Friday 24 November 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
M is for Making Memories
This is Haylie Crosbie.
Haylie is a youth worker in Nithsdale (and an impressive one at that).
Haylie’s role is to support young people, helping them arrive at a positive destination in life. One minute Haylie may be attending schools and delivering workshops, the next, assisting someone to apply for their driver’s licence. Running open mic nights for aspiring musicians, preparing dinner options to all that attend the Oasis Centre and simply listening to young people’s stories and offering support – all in a day’s work for Haylie.
Haylie supports young people on an individual basis, and she does so with maximum passion, empathy and commitment. Haylie loves the variety of young people she works with, and the variety of programmes offered. We do, too, Haylie!
“This was all I ever wanted to be when I was growing up. I came to sessions as a young person myself and I have never left. It changed my life. So, I volunteered with a group, which led to a modern apprentice position before landing the role as a youth worker – my dream job.
“I see the impact I make, the connections and trust built with so many young people who go through so many different situations and, while it takes time, it’s life changing and beyond rewarding.”
How Haylie landed her dream job is fascinating. She attended sessions as a young person. This led to Haylie volunteering her time as a Young Leader – all while playing football for Scotland and Celtic. She then landed the role of modern apprentice in the Youth Work Team. Part of that role involved responsibility to fundraise with a group of young people, landing the chance to attend an international volunteering conference in Australia.
Professional footballer or youth worker…decision time.
Haylie used her knowledge and understanding gained with all her experiences, created even more opportunities locally for young people and then landed a role as a Youth Worker.
Haylie is currently heavily involved with the Junior Nithsdale Challenge (a primary 7 transition programme) delivered in schools, and says that the sessions allow young people to build resilience, communication skill and the ability to work as a team, life skills to support going into secondary school and beyond.
Haylie, your commitment is unquestionable and the work you do is truly life changing.
Councillor Wins Local Politician of the Year Award
Dumfries and Galloway Council is delighted to hear that our own SNP Councillor Katie Hagmann, who has been the Elected Member for Mid Galloway and Wigtown West since 2017, has won the prestigious Scottish Local Politician of the Year Award at The Herald Scottish Politician of the Year Awards 2023.
The Herald Scottish Politician of the Year Awards is an annual highlight of Scotland’s political calendar. Established in 1999, the event promotes high standards of political performance and fosters constructive relationships between the worlds of politics and business. In what was a very strong Local Politician Category this year, Katie was recognised for her excellent efforts in local politics.
Congratulations to Katie for her dedication and hard work, not only as a Dumfries and Galloway councillor, but also as a COSLA Resources spokesperson.
Katie said: “I am truly honoured to receive this national award and it means a great deal to me to see the work of local government recognised.
“It’s not an easy job, and I would like to take this opportunity to recognise the outstanding work of my fellow councillors in all the work they do for their communities – locally and nationally. We may be of different political persuasions, but we all have the same goal: to serve our communities and achieve the best for our local citizens.
“I genuinely love what I do and have a real sense of achievement when I can make a difference and help people. I hope others, especially women, see the value in standing for elected office and thank my local community for giving me the opportunity to represent them every day.”
Lori is Bright Spark at the Scottish Social Services Awards
Lori Downing has won the Bright Star Award at this year's Scottish Social Services Awards.
The Scottish Government, alongside the Institute for Research and Innovation in Social Services (IRISS), organises the awards to celebrate those individuals and organisations that demonstrate best practice in the social services sector.
In 2022, soon into her 120-day placement in the council's Social Work Service, Lori joined the Resettlement Team that provides support the victims of the Ukraine crisis. Quickly learning the legislative and political contexts of the crisis and developing vital resources to support colleagues and those arriving from Ukraine, Lori has become a vital member of the team.
Developing holiday and Christmas programme activities with her colleagues and third sector partners, Lori has continued to go above and beyond to support our Ukrainian guests. She has come to be someone that guests rely on – indeed in some circumstances, she is the only one to whom some families feel comfortable enough to disclose to.
When Lori finished her placement, she beat stiff, and more experienced, competition to be offered a permanent post in the team. Constantly taking on new challenges and adapting, Lori is an inspiration and well deserving of this prestigious award.
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Prestigious Institute of Physics Award For Mr Rossi
Chris Rossi from St Joseph's College, Dumfries, has been awarded a 2023 Teacher of Physics Award from the Institute of Physics (IOP) for his inspirational physics teaching.
The IOP Teachers of Physics Awards celebrate outstanding classroom practice in teaching physics, and recognise the success of secondary school teachers in the UK and Ireland.
The Institute of Physics commended Mr Rossi for:
"...exceptional knowledge and classroom practice, development of pupils, and support of colleagues, trainee teachers, technicians and staff in the local community of schools and nationally through examination work.
"Christopher Rossi’s students value his extensive subject knowledge, together with his enthusiasm and passion for physics. His students feel supported and confident, enabling them to challenge themselves and take risks while enjoying their physics learning."
Well done to Chris, on this terrific achievement.
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 Young People's Achievements Recognised
On Thursday 23 November, young people, invited guests and organisations from across the region gathered in Easterbrook Hall, Dumfries to take part in the annual DG Youth Awards, which aims to celebrate the achievements and talents of young people from across Dumfries and Galloway.
The evening was brought to a close by the Chair of Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Communities Committee, Councillor Ian Blake, who reflected on the importance of Youth Work in communities across Dumfries and Galloway and congratulated the youth work sector in our region for continuing to deliver high quality and sector leading youth work opportunities in our region.
Cara Joins 30 Under 30 List
Cara Hyles has been recognised on Young Women Scotland’s '30 under 30' list, that recognises remarkable young women who are making a positive impact in Scotland.
Cara is extremely passionate about feminism, equal rights for women, and advocating for young women in Dumfries and Galloway. This passion grew after attending an inspirational International Women’s Day Conference. After feeling that not enough was being done in the local area to bring young women together, Cara established and supported the development of the first ever Young Women’s Network in Dumfries and Galloway.
Cara's commitment to challenging inequalities for women, and inspiring others to understand and value women's inclusion in an inspiration to everyone.
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 The Region Pauses to Remember
Acts of Remembrance took place across our region the weekend of 11 and 12 November to remember and honour those who have sacrificed themselves to secure and protect our freedom.
In addition to the Services of Remembrance, the council headquarters in Dumfries was lit up red. Wreaths were laid at war memorials across Dumfries and Galloway by elected members of Dumfries and Galloway Council, by community councillors, and other organisations’ representatives. Some of Dumfries and Galloway's ‘New Scots’ – people in the Ukrainian, Syrian and Afghanistan Resettlement Schemes – laid wreaths in Annan, Castle Douglas, Dumfries, Sanquhar and Stranraer.
 Celebrating Success in Multi-million Pound Levelling Up Fund Bids
Dumfries and Galloway Council was delighted to hear this week that we were successful in our two bids to Round Three of the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund.
The strategic focus for the Transport Levelling Up Fund bid was on ‘sustainable connectivity’ across the region, combining different elements to provide a ‘metro style’ interconnected access. Now that we are to receive the funding, the plan is to address:
- Access to ‘green’ energy for transport and therefore future transportation for all.
- Improve quality of the region’s bus fleet.
- Create electric vehicle transport hubs that work effectively to help regenerate centres providing better amenity for both residents and tourists.
Our council’s aim is to enable both local journeys and cross-region trips to be made using electric vehicles. In an environment where technology is rapidly evolving, this means that Dumfries and Galloway needs to continue to ensure our required infrastructure is present at the necessary pace.
The second successful bid was our Three Rivers Active Tourism Project, for up to £22,809,416. This was a joint constituency partnership bid, with Dumfries and Galloway Council as lead, between ourselves and Scottish Borders and South Lanarkshire councils.
For our region, this means support for a project lead by the Annan Harbour Trust. This project focusses on Annan Harbour, including the refurbishment of a B-listed former warehouse (Collett’s Building) into a hub of activities including a workshop for heritage boat craft skills, a flexible café and space for community meetings and events and harbourside landscape improvements. This includes the construction of a new footbridge, and a new focal point for water sports and activities for the local community and tourists.
16 Days of Action Set to Begin
 The Violence Against Women and Girls Subcommittee of the Dumfries and Galloway Public Protection Partnership is to launch its programme of events for 16 Days of Action Against Gender-Based Violence.
16 Days of Action is an international campaign that starts every year on 25 November (International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) and finishes on 10 December (Human Rights Days) making a link between several forms of violence and human rights violations.
The awareness-raising programme for 16 Days of Action features a range of events and activities – all the events are free of charge, but booking is required.
 Sign Up for the Lochside Regeneration Newsletter
Dumfries and Galloway Council is working in partnership with Wheatley Homes South and the Lochside community in Dumfries to develop and implement a community-led master plan to revitalise Lochside. The goal is to create a sustainable and flourishing neighbourhood for people to live, learn, work and invest.
You can get connected with the latest news and updates about the Lochside Regeneration programme. All you need to do is to sign up for the newsletter, visit our website and fill out the quick and easy sign-up form. It only takes a few minutes, and you'll be all set to receive the Lochside Regeneration newsletter straight to your inbox.
Dumfries and Galloway Wins Sustainable Food Award
Dumfries and Galloway has won a prestigious Sustainable Food Places Silver Award. The award recognises the work of D&G Good Food – the regional sustainable food partnership to promote healthy, sustainable and local food and to tackle some of today’s greatest social challenges; from food poverty and diet-related ill-health, to the disappearance of family farms and the loss of independent food retailers.
This Sustainable Food Places Award is a national, evidence-based recognition and celebration of places taking a joined-up, holistic approach to sustainable and healthy food. Award-winners have demonstrated activity and impact across their food system by the food partnership and their stakeholders to create a local ‘Good Food Movement’. This is a recognition of the excellent work of the food partnership and of stakeholders across your area.
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 Drop-in Vaccination Clinics Opened for Flu and COVID
Further booster vaccinations are being offered to strengthen protection against COVID-19 for people who are particularly at risk of serious illness. Everyone eligible for vaccines this winter should have now received a letter, text or email inviting them for their vaccination. New drop-in vaccination clinics have been announced for all those aged 12 and above who are in eligible groups.
More guidance and information is available on NHS Inform’s coronavirus vaccine page, you can call the national vaccination helpline on 0800 030 8013 or the Dumfries and Galloway local vaccination helpline on 01387 403090.
The local vaccination helpline can also help with any questions about your appointment, including rescheduling a vaccination appointment that you cannot attend. You can also use the national vaccination portal to book or reschedule appointments: https://vacs.nhs.scot/csp
Let the Festivities Begin
There has been a number of events already across the region, marking the start of the run-up to Christmas. From Christmas Lights Switch-On events to fundraisers, there is so much to get involved in.
The Illuminated Christmas Tractor and Truck Run takes place tomorrow, 25 November, to raise money for Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary Neonatal Unit. The vehicles will leave Lockerbie Cattle Market at 5.30pm, heading for Dumfries via Lochmaben. See more information on Christmas Tractor and Truck Run's Facebook page.
One such upcoming event sees Castle Kennedy Community Council hosting a Christmas Lights Switch-On in Castle Kennedy village at 7pm on Friday 1 December. This is a first for Castle Kennedy village – not having had a Christmas tree situated in the village before.
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