Friday 4 July 2025
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.
10,000 litres
This is the size of the fuel tank used by the emergency diesel generator at the council’s Dumfries-based emergency centre, known as The Bunker.
The Bunker was first installed underground in the early Eighties as an emergency control centre in the event of a nuclear conflict. It can produce its own lighting and heating for up to seven days if it was cut off from mains supplies.
There are also solid steel anti-blast doors fitted that are 20cm thick.
Today, The Bunker acts as a local resilience centre in the event of nine major risks such as severe weather, flooding, cyber-attack and widespread electricity failure.
Neil Sturrock, Senior Organisational Resilience Officer, says:
“The Bunker serves as a critical hub for coordinating emergency responses, allowing for centralised command and control. The Bunker helps various partner organisations collaborate effectively in a crisis.”
Up to 50 designated representatives, including Police Scotland, the Scottish Ambulance Service and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, can move into the space at a moment’s notice and conduct operations.
The Bunker was used to coordinate multi-agency responses to the Lockerbie disaster and the foot-and-mouth outbreak.
 From left to right: Stuart Comfort, Deputy Governor HMP Dumfries; Fiona Armstrong, Lord-Lieutenant of Dumfries; Ivan Kennedy, Lockerbie and District Rotary Club; Stephanie Urchick, President of Rotary International; Andy Hunstone, Governor HMP Dumfries; Bryan Woods, Lockerbie and District Rotary Club; Narek Bido, Rotary District 1320 Governor.
Lockerbie and District Rotary Gain Global Recognition
The President of Rotary International, Stephanie Urchick, visited HM Prison Dumfries to see how the work of Lockerbie and District Rotary Club is making a difference to rehabilitating offenders.
Under the guidance of businessman Bryan Woods, Lockerbie Rotary members source wood for use in the prison workshop. Those serving sentences then use it to make furniture and other items like sheds and planters, which are then given to local community groups.
Stephanie Urchick toured the prison gardens and workshop and was greatly impressed by the work being done to help the rehabilitation of offenders. Earlier this year, inspectors praised Dumfries prison for being well run with caring staff.
The Rotary Club of Lockerbie and District has at present 17 Members and is affiliated to Rotary International. It meets every Monday at the Somerton House Hotel Lockerbie. The club serves the local communities of Lochmaben, Lockerbie, Moffat and surrounding areas with many voluntary and fund raising activities.
Stephanie Urchick, is only the second woman to be President of Rotary International and she comes from Pennsylvania. She concluded her world tour with visits to Scottish districts of Rotary International.
Better Lives Partnership Outreach to Schools
A local charity is launching a new regionwide project to support neurodivergent school leavers.
The Better Lives Partnership was established in Castle Douglas in 2016 with five young people in attendance and the organisation has quickly grown with sites in Stranraer, Castle Douglas and Dumfries supporting over 80 young people.
The charity’s core activity is their Bridge to Employment Programme that aims to prepare young people with the skills and confidence needed to go on to college, work or volunteering. The person-centred approach seeks to draw out the strengths in every young person who attends and help them to fulfil their potential and follow their dreams.
Better Lives Partnership works closely with schools and has secured funding to deliver an outreach and transitions programme with schools right across the region. Having already run successful pilot projects in Sanquhar, Dalbeattie, Caste Douglas and Annan with thanks to the Dumfries and Galloway Regionwide Community Fund, they are in the process of planning the new programme with schools right across Dumfries and Galloway.
The planned mix of activities will support groups of senior pupils who are autistic or have other barriers to a positive post-school destination and will involve a mix of in-school sessions and transition sessions at one of their sites.
Cllr Tracey Little opens the refurbished Ewart Library.
The Ewart Library Reopens its Doors in Dumfries
The Ewart Library in Dumfries has reopened following a period of refurbishment – focussed on preserving the building’s heritage while introducing modern elements to enhance the visitor experience.
The Catherine Street building is once again open to the public, offering a welcoming space for reading, research and community connection. The refurbishment has carefully restored features like the original windows, mosaic flooring and the cupola, while also improving lighting, digital facilities and accessibility throughout the library.
The Ewart’s upgraded public PCs and printing facilities form part of a wider programme to improve digital access across our libraries and customer service centres, a rollout that is already well underway to help visitors access online services and information with ease.
This investment will help ensure the Ewart continues to serve the community for years to come, celebrating its history while providing a modern and comfortable space for everyone.
Pop in and see the refreshed library for yourself.
 Free Holiday Football Camp in Stranraer
The Scottish FA and Scottish Gas have partnered up to deliver a free holiday football camp to young people in Stranraer this summer.
Free camps will be held across Scotland and are designed to reduce stress on families by keeping children active, social, and engaged. The camps will run throughout July and August. Over 1500 children are expected to attend, each of whom will receive a free daily lunch at the camps.
The summer football camps build on recent findings that show nearly half of UK parents feel anxious about keeping children entertained and fed during school holidays. The camps are supported by former competitive players Lee McCulloch and Pat Nevin, who praise their focus on accessibility, community, and opportunity.
The Stranraer camp will be held at Stranraer Academy from 4 to 8 August.
If parents are interested in registering their child for an upcoming camp, they simply have to submit a contact form.
Eastriggs Pupils Say No to Dog Fouling and Littering
Pupils at Eastriggs Primary School decided that something needed to be done about dog fouling and litter in their area.
All classes at the school received support and ideas from Dumfries and Galloway Council's Community Safety Team and the school decided to embark on a poster campaign. Pupils designed their own dog fouling and litter posters, which they put up around Eastriggs, accompanied by the Community Safety Team.
The school hopes that the posters, which come in several bright and colourful designs, will draw attention and encourage people to be more responsible about dog fouling and litter.
Annan Community Landscape Planning Day
There will be opportunities to design a new vision for Everholm on Monday 14 July at the old playpark site.
Everyone is welcome to come and share ideas about how Everholm will look in the future. The event will include practical sessions with Phil Dowling of DG Woodlands and Jaye Gould, the Historical Herbalist, that use natural materials to spark ideas about how the space will look and feel.
Tom Hughes from Dumfries and Galloway Museums will offer sessions to craft your own miniature model to take home as a memento of your vision.
The day will run from 11.00am-3.30pm at Everholm, Annan DG12 5AA.
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