Friday 5 June 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.
Celebrating our Volunteers
It’s Volunteers’ Week and across Dumfries and Galloway we’re celebrating the many people who give their time, skills and energy to support our communities.
This year’s celebrations come alongside the news that Dumfries and Galloway Council has retained the Investing in Volunteers accreditation for a further three years, recognising the strong support in place for volunteers and the vital role they play across council services.
From supporting young people in sport, preserving local heritage and improving community spaces, to helping people stay active, connected and included, volunteers make a real difference every day.
We are also celebrating individuals going above and beyond. This week, council staff member Libby Ong was recognised nationally as Volunteer Youth Worker of the Year at YouthLink Scotland’s National Youth Work Awards 2026 for her voluntary work with Girlguiding Scotland, supporting young people across the region.
As we mark Volunteers’ Week, we extend our thanks to every volunteer who contributes to life across Dumfries and Galloway. Your commitment helps strengthen our communities and creates opportunities for others every single day.
Annan Academy's National Young Enterprise Success
Annan Academy's Young Enterprise team, Grain of the Border, competed in the Young Enterprise Scottish Finals at Hampden Park on 27 May 2026.
They proudly displayed their product of wooden handmade keepsakes on the day, while collaborating with invited guests. This idea originally developed from their love of woodwork and skills they have learned within the department. After winning their regional event they went on to represent Dumfries and Galloway as one of 14 finalists from across Scotland.
The team were judged on their overall business portfolio that also included an interview, business report and presentation. Despite tough competition, Grain of the Border were successful in winning Scotland's Most Sustainable Young Enterprise Team 2026, demonstrating clear values and enthusiasm throughout the competition.
Annan Academy and the local community are all very proud of their achievements throughout this year, well done.
Dumfries and Galloway Welcomes Ukrainian Consul
Dumfries and Galloway Council recently welcomed the Consul of Ukraine in Edinburgh, Mr Andrii Madzianovskyi, to the Municipal Chambers in Dumfries.
The Consul met with Dumfries and Galloway Council Leader, Councillor Stephen Thompson, and Provost of Dumfries, Councillor Tracey Little, to discuss the strong links between the region and Ukraine. The meeting recognised the warm welcome offered to Ukrainians who have made Dumfries and Galloway their temporary home and the positive connections built within communities.
Discussions also reflected a shared interest in strengthening relationships between communities, particularly through culture, education and community connections, with a view to continuing positive dialogue in the future.
New Convener Elected for Dumfries and Galloway Council
Councillors have elected Councillor Tracey Little as the new Convener/Depute Leader (Civic Head) of Dumfries and Galloway Council at a special meeting on Monday 1 June.
The appointment follows the resignation of Councillor Katie Hagmann, who was recently elected as MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley. She will continue to serve as a ward councillor until May 2027.
In her new role, Cllr Little will chair Full Council meetings and represent the council at civic and ceremonial events. She will also continue in her roles as Dumfries Provost and Chair of the Education, Skills and Community Wellbeing Committee.
Community Partnership Supports ‘No Mow May’
Our council is pleased to be working in partnership with Bee Positive DG8 to support ‘No Mow May’ at a number of sites in Newton Stewart.
This initiative is a great example of how we can work with local communities and volunteers to take positive steps to support pollinators and enhance biodiversity, while also contributing to wider climate resilience and wellbeing goals.
The areas involved have been carefully selected, and we continue to ensure that safety considerations such as visibility and access are maintained.
We’ve been encouraged by the positive feedback from local residents and community groups, and we’d like to thank everyone who has taken the time to share their support.
We recognise that approaches to land management can generate different views, and this is part of an ongoing conversation about how we balance environmental benefits with the needs of our communities.
We will continue to work with local partners to review how these initiatives develop and consider opportunities to build on this approach in the future.
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Schools Across Dumfries and Galloway Join World Cup Day of Dance
Schools across Dumfries and Galloway will be stepping onto the dance floor this month as part of the national World Cup Day of Dance on Friday 12 June.
The initiative, led by the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society and the Scottish Association of Teachers of Physical Education, brings together football, music and Scottish country dancing to inspire young people to get active ahead of Scotland’s World Cup campaign.
A fantastic local response has already seen 19 schools from across the region sign up, including Shawhead, Kelloholm, Wallace Hall, Cargenbridge, New Abbey and Sanquhar Primary. Most will take part on 12 June, with some choosing alternative dates that suit their school community.
Participating schools have been provided with a resource pack and can tailor activities to suit their pupils, including learning themed dances such as the “World Cup Wheech”. Many are also planning to share photos or videos of their celebrations.
Good luck to all the pupils, staff and communities taking part.
Summer of Sport Launches Across Dumfries and Galloway
A new Summer of Sport programme is set to get under way across Dumfries and Galloway, bringing a wide range of free activities for children and young people.
Backed by £344,000 from the Scottish Government and delivered by Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Active Schools and Community Sport team in partnership with Sportscotland, the programme aims to make it easier for more young people to get active over the summer.
Activities will be available across the region for ages 3–26, with a focus on removing barriers to participation, supporting local clubs and creating inclusive opportunities for all.
The programme is part of a national initiative inspired by major sporting events in 2026, helping to encourage more young people to try new activities, build confidence and stay active.
The Palette of S. J. Peploe at Kirkcudbright Galleries
This summer we are delighted to bring a major exhibition of one of the famous scottish colourists, Samuel J Peploe.
Over 60 paintings by this wonderful artist, who took immense pleasure in the use of colour, who observed with care and painted with fluent talent, will be gathered for Kirkcudbright Galleries 2026 Summer Exhibition.
S.J. Peploe (1871–1935), celebrated worldwide as one of the leading Scottish Colourists, was as skilled at portraits and landscapes as his much admired and hugely popular still life paintings. His use of colour was breath-taking.
His intense personal response to place, to form, is clear in every painting.
Like all great artists he absorbed from his peers and developed his own unique touch. His life and work will be examined in this exceptional exhibition, which brings together works from national collections and a great many from private sources never before seen in public.
The exhibition is open from 6 June to 4 October 2026 and entrance is free.
Refugee Week 2026
Refugee Week takes place from 15–21 June, celebrating the courage, creativity and contributions of refugees and people seeking sanctuary.
This year’s theme, courage, highlights the strength shown in rebuilding lives and navigating new beginnings. The week also marks the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention, which defines refugee rights.
Locally, The Depot (Supporting Refugees in Dumfries and Galloway) will host a programme of events including a cookbook launch, film screening, poetry workshop and art exhibition at The Standard, Midsteeple Quarter, Dumfries.
Dumfries High School Move – Furniture and Equipment Available
Dumfries High School is moving into its new building, with the first day of teaching and learning taking place today, Friday 5 June.
As part of the move, there’s an opportunity for community organisations across Dumfries and Galloway to make use of furniture and equipment that won’t be required in the new building.
Community organisations are welcome to attend the old Dumfries High School between 9am and 5pm on:
- Monday 15 June.
- Thursday 16 June.
- Wednesday 17 June.
You’ll be able to look around and identify anything that could be useful for your organisation and take it on a first-come, first-served basis.
All available items will be located on the ground floor for ease of access.
If you’re planning a visit, please come ready to collect items there and then where possible, or to clearly mark what you’d like.
- You’ll need to bring something to label items (e.g. post-it notes, tags, tape)
- If you can’t take items immediately, they must be clearly marked
This is a great opportunity to make use of good-quality furniture and equipment – so please do take advantage if you can.
Funding Open for Wigtownshire Community Projects
Local groups and organisations in Wigtownshire can now apply for funding to support projects tackling poverty and inequality, as well as community events, community resilience and biodiversity projects.
Grants include:
- Up to £10,000 (main fund) and £1000 (small grants) for projects addressing key issues such as food insecurity, energy support and digital inclusion.
- Local allocations for community events and resilience activities.
- Up to £1000 to support festivals and events.
Applications close at midday on 6 July 2026 (poverty and inequalities funding), with expressions of interest for wider projects open until 2 August 2026.
Find full details, including eligibility and how to apply, on the council website.
Free Benefits Advice for Over 60s
Do you know someone aged 60 or over who may be struggling financially due to ill health or disability?
Dumfries and Galloway Council offers a free, confidential service providing welfare benefits advice and support. The team can help people check what they may be entitled to and support them through the application process.
Receiving the right support could provide extra income to help with everyday costs, such as household help, transport or other services that improve wellbeing.
All support is provided over the phone on 03033 333008, making it quick and easy to access.
Share Your Views and Gaelic Skills
We are developing a new Gaelic Language Plan, which will set out how we support Gaelic visibility, learning and cultural connections across the region.
The plan is a statutory requirement for local authorities and helps guide how Gaelic is recognised, supported and promoted locally.
As part of this work, we are inviting people across Dumfries and Galloway to complete a short Community Gaelic Skills Audit.
The survey will help us build a clearer picture of Gaelic language skills, awareness and interest across our communities. You do not need to speak Gaelic to take part – all responses are helpful and will support the development of the next plan.
Complete the Community/Public Gaelic Skills Audit by Friday 10 July.
Find out more about the current Gaelic Language Plan at:
Gaelic Language Plan 2022 to 2027 | Dumfries and Galloway Council
RBCFT Film of the Week: Leonora in the Morning Light
The RBCFT Film of the Week is Leonora in the Morning Light. This 2026 drama tells the true story of artist Leonora Carrington (1917–2011), who transformed trauma into celebrated modern art, becoming the highest-selling female British artist (one of her paintings sold for more than £22.5 million in 2024). Directed by Thor Klein and Lena Vurma, it follows her life after Max Ernst’s arrest in 1930s Paris.
Defiant, brilliant and untameable, Leonora Carrington refused to live by anyone’s rules but her own. In the charged atmosphere of 1930s Paris, she falls under the spell of the Surrealist movement – and into a passionate love affair with German artist Max Ernst. Together, they create a world where art and life blur, surrounded by icons like André Breton and Salvador Dalí, and build an otherworldly refuge in the south of France filled with sculpted creatures and strange, living dreams.
But as war engulfs Europe, their fantasy shatters. Ernst is arrested as an enemy alien, and Leonora is thrust into a nightmare of loss, madness, and survival. Fleeing to Spain, she spirals into psychological torment and endures brutal institutional treatment. Emerging scarred but unbroken, Leonora finds her way to Mexico – a place of magic and rebirth – where she reclaims her art, her identity, and her freedom.
The film is an illuminating exploration of the artist’s life. It’s not a full-on biopic as it makes Carrington’s health (her depression in particular) a central issue and here Olivia Vinall excels in the lead role, her performance deeply moving. Cinematography by Tudor Vladimir Panduru (who also photographed recent Cannes winner Fjord) is also stunning with visual flourishes that echo Carrington’s imaginative worldview.
You can see the Leonora in the Morning Light at the Robert Burns Centre tonight at 7pm. The RBC is delighted to welcome Thor and Lena, the directors of the film, for a special question and answer – and they’ll be in conversation with Dawn Henderby, Arts Officer with Dumfries and Galloway Council about the life and work of the artist.
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