The Scottish Empty Homes Partnership is scouring East Ayrshire for its outstanding empty homes champions to be honoured at this year’s Empty Homes Conference.

The nominations window for individuals, projects and colleagues is now open and will close on 20 October 2014. People can apply by going to https://shelterscotland.wufoo.eu/forms/scottish-empty-homes-champion-of-the-year-awards/ or email emptyhomes@shelter.org.uk.

Winners will be announced at the conference – ‘Helping More People, Filling More Homes’ - on Tuesday 27 November 2014 at the Grand Central Hotel in Glasgow.

There are 23,000 long-term private sector empty homes in Scotland, many of which blight their local area causing safety concerns for communities. The awards are a celebration of the best projects and rising stars across Scotland for their achievements in bringing empty homes back into use.

All local authorities, elected members, community groups and individuals who work with empty homes can apply for the coveted Empty Homes Champion of the Year Award for Outstanding Project or Service, and Empty Homes Champion of the Year Award for Outstanding Individual.

Nominations are also wanted for Best Use of the Media and Best Before and After Photo awards.

Last year’s winners from Perth & Kinross Council were commended for recognising the potential of commercial as well as residential empty properties and worked collaboratively to get many of Perth town centre’s long-term empty properties back into use.

This year’s conference will feature presentations from key note speakers and focused workshops and will be attended by empty homes practitioners, senior council housing officers, elected members, and others with an interest in private sector empty homes work.

The Scottish Empty Homes Partnership is run by Shelter Scotland and funded by the Scottish Government.

Graeme Brown, Director for Shelter Scotland, said: “This year’s conference will showcase the innovative work happening across Scotland which really makes a difference to communities suffering with empty properties.

“There are thousands of empty homes in Scotland and bringing them back to good use can provide local affordable housing and help regenerate local communities. It won’t solve the housing crisis on its own, but it can be part of the solution and makes sense not to waste the empty homes we already have.” There is still time to book your place at the conference. Please visit our website at: http://scotland.shelter.org.uk/housing_policy/empty_homes/scottish_empty_homes_conference. The delegate rate is £95.00 and additional delegate rate of £65.00.