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Friday 13 February 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.

Council Tax Billing is Moving to Email – Here’s What it Means for you

From 9 March, Dumfries and Galloway Council will begin sending annual council Tax bills by email to customers where we already hold a valid email address.

This means your bill will arrive more quickly and be easier to keep and refer back to. It also helps reduce printing, postage and the council’s carbon footprint.

Customers with an email address on record have now been sent an email explaining this change. If you have received an email and are happy to receive your Council Tax bill by email, you don’t need to do anything further – just make sure you read the information in the email by 24 February.

If you’d prefer to continue receiving your bill by post, you can opt out before 24 February using the online form linked in the email. Paper billing will remain available on request and if we’re unable to deliver an email to you (for example if messages are blocked or bounce back) we will continue to send your bills by post.

If you haven’t seen an email from us, it’s worth checking your junk or spam folder just in case. If you haven’t received an email and would like to receive your bill by email, you can sign up using the button below.

During an initial transition period, some amended bills may still be sent by post if your circumstances change after the annual bills have been issued.

You can read more about how the council uses your personal data in the updated Privacy Notice on our website.

If you have questions or need help, contact Council Tax on 030 33 33 3005, email council.tax@dumgal.gov.uk, or visit dumfriesandgalloway.gov.uk/council-tax

Sign up to receive your Council Tax bill by email. 

Celebrating Emma Currie’s Achievement and Recognition at St James’s Palace

Dumfries and Galloway Council is delighted to share that Emma Currie, Facilities Assistant at Cargenbridge Primary School, was selected to attend the prestigious Local Government Reception at St James’s Palace on 3 February 2026.

This special event, hosted by His Majesty The King, recognises frontline local government workers who make an exceptional contribution to their communities.

Emma’s nomination reflects her remarkable dedication to the safety and wellbeing of young people across Dumfries. In memory of Emma Ross, a pupil at Heathhall Primary School who tragically passed away following a cardiac arrest ten years ago, Emma Currie spearheaded an extraordinary fundraising campaign. Through her sustained effort and determination, she raised £33,000. This enabled the installation of defibrillators in all 23 primary schools across Dumfries.

Her work has been widely recognised in the community and through the council, with colleagues nominating her for several awards over the past year. Emma’s compassion, initiative and unwavering commitment to safeguarding children exemplify the very best of public service.

Emma's attendance at the St James’s Palace reception is a fitting recognition of her achievements, honouring not only her fundraising success but the profound personal motivation behind it. We congratulate Emma on her national acknowledgement and thank her for the difference she continues to make in our school communities.

Reducing Food Waste Through Olio Collections in Dumfries

One Dumfries resident has recently become an Olio collector in Dumfries, helping to reduce food waste by collecting unsold items from participating shops.

These retailers allow trained volunteers to collect food that is reaching its use‑by or best‑before date. Once collected, the items are listed on the Olio app, where people can reserve them for collection later that day or, for best‑before items, the following day.

Vicky, supported by her daughter Katie, currently collects on Mondays and Thursdays, alongside several other volunteers who cover different days and locations across the area.

This initiative helps ensure that good food is shared rather than thrown away, supporting both the community and ongoing efforts to minimise food waste. All food made available is within its safe use‑by date.

Free Dental Appointments in Castle Douglas

NHS dentists at Garden Hill Primary Care Centre are offering free dental check‑ups, along with one course of NHS treatment if required.

Please note that this service does not provide ongoing care or permanent registration. The check‑up is free and any treatment will follow standard NHS charges.

To book an appointment, call 01556 505714.

Hardie Engineering Scottish Curling Championships Return for 2026

Dumfries Curling is gearing up to welcome Scotland’s top curling talent back to the Dumfries Ice Bowl, as the Hardie Engineering Men’s and Women’s Scottish Curling Championships return from Tuesday 24 February to Saturday 28 February 2026.

This will be the fifth consecutive year that Dumfries hosts Scotland’s national curling championships. Taking place between the Winter Olympics and Paralympics, the event offers an exciting opportunity for athletes to compete at a time when interest in the sport is at a global peak.

Residents and visitors are encouraged to come along to the Ice Bowl and enjoy high‑quality live sport. Those keen to try curling for themselves can also take part in TryCurling sessions running throughout February, March and April. These sessions include coaching from qualified instructors and all equipment needed for beginners. More information is available at TryCurling.com.

The 2026 championships are supported once again by David Hardie Engineering Ltd., who are the Principal Sponsor. Their backing, combined with contributions from local businesses and the Dumfries and Galloway Council Major Events Fund, helps ensure the event continues to deliver a world‑class experience for competitors and spectators.

These championships follow a busy start to the year for the Ice Bowl, including the World Mixed Doubles Qualifiers, which brought more than 30 international teams to Dumfries and the Scottish Junior Mixed Doubles Qualifiers, a four‑day event featuring 48 teams and 120 games. Before the Scottish Championships take place, the venue will also host the English Curling Championships, further strengthening Dumfries’ reputation as a leading venue for the sport.

Behind every major event is a committed team of volunteers who return year after year to support the sport and the venue.

Join the Effort to Keep Dumfries and Galloway Beautiful

Dumfries and Galloway Council is once again proud to support this year’s Spring Clean campaign.

Our region has a strong track record of community spirit and every year we see incredible efforts from individuals, schools and local groups who care deeply about keeping our towns, beaches and green spaces litter‑free.

For 2026, we are encouraging any individual, school, business or community organisation to get involved by registering their own litter‑pick event. The council can provide:

• Rubbish bags for your clean‑up
• Collection and disposal of filled bags
• Advice and support through your local Ward Officer

Whether it’s a family clean‑up, a village‑wide effort, or a school or workplace activity, every action helps.

Research released ahead of this year’s #SpringCleanScotland campaign has revealed a stark truth about Scotland’s litter problem: half of Scottish adults (50%) admit to littering in the past year. As tens of thousands across Scotland prepare to take part in the nation’s biggest mass litter pick from 13 March to 24 April, these findings highlight just how vital community action is in tackling the growing litter emergency.

A YouGov survey for Keep Britain Tidy – delivered in Scotland by Keep Scotland Beautiful – uncovered that in the past year alone:

• 403,000 people (9%) left packaging behind after eating or drinking outside
• 313,000 people (7%) left rubbish at a bus or train stop
• 268,000 people (6%) threw or dropped litter from a vehicle window

Last year, more than 35,000 volunteers took part in Spring Clean Scotland, joining councils and road operators who already spend more than £1 million every week removing litter from public spaces. The problem is widespread, but together we can make a difference.

You can register your clean up event online or contact your local Ward Officer for support in getting started.

What’s Your Travel Story?

You may have seen the Storywagon in your town over recent weeks. It has been travelling across Dumfries and Galloway as part of Moving Stories, collecting real experiences of how people move around the region.

From walking and wheeling to cycling and taking the bus, these stories reflect the everyday journeys that help connect us to friends, family, work and the places we value.

With transport improvements on the way for the region, including new multi‑modal transport hubs, electric buses and better walking, wheeling and cycling routes, we want to understand how people travel now and what matters most to them.

We’re inviting you to share your own story. It might be a favourite route, a moment of connection, or how active or public travel supports your daily life. Every contribution helps build a fuller picture of how Dumfries and Galloway moves.

Pride of Scotland Awards

It’s time for the Pride of Scotland Awards again, which celebrate people who make an extraordinary difference to the lives of others. The awards will be filmed on 23 March and nominations are now open.

Organisers are looking for remarkable individuals from across Scotland in categories such as:

• Outstanding Bravery.
• Young Fundraiser.
• Child or Teenager of Courage.
• Lifetime Achievement.
• Emergency Services – recognising those who have gone beyond the call of duty.
• Special Recognition – for achievements not covered elsewhere, including inspiring carers, campaigners and members of the armed forces.

The Pride of Scotland Awards, run by the Daily Record in partnership with P&O Cruises, highlight people of all ages and backgrounds who have shown courage, compassion and commitment. Winners are chosen from thousands of public nominations by an independent judging panel and their achievements are celebrated at a national awards ceremony.

Selkie Soul Festival Comes to Stranraer

RBCFT Film of the Week

The North is Dutch filmmaker Bart Schrijver’s acclaimed drama, which follows former best friends and roommates Chris (Bart Harder) and Lluis (Carles Pulido), who meet up after a decade to hike Scotland’s West Highland Way and Cape Wrath Trail.

Having taken the same 350-mile walk in their youth, the pair hope to rekindle their once-strong friendship by spending 30 days together in the majestic, raw beauty of the Scottish Highlands.

But while Chris remains preoccupied with work and life back at home, Lluis is determined to finish the trail to prove he can still do it. Amidst the sweeping landscapes, harsh weather and chance encounters with other hikers, the solitude and silence of the trek force the pair to confront truths about themselves and their friendship.  

Shot entirely on the route of the walk and in chronological order, The North is a beautiful ode to friendship and the healing power of nature. It’s not only a poignant and powerful drama, but also perhaps the definitive hiking film, allowing us to take in the stunning majesty of the Highlands shoulder-to-shoulder with Lluis and Chris as they reconnect with each other and with nature.

There’s little surprise that The North has already been a big hit in The Netherlands with over 120,000 admissions so far. It should do well here too, especially with lovers of hiking and the great outdoors.

The North is released on 24 April, and you can see a sneak preview at the Robert Burns Centre on 1 April (National Walking Day).