Friday 19 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.
Armed Forces Week
Dumfries and Galloway Council is celebrating Armed Forces Week with events taking place from Monday 22 June.
Events are being held as part of the annual national campaign to provide everyone with the opportunity to show their support for the men and women of the armed forces, past and present, including serving troops, their families, reservists, veterans and cadets.
To start the week flag raising events are taking place across our region on Monday 22 June:
- 10am at Midsteeple, Dumfries.
- 10.45am at Castle Square, Stranraer.
- 11am at Annan Town Hall.
- 11am at Market Hill, Castle Douglas.
- 11am at Moffat Town Hall.
- 11am at Sanquhar Town Hall.
- 11am at Langholm Town Hall.
- 12pm at Dashwood Square, Newton Stewart.
- 6pm at Colliston Park, Dalbeattie.
On Armed Forces Day, Saturday 27 June 2026, a parade will take place from 11.40am until 12.30pm in Dumfries town centre. The parade will be led by members of Annan Town Band, followed by representatives of our retired and serving armed forces personnel. Councillor Archie Dryburgh MBE will be the master of ceremonies.
Free Summer Activities for Young People Across Dumfries and Galloway
A wide range of free summer activities for children and young people is available across the region from 2 July to 19 August, thanks to £264,000 of council investment.
Aimed at young people aged 5–18 (up to 25 for care experienced young people), the Summer of Play programme offers everything from sports and arts to day trips and community events, helping ensure that cost is no barrier to taking part.
View the full Summer of Play programme.
Free Youth Work Summer Programme Launched
Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Youth Work Service has launched its 2026 summer programme offering a wide range of free activities for young people aged 11–18 years during the school holidays.
The programme includes regular drop-in sessions and youth clubs, where young people can spend time with friends while enjoying free food and activities. There are also a range of special summer events, including makers sessions, sports activities, wellbeing groups and workshops.
Camp DG also returns for its sixth year, with more than 300 young people set to attend an overnight camp at St Ann’s Campsite. The week-long experience will include outdoor activities, team challenges, music nights and inflatables.
Alongside this, the Youth Council will meet over the holidays for team-building, training and planning sessions. Dedicated programmes will also run for the Champions Board and Young Women’s Network, including the ‘Dare, Dream, Do’ conference taking place in Castle Douglas this August.
To find out more about activities in your area this summer, visit Youthwork Dumfries and Galloway or follow @YouthworkDG on social media.
Project Search Named Business Champion of the Year
Project Search has been named Business Champion of the Year at this year’s DG Chamber Business Awards.
Project Search is a joint programme between the council’s Employability, Skills and Partnerships Team and Dumfries and Galloway College, working together to provide tailored support and meaningful work-based learning opportunities.
The award was recognition of its outstanding work in supporting young people with additional needs to develop skills, confidence and move into employment.
This year’s recognition is particularly special as the programme also marks 10 years of delivery in Dumfries and Galloway, reflecting a decade of opportunity, growth and achievement for local young people.
The programme combines classroom learning with practical work placements, helping participants build independence, gain valuable experience and develop the skills needed for the workplace. Through one-to-one support and structured internships, young people are supported to achieve positive destinations and realise their full potential.
The award recognises not only the strength of the partnership but also the commitment and dedication of the team, local employers and, most importantly, the interns themselves.
The success marks the team’s third award in the past 12 months, having picked up a Bronze Award for Commitment to Outcomes from Project Search and a 10-year anniversary recognition award.
Improvements at Newton Stewart Suspension Bridge
Further improvements have been completed around the suspension bridge in Newton Stewart, with two new benches installed on the Old Minnigaff side to provide seating and improve the riverside environment.
A new handmade picnic bench has also been prepared and installed on the Newton Stewart side – fitted to existing tree trunks of trees that were removed – adding to the public space for residents and visitors.
These enhancements follow earlier work to repair the bridge after storm damage, alongside tree removal carried out to protect public safety and the structure itself. New trees have since been planted as part of efforts to restore and improve the surrounding area.
Together, these works mark a positive step in both maintaining this important local asset and enhancing the space for the community to enjoy.
More Acts and Activities Announced for Youth Beatz 2026
Even more is on offer at this year’s Youth Beatz Festival, with the Up Yer Airts Stage, Dance Stage and Kids Tent line-ups now confirmed.
The Up Yer Airts Stage will showcase some of the best emerging musical talent from across Dumfries and Galloway, giving young performers the chance to take to a major festival stage. Alongside this, the Dance Stage will feature a packed programme of local dance groups covering everything from Highland and street dance to musical theatre.
For families, the popular Kids Tent returns with a full schedule of performances and activities, including storytelling, music sessions, magic shows and interactive fun throughout the day.
Youth Beatz Fringe 2026: Free Events in Communities Across the Region
A packed programme of free events has started across Dumfries and Galloway as part of the Youth Beatz Fringe 2026. Funded through the Youth Beatz Fringe Fund and shaped by both community groups and young people, this year’s line-up offers a wide range of activities for children, young people and families.
From sports sessions and community fun days to film screenings, creative workshops and free swim sessions, events are now running in local communities until 26 June. All activities are completely free, helping ensure that cost is no barrier to taking part.
The programme also includes the popular #WeCare event for care experienced young people, alongside a variety of inclusive, family-friendly sessions across the region.
For full details of events, times and booking information, see the full Youth Beatz Fringe 2026 programme.
Growing Community Tourism in the Machars
Local residents and business owners are invited to take part in Growing Community Tourism in the Machars, a free networking event at the New Town Hall, Whithorn, on Friday 26 June.
Co-hosted by the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere Partnership and All Roads Lead to Whithorn, the event will use interactive workshops to explore how tourism across the Machars can support local businesses, encourage visitors to stay longer, and deliver lasting benefits for communities and the environment.
The event is part of the Solway Coast and Marine Project – SCAMP Landscape Connections – which is developing community, heritage and nature restoration projects with support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Running from 11am to 3pm, the Whithorn workshop will focus on practical ideas and partnerships to help shape sustainable community tourism in the area.
Launch of Anti-Racism Observatory for Scotland (AROS) Community Hub
Dumfries and Galloway Multicultural Association (DGMA), in partnership with the Anti-Racism Observatory for Scotland (AROS), is hosting the launch of a new Regional Community Hub on Monday 29 June, 11am–1pm at DGMA Community Centre, 179–185 High Street, Dumfries.
The event marks an important step in strengthening local anti-racism work. AROS supports community-led action to tackle systemic racism and improve practice across the public and third sectors.
The Dumfries and Galloway hub will bring partners together to strengthen collaboration, amplify community voices and identify the support needed to embed sustainable anti-racism approaches. It forms part of a wider Scotland-wide network led by AROS, funded by the Scottish Government and hosted by the University of Strathclyde in partnership with the Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights.
DGMA, a key local partner, provides long-standing support to minority communities, including settlement support, ESOL classes, translation services and inclusive community activities.
The Queen Elizabeth Digital Memorial
The Queen Elizabeth Digital Memorial would love to hear the stories from you and your community, to map the key moments that defined the late Queen’s 70-year reign as a permanent record for future generations.
Whether it’s about past jubilees, street parties, a personal memory of a royal visit to your area, or simply a story of how a community came together, residents don’t need to have met the late Queen in person.
Help Shape Active Travel in Your Community
We are inviting community groups, charities, social enterprises and individuals to help make it easier to walk, wheel and cycle in Dumfries and Galloway. This is part of the Active Travel Accessibility Links Programme (2026 to 2027) led by SWestrans.
SWestrans is seeking “anchor organisations” for phase one of the Active Travel Accessibility Links Programme, focusing on Annan, Eastriggs, Lochmaben and Newton Stewart.
Successful groups will work with communities to identify barriers and shape local improvements.
Dog-Themed Exhibition Arrives at Gracefield Arts Centre
A new exhibition celebrating a love of dogs is coming to Gracefield Arts Centre in Dumfries from 27 June to 5 September.
A Dog’s Life brings together work from international artists, designers and photographers, exploring the unique bond between humans and their canine companions. The exhibition features a wide range of creative styles, from photography and illustration to sculpture, ceramics and textiles.
Visitors can also get involved through interactive displays, competitions and opportunities to share photos and drawings of their own dogs.
Summer Reading Challenge: Read to the Beat
The Summer Reading Challenge returns from 2 July to 20 August 2026, inviting children to keep reading over the school holidays with this year’s theme, Read to the Beat.
Celebrating the connection between music and storytelling, the programme encourages children to explore books inspired by rhythm, sound and creativity, while enjoying a range of free activities at their local library and online.
Children can sign up for free at their local library or online and will receive a collector folder, book bag and stickers to get started. Along the way, they’ll discover exciting reads, take part in themed activities and earn rewards, finishing with a certificate for completing the challenge.
Activities will run throughout the summer, making it a fun and engaging way to keep young minds active during the holidays.
Citizens Advice Urge Access to Basic Banking
Access to basic, no-frills bank accounts could play a key role in tackling poverty, according to Dumfries and Galloway Citizens Advice Service (DAG CAS).
The charity says thousands of people locally are struggling without a bank account, creating barriers to receiving wages or benefits, setting up direct debits and accessing affordable financial services.
DAG CAS is encouraging greater awareness and uptake of basic bank accounts, which are free, don’t require a credit check in most cases, and are available even to those in debt or who have experienced bankruptcy.
The service is also urging banks to better promote these accounts, which can help people avoid high-cost credit and manage their finances more effectively. For advice and support, contact Citizens Advice on 0300 303 4321.
RBCFT Film of the Week: Le Boucher (The Butcher)
The RBC Film of the week is 1970 French psychological thriller Le Boucher (The Butcher) from acclaimed director Claude Chabrol (1930–2010).
The film tells the story of a small-town schoolteacher named Hélène (played by Chabrol favourite Stéphane Audran) who becomes romantically involved with a local butcher named Popaul, who is suspected of being a serial killer. As their relationship deepens, Hélène becomes increasingly conflicted about her feelings for Popaul and her suspicions about his involvement in the murders.
The film is notable for its exploration of themes such as love, obsession and violence – as well as its examination of the tensions between urban and rural communities. Chabrol’s direction is subtle and nuanced, with a focus on character development and psychological depth. The film also features a standout performance by Audran, who captures the emotional complexity of her character and the sense of isolation and vulnerability that she experiences as she becomes entangled in Popaul’s world.
Le Boucher is a masterful example of French cinema, with its subtle pacing, intricate character development and psychological depth. It’s a tense and suspenseful thriller that explores complex and universal themes, and it stands as a testament to Chabrol’s skill as a director and his ability to craft compelling and thought-provoking narratives.
The BFI is set to re-release several of Chabrol’s films from his golden period of 1968–78, including Le Boucher, later in the year. You can see Chabrol’s 1995 thriller La Cérémonie (based on the Ruth Rendell novel A Judgement in Stone) at the RBC on 20 October as part of this year’s French Film Festival. The film charts the friendship between an introverted, illiterate housemaid Sophie and extroverted postal worker Jeanne (Isabelle Huppert), culminating in a chilling act of violence.
|
