Friday 22 May 2026
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.
Community Invited to Help Shape the Future of Kirkcudbright Bridge
Dumfries and Galloway Council is encouraging residents, businesses and stakeholders to take part in two upcoming community conversation events focussed on the future of Kirkcudbright Bridge.
The events take place on Thursday 4 June at the Merse side of the bridge and Tuesday 9 June at Harbour Square (both from 4pm to 7pm and they represent the next stage in developing a long-term solution for the bridge.
Since engagement sessions were held last year, further work has been undertaken to explore potential options for a replacement bridge. The upcoming events will give the community an opportunity to view these emerging options, including possible locations and types of structure and to learn more about the challenges and considerations involved.
Members of the project team will be on hand to explain the work carried out to date, outline the next steps in the process and respond to questions. Importantly, the sessions are designed to ensure that local views play a central role in shaping how the project progresses.
This is an early stage in the development of the project and feedback gathered during the events will be used to help refine options and inform the next phase of design and decision-making.
The events will be held in a drop-in format, allowing people to attend at a time that suits them. Visitors will also have the opportunity to complete a short questionnaire to share their views.
Dumfries and Galloway Council is keen to ensure that future plans for the bridge reflect the needs of those who live, work and visit Kirkcudbright and is encouraging anyone with an interest in the project to take part.
Coming up in This Week's Bulletin:
Dumfries and Galloway School Recognised in National Eco‑Schools Awards.
Funding Available for Nithsdale Communities.
Coastal Adventure Day Comes to Kirkcolm.
Dumfries and Galloway Multicultural Association International Women’s Group Welcomes New Members
In Case you Missed Them.
RBCFT Film of the Week: The Wages of Fear.
Dumfries and Galloway School Recognised in National Eco‑Schools Awards
A teacher at Hardgate Primary School has received national recognition for her work inspiring young people to take action on climate change.
Jo Wright was named Eco‑Coordinator of the Year at the Eco‑Schools Scotland awards. She was recognised for encouraging pupils, staff and the wider community to take part in regular environmental activities across the school week.
Her work has helped ensure that sustainability is embedded throughout school life, with strong support from local groups and partners.
Miss Wright also led the transformation of a previously underused woodland area into a welcoming outdoor learning space. Pupils, nursery groups and members of the local community now use the area regularly, both for learning and as a shared community resource.
This work contributed to the school receiving the Scottish Finest Woods Award, with the eco group travelling to the Scottish Parliament to accept the honour.
Eco‑Schools is the world’s largest sustainable schools programme, involving millions of children and educators across 73 countries. In Scotland, almost 900 schools currently hold a Green Flag Award, with many more working towards achieving one through the Climate Action Schools framework.
The programme is delivered in Scotland by Keep Scotland Beautiful and supported by the Scottish Government.
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Funding Available for Nithsdale Communities
Local groups and organisations across Nithsdale can now apply for a range of discretionary funding programmes to support community projects, activities and essential costs.
Available funding includes:
- Up to £10,000 for projects tackling poverty and inequality.
- Up to £2000 to help community buildings with utility bills.
- Up to £1000 for community planting and food training initiatives.
- Up to £800 for defibrillator maintenance.
- Up to £600 for sports clubs and £250 for individual athletes.
- Up to £300 to support remembrance event hospitality.
Deadlines vary by fund, with the earliest closing date on 30 June 2026.
Find out more about each fund, including eligibility and how to apply, by visiting the council website or contacting your local community team.
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Coastal Adventure Day Comes to Kirkcolm
The Biosphere Community of Kirkcolm will host a Coastal Adventure Day on Saturday 30 May, inviting residents and visitors to enjoy a day of outdoor activities along the Rhins of Galloway coastline. The event celebrates wellbeing, nature and the area’s unique coastal environment.
There will be a wide range of free activities for all ages, including:
- Bird watching and guided beach activities.
- Art sessions and Qi Gong on the beach.
- Stories of local shipwrecks shared by community historians.
- Boat trips to view offshore seagrass meadows.
- Safety advice from the Coastguard and RNLI.
- Children’s face-painting and crafts.
These activities offer a chance to explore the coast, learn something new and connect with nature in a relaxed and welcoming setting.
The event is organised by the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere Partnership and the Solway Coast and Marine Project (SCAMP Landscape Connections), in partnership with Kirkcolm Community Trust.
It marks the first major event in SCAMP’s community-led tourism programme. This programme supports local businesses and community groups to create sustainable visitor experiences and develop new income opportunities. SCAMP Landscape Connections is a long-term project supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and facilitated by Dumfries and Galloway Council. Over the next ten years, partners will deliver projects to strengthen coastal communities along more than 200 miles of shoreline, from Gretna to the Rhins of Galloway.
Kirkcolm Coastal Adventure Day will run from 11am to 3pm on Saturday 30 May.
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Dumfries and Galloway Multicultural Association International Women’s Group Welcomes New Members
DGMA International Women’s Group is actively recruiting new members and is eager to welcome women from all backgrounds.
The group offers a friendly, supportive space where women can connect, grow and feel part of a vibrant community.
Being part of the International Women’s Group brings a wide range of personal and social benefits. Members often find emotional support and a strong sense of belonging, as the group provides a safe and welcoming environment to share experiences and feel understood. Many women also discover a boost in confidence and self‑esteem as they take part in discussions, express their ideas and explore new opportunities.
The group regularly offers activities that help members learn new skills, gain practical knowledge and support their own personal development. Alongside this, the friendships formed within the group help create a strong support network, strengthening connections within the local community.
Regular social interaction and meaningful activities can also have a positive impact on mental health, helping to reduce stress and improve overall wellbeing.
Cultural exchange is another important part of the group’s identity. Members celebrate diversity by learning about different cultures, traditions, and perspectives, creating a richer and more inclusive community experience. There are also plenty of opportunities to get involved locally, from community events to collaborative projects, helping women feel more connected to the area. Above all, the group aims to empower women, supporting them to make decisions, achieve their goals and grow in confidence and independence.
The International Women’s Group meets every Thursday from 1pm to 2.30pm at DGMA, 179–185 High Street, Dumfries, DG1 2QT and they would love to see more women join their welcoming community.
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In Case you Missed Them.
Follow our WhatsApp channel for quick, trusted updates straight to your phone – here are a few stories you might have missed in May if you’re not already following:
Join our followers on What's App to receive the latest council news by clicking the button below.
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RBCFT Film of the Week: The Wages of Fear
Our film this week is a classic, nail-biting suspense thriller from France. The Wages of Fear (original title: Le salaire de la peur) was directed by Frenchman Henri-Georges Clouzot and won both The Golden Bear and the Palme d'Or in 1953.
Clouzot's film follows four desperate men as they embark on a treacherous journey, transporting a volatile cargo of nitro-glycerine to a massive oil well fire. Friendships and courage are pushed to the limit in this terrific thriller by a director who would go on to be dubbed the ‘French Hitchcock.’ We can also recommend his thriller ‘Les Diabloques’.
Although set in South America filming was set to take place in Spain until main star Yves Montand refused, due to his opposition to Franco’s fascist regime, so the film was shot in the south of France. Numerous problems plagued the production and filming that began in August of 1951 was not completed until the following summer. The wait was worth it: The Wages of Fear was a box office smash all over Europe. It was a massive hit in the UK despite it not being dubbed into English and won the BAFTA for Best Film in 1955.
The Wages of Fear was famously cut for U.S. distribution in 1954, due to scenes that denounced crooked U.S. business interests in Latin America. One of the character’s lines is “Wherever there's oil there's Americans.”
Film critic Roger Ebert said: "The film's extended suspense sequences deserve a place among the great stretches of cinema.” It’s little wonder that Christopher Nolan cited it as an influence on his own film Dunkirk.
You can see The Wages of Fear as part of our Summer Tuesday Film Club on Tuesday 16 June. The American remake, titled Sorcerer and directed by William Friedkin, was released in 1977. It will be coming to the RBC next year for its 50th anniversary.
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