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Welcome to the latest edition of the Public Protection Partnership newsletter. In this newsletter we look back on Public Protection Week 2026, explore its key themes and highlights, and shine a spotlight on Change Mental Health, a long‑standing partner supporting communities across Dumfries and Galloway.
As always, if there’s something you’d like to learn more about or contribute to a future edition, we’d love to hear from you, just get in touch using the contact details at the end of the newsletter.
Public Protection Week 2026: “Looking After Each Other”
 Public Protection Week 2026, held from 23–27 February, brought partners across Dumfries and Galloway together under the theme Looking After Each Other. The week offered a mix of well‑attended online sessions and an in‑person visit, creating opportunities to share learning, strengthen professional connections and reflect on wellbeing in public protection practice.
Engagement also extended into the community with an information stall at Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary, encouraging reflection and signposting to public protection information. A key highlight of the week was the opportunity to hear from and visit Change Mental Health, showcasing the value of community‑based, person‑centred support and reinforcing our shared responsibility for keeping people safe.
Spotlight: Change Mental Health
Public Protection Week Visit: Change Mental Health
For more than 40 years, Change Mental Health has supported people living with severe and enduring mental illness across the region. The organisation works closely with carers, statutory services and third‑sector partners to provide person‑centred, practical support.
A Service with Deep Local Roots
Originally founded as the National Schizophrenia Fellowship, the organisation has evolved significantly over the decades. In Dumfries and Galloway, services began in 1987 with:
- The Rendezvous Café (Dumfries)
- The Phoenix Club (Stranraer)
Today, support is available in Dumfries, Stranraer, Newton Stewart, Castle Douglas and Annan, reaching nearly 700 people over the past year.
What the Service Provides
Change Mental Health offers:
- Carer support
- One‑to‑one and outreach support (Care Inspectorate registered)
- Group activities and resource centres
- An employability programme helping people build confidence and skills
- Distress Brief Intervention (DBI) support across the region
People using the service consistently highlight the importance of having a safe, non‑judgemental space and the positive impact of rebuilding independence and connection.
Recognising Rural Challenges
The organisation continues to advocate for better outcomes in rural areas, addressing issues such as lower incomes, digital exclusion and limited transport links through both service delivery and national policy work.
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 On 23 February, attendees toured Change Mental Health’s community and employability services in Dumfries and Stranraer.
What Participants Saw
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Queensberry Street Resource Centre (Dumfries): creative wellbeing activities including arts, crafts and themed groups
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Munches Street (Employability Support Project): drama, reading groups, and structured activities focused on confidence and communication
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Stranraer Millennium Centre: opportunities to meet staff, learn about local support and explore the resource centre
The visit offered space for networking and learning more about non‑clinical mental health support available in communities across Dumfries and Galloway.
Referrals to Change Mental Health (except Carer Support) generally require a mental health assessment through a GP or Allied Health Professional.
For more information, visit: www.changemh.org.
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