating for quite some time, provides great services and I congratulate them on that and wish them all the best."