Friday 15 September 2023
Welcome to Community, your Dumfries and Galloway community bulletin.
We are always keen to hear of any positive stories about things that are happening in your community and would like to feature them in Community – please email us at communitybulletin@dumgal.gov.uk and one of our reporters will get back to you.
 A to Z of Dumfries and Galloway Council
H is for Here to Help
This is Tony.
Tony is a Care Call Operator. Care Call is a 24-hour 365-day response service that works through a control unit connected to a service user’s telephone line.
Care Call provides support to those living at home who may need a friendly voice at the end of a phone line for help, day or night.
That voice is Tony’s.
Tony works during the wee small hours, supporting the elderly and vulnerable adults and children that use the service. Service users who call may simply be looking to connect with another voice because they’re lonely, while other calls can be emergency situations where Tony has to call emergency services and emergency contacts.
Every call requires 100% concentration, patience, compassion and empathy, and Tony has this in abundance.
FACT – Tony can take anything between 20 and 100 calls per night and upload 10–20 new service users details on to the system per night. That is A LOT of support to A LOT of people.
In between taking the high volume of calls and managing the emotional impact of each interaction, Tony ensures that the extensive list of service users' contact details are up-to-date, collaborates with technicians to book repairs, manages stock levels and updates emergency contact details. With service users having an array of in-home care options including: wearing a necklace; smoke detector; carbon dioxide detector; bracelet and handset, Tony and his team have a large inventory to keep in tip-top condition.
Tony tells us “I love that I am doing something that helps someone. We build great connections with service users who make contact with us regularly. We had one lady who would phone each night to let us know not to worry if her bedroom alarm went off as she was sitting by the fire reading her book; she’d then phone us back saying she’d finished and that was her getting to sleep now. We had another lady who would update us with how many days she had left until her 100th birthday – we sang to her when the big day arrived and it made her night; it made ours to.
“There can be very difficult calls; often service users are struggling for a number of reasons and are vulnerable, so I make sure to remain calm at all times and stay with them until services arise in the hope that that human connection and reassurance is of some comfort.”
Tony, you are the voice of calm for the elderly and vulnerable when the sun has faded, and the stars have risen. You are, without doubt appreciated by every service user and their families in times of need. Thank you.
 Community Groups in Dumfries and Galloway Honoured at Beautiful Scotland Awards
Groups across Dumfries and Galloway that help communities become more climate and nature friendly were recognised at the Beautiful Scotland celebration and awards evening last weekend.
Brighten up Kirkconnel won the Small Village Award and the Community Involvement Award. Taking part in the judged category, they also received a Gold certificate.
The People’s Project – Dumfries, taking part in the non-judged category, received a Certificate of Recognition.
Hosted by environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful, the annual Beautiful Scotland awards – held in person for the first time since 2019 – took place at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh on Friday 8 September.
Forty-five groups from all over Scotland were presented with awards and Certificates of Recognition for their efforts to improve, enhance and protect biodiversity and the places they care for, work and live in.
 The Moffat Golden Eagle Festival Soars
The Moffat 2023 Golden Eagle Festival returns to Scotland's First and only 'Eagle Town' this September with a fantastic line-up of guest speakers, guided walks, activities, food and drink, and live music to celebrate the increasing golden eagle population in the South of Scotland.
Over the weekend 22 to 24 September, there is a fantastic range of talks, events and activities to get involved in. Some events are already fully booked, but you can find out more at the Golden Eagle Festival website.
 Harry Harbottle, Chair of the Local Action Group in Dumfries and Galloway.
Funding Programme Opens in Dumfries and Galloway
A Scottish Government funding programme is now open in Dumfries and Galloway to support community facilities and mitigate the impact of the cost-of-living increases.
The Community Led Local Development (CLLD) programme will make more than £566,000 in funding available this year for revenue and capital projects.
Dumfries and Galloway-based charities, constituted community groups, co-operatives, public sector organisations, small and medium-sized enterprises, community interest companies, and community benefit societies can all apply.
A Local Action Group made up of representatives from the third, public and private sectors will decide what applications are successful.
 Dumfries and Galloway Youth Awards Return
The Dumfries and Galloway Youth Awards are back for 2023. This year the annual awards evening will once again take place at Easterbrook Hall, Dumfries on Thursday 23 November, and will focus on celebrating the amazing achievements of young people aged 12–25 in our region.
Nominations open today and if you know a young person, youth worker or organisation in Dumfries and Galloway who you think deserves recognition, you can submit a nomination from now until the closing date of Monday 23 October.
 Make a Difference by Becoming a Children’s Panel Member
Children's Hearings Scotland (CHS) is recruiting for volunteer Panel Members across the country to help support Scotland’s infants, children and young people. If you are enthusiastic, aged 18, and can show empathy, compassion and great listening skills – this could be a role for you.
Panel Members are volunteers from local communities who take part in children's hearings. Their role is to listen and make legal decisions with and for infants, children and young people who have been referred to the Children’s Panel. Panel Members ensure that the young person is at the heart of every decision made – because every decision, no matter how big or small, has an impact on the life of the child or young person in the hearing.
CHS offer a certificated training programme with a highly experienced team to support your development, who will help you along your journey in becoming a panel member.
Applications close midnight 3 October 2023.
 Organ and Tissue Donation Week
This Organ and Tissue Donation Week, people are being encouraged to leave no doubt when it comes to their donation decision.
In Scotland, everyone has a choice when it comes to organ and tissue donation – to be a donor, or to opt out.
If people aged 16 and over choose to do nothing, it is assumed they agree to be a donor if they die in circumstances where donation is possible, unless they are in a group for whom the opt-out system does not apply or it would be against their views.
Registering your decision and sharing it with loved ones is important as it will make it easier for family and friends to honour it.
In Scotland, around 500 people on average are waiting on an organ transplant, however only around one per cent of people die in a way that makes organ donation possible, which means every opportunity for donation is precious.
Help make Organ and Tissue Donation Week Count. Register your donation decision and find out more at www.organdonation.scot or by calling 0300 123 2323.
Support from Advice Direct Scotland
Advice Direct Scotland (ADS) engages with almost one million people each year to provide free, impartial, and practical advice to anyone in Scotland on a range of issues including debt, energy bills and consumer rights. ADS also partners with the Scottish Government to administer support funds such as the Home Heating Support Fund.
Advice Direct Scotland is eager to ensure that people in communities across Scotland are aware of the wide range of free services it provides. Check out the attached leaflet for more information and details on how to contact ADS.
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 How to Keep Your Home Safe When Charging Your e-Bike or e-Scooter
The number of people using e-bikes and e-scooters is growing. These can help people get more active, travel more easily and, like any number of electrical items, they are powered by lithium batteries.
Lithium batteries are used safely by millions of people every day, and when used properly they are not dangerous, but it’s important to be aware of the fire safety advice particularly when charging your battery.
 Children's Services Survey
Children's Services is currently assessing the need for parenting programmes across Dumfries and Galloway.
Please complete the Parent Survey 2023 that has been developed to try and gain parent and carer views on courses that are suitable and relevant.
Survey closes end October.
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