Friday 19 April 2024
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
This is Lizz Close.
Lizz is a learning assistant at Kirkpatrick Fleming Primary school.
Learning assistants contribute to raising achievement and help in general supervision, safety and care of pupils by supporting the learning process.
Lizz works with pupils on a one-to-one basis or in groups covering everything from reading, writing, spelling, arts and crafts, PE, cooking, tying of shoelaces, wiping of tears, and administering first aid. She also attends events and trips with children with additional support needs, organises classroom materials…talk about versatile.
Lizz loves her job. She loves Kirkpatrick Fleming Primary school. She loves the pupils, she loves the staff she works with, and she knows everything she does helps everyone around her to feel supported, to feel heard, to be seen, and to achieve.
Fact – Lizz has worked in this role at Kirkpatrick Fleming for a whopping 22 years. That’s her commitment to the pupils, the school and the community.
Lizz particularly enjoys supporting children in their reading, writing and spelling, and loves spending time with small groups supporting them with a programme called SRS (sound reading system).
This is where Lizz encourages the learners to read their word out loud and then whisper each letter quietly into the pencil as they write it. Imagine leaning over your pencil and whispering ‘p’, ‘e’, ‘t’ while you write it down…that’s much more fun – no wonder pupils like your support Lizz.
Best part of the job: “The children and the staff. I especially enjoy when a child reads their first sentence independently, their excitement and self-pride is something you can never forget and the way it makes me feel will never get old. I love everyone I work with, too. It is a wholly supportive environment here, and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
Lizz fondly remembers one pupil with a physical disability she supported who wished to attend a school residential trip and tackle the zip-wire challenge. Nervous to do this, Lizz said "If you do this, I will do to.” Please note Lizz is terrified of heights – so when the young girl conquered her fear and whizzed along the wire with the biggest smile, Lizz was overwhelmed with pride and the realisation that it was her turn next. In the end, both Lizz and the young person tackled their fears head on, together, just as planned and promised.
Lizz also has a particular interest in delivering inclusive sports in curricular time with the sport of Boccia being her favourite. This indoor precision ball sport, like bowls, is extremely inclusive and allows everyone to compete at the same level. Lizz has been known to slip in extra training at lunch times and to support pupils to attend local, regional, and national competitions. And while Lizz loves the competitions, she loves more that these talented young athletes get to spend time with their friends from other schools. “The medals are great and the competition is exciting, but seeing them all together having fun and doing something they love is what keeps me going.” We agree Lizz.
It is this pattern of consistent commitment to her role and to the pupils she works with that makes Lizz so valued.
Whether you have been out gardening with a small group of pupils who need to regain focus or you are supporting another child compete at a national sporting competition, what you do and the dedication with which you do it makes you unquestionably precious to the school community in which you work.
Thank you for being they’re for all the achievements, for all the tears and all the laughs, and for the day-to-day adventure that is primary school learning. What you do is extremely important, and you are truly appreciated by all.
One Big Thank You for the NHS
Crossmichael resident Jim McLelland has set himself a challenge that will raise funds for local NHS staff and services, as a thank you for the care support they provide to us all across our region.
Jim has committed to matching their 12-hour work shift, by walking, jogging and running as they do in their daily duties – from completing their morning rounds to responding quickly to emergencies.
As well as thanking the hospital team, the event will remember his wife Ruth, who died from cancer in December and was cared for in the Alexandra Unit.
Jim commented on his plans: “It will be a day of fun and celebration, providing us all with a chance to give back and show our appreciation to every category of staff, from the cleaners and canteen workers to the porters, secretaries, nurses, doctors, consultants and steadfast team of volunteers.
“Let’s recognise their hard work, which often accompanies our darkest times of worry or pain.
“Although many of us may not have required their services to date, we never know what the future holds – for ourselves or for the ones we love.”
Jim hopes that others will join him in fundraising – either through being a part of the One Big Thank You or by holding their own fundraiser. It could be a sponsored walk, run, swim, cycle or a local event such as a quiz night, darts match, bingo evening, coffee morning or karaoke night. These events can inspire the community to join in and contribute what they can.
The One Big Thank You will take place from 6.00am to 6.00pm at Carlingwark Park, Castle Douglas on Sunday 28 July and Jim would greatly welcome your family’s encouragement and company.
The money raised will go to the endowment charity that supports the hospital, to be used to provide the extra’s above and beyond what the NHS can provide, giving support where it is needed the most.
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 Forty Years of the Southern Upland Way
The Southern Upland Way was officially opened on 27 April 1984 at a ceremony at St Mary's Loch. Since then, thousands of people have walked or more recently cycled the 214 miles from Portpatrick on the west coast of the Rhins of Galloway to Cockburnspath on the east coast of the Scottish Borders.
A new exhibition celebrates this anniversary, sharing the history of the path from the first ideas of creating a coast-to-coast trail across Scotland through 40 years of hikes, bikes, runners and riders to the latest plans for the future of the route. Everyone is welcome to the launch of the exhibition at an event at the Glentrool Hive on 27 April, where refreshments will be available – so come along for a cup of tea and a chat and celebrate the 40th birthday of Scotland's coast-to-coast path.
2pm – Exhibition opens.
3pm – Talk on the history and future of the Southern Upland Way.
After the event, the exhibition will be on display at the Hive until 9 May before moving to the Newton Stewart Walking Festival on 10 May. It will then move across the region throughout the rest of the year. Dates and venues will be shared here: Southern Upland Way is 40 – DG Trails
If you have memories, stories or photos about the early days of the Southern Upland Way you can share them to: southernuplandway@dumgal.gov.uk
 9000 Native Trees Planted Across Dumfries and Galloway This Year Through Tree Grant Scheme
Through recent months, the South of Scotland Tree Planting Grant Scheme has funded the planting of 9099 native trees across Dumfries and Galloway. Awards have been made from Langholm to the Rhins of Galloway through the scheme’s third season of operation, making 92 awards and covering more than 23 hectares in total.
This year the South of Scotland Tree Planting Grant Scheme covered the entirety of Dumfries and Galloway and Scottish Borders Council regions. The scheme offers grants of up to £1000 to fund purchase of trees, protection and fencing costs. In Dumfries and Galloway this was funded from a variety of sources including Dumfries and Galloway Council (using funds from the Nature Restoration Fund), The Woodland Trust, Scottish Forestry and private donations.
Grant recipients varied from private landowners and farmers, through to community councils and school groups. A wide variety of native trees were planted, with the most popular – by number – including Willow, Alder, Hazel and Oak.
Dumfries and Galloway Woodlands is a new initiative seeking to support trees, habitats and the people that depend upon them across the region. Partners include Borders Forest Trust, Woodland Trust Scotland, Dumfries and Galloway Council and The National Lottery Heritage Fund. For more information about Dumfries and Galloway Woodlands, follow the Facebook or X pages, visit the website www.dgwoodlands.org.uk
 Remembering the Explorer Joseph Thomson
Joseph Thomson was born on 14 February 1858 in the village of Penpont. On graduating from Edinburgh University he joined an expedition to East Africa organised by the Royal Scottish Geographical Society as a geologist, but on the death of the leader he took over.
His third expedition in 1884 saw him attempt to cross Maasailand, which was key to opening up East Africa but that had previously proved impossible due to the ferocious Maasai who resisted any incursion onto their land.
Thomson's peaceful approach proved successful. He is remembered to this day by the Maasai who learn about his respect for their culture and about his powers of persuasion which often involved tricks such as false teeth and effervescent salts. His book "Through Maasai Land" published in 1885 is a fascinating account of his adventures.
The Joseph Thomson Maasai Trust
The Joseph Thomson Maasai Trust (JTMT) is a Scottish registered charity formed in 2016 that aims to promote the legacy of Joseph Thomson and works directly with the Maasai people, whose land he crossed.
The funds we raise for the education of girls goes directly to a community-based organisation, Olakira le Maa, based in Kajiado County, Kenya, Africa and run by Ezekiel ole Katato, a Maasai elder.
The JTMT aims to develop links with Ezekiel and his people in Africa, and to help him in his community work. To this end, the JTMT has decided to concentrate on raising funds to help his organisation promote the education of girls.
The JTMT will shortly be driving forward with a raft of new developments, as the first phase of its new five year plan. These will be unveiled following the next JTMT board meeting on 8 May, in Penpont. You can contact the JTMT to find out more through its general secretary: wright.pete@hotmail.co.uk
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