Dumfries and Galloway Council

13/06/2026

🛟 Today marks the start of Drowning Prevention Week. The council and partners are using the opportunity to raise awareness of water safety techniques that will help keep people safe while still being able to enjoy the beautiful water environments across our region. Please follow along over the course of the week for advice, and remember these key rules:

🧠 Stop and think about the risks before going near water.
👀 Stay together and keep a close eye on children and vulnerable people.
🛟 Avoid entering the water to rescue someone, call 999 and look for something to throw.
💧 Float if you fall in, tilt your head back, relax and control your breathing.
📰 Be aware of local conditions, including currents, changing weather and uneven ground.

12/06/2026

📚👕 If you're in need of school uniforms or stationary, please consider coming along to one of our Back to School events where you can pick up uniforms, school supplies, and even some lunch, free of charge. More details in the post below 👇

📚👕 Free Back to School Uniform Events!

Please come along to any of our Back to School One Stop Shop events to collect free new and pre-loved school uniforms, stationer and lunch too!

ℹ️Dates, times and locations below.👇

📍 Stranraer – The Ryan Centre
Saturday 1st August 2026
11:00am – 3:00pm
Fairhurst Road, Stranraer, DG9 7AP

📍 Castle Douglas – Town Hall
Sunday 2nd August 2026
11:00am – 3:00pm
5 St Andrew Street, Castle Douglas, DG7 1DE

📍 Kelloholm – Hillview Leisure Centre
Friday 7th August 2026
11:00am – 3:00pm
Kirkland Drive, Kelloholm, DG4 6SD

📍 Dumfries – The Oasis Centre
Sunday 9th August 2026
11:00am – 3:00pm
Newall Terrace, Dumfries, DG1 1LW

📍 Annan – Newstart Recycle
Saturday 15th August 2026
9:00am – 12:00 noon
Unit E, Provost Mill, Queensberry Street, Annan, DG12 5BL

12/06/2026

Drowning Prevention Week begins tomorrow and Dumfries and Galloway Council is marking the occasion. With 200 miles of beautiful coastline and dozens of rivers and lochs, there's plenty of spaces to enjoy across the region. But, it's of paramount importance that we understand how to do so safely, what to do in an emergency and what tips just might help save a life. Read below for more information and keep your eyes peeled over the coming week for advice and information on our social media channels.

Dumfries and Galloway Council is supporting Drowning Prevention Week 2026, urging residents and visitors to stay safe while enjoying the region’s rivers, lochs and coastline.

11/06/2026

A small donation could make a big difference 👙

If you have pre-loved bras you no longer need, please consider donating them to Young Women's Network DG. Every donation supports the network in their fundraising, and it's a great way of recycling, too. Find out more in the post below 👇

11/06/2026

🧸 Help a child get ready for school with our free "Back to School" uniform events. If you have any spare school uniform, PE kit, bags or stationery in good condition, please consider donating them.

📍 Drop-off: any council Customer Service Centre.
📅 When: 6 July to 14 August 2026.

Every donation helps local families.

School Uniform Donations 🎒✏️👕

Do you have any school uniforms, sports clothes, schoolbags, gymbags, or school stationery that you don’t need anymore?

If they are still in good condition, please think about donating them to our Free Back to School Uniform Events!

You can drop off your donations at any Dumfries and Galloway Council Customer Service Centre between Monday 6th July and Friday 14th August 2026.

Thank you so much for your help!

10/06/2026

🍽️ The team at Care and Support Services - CASS have been raising awareness about dementia friendly table settings. Small changes at the table can make a big difference for people living with dementia.

Mealtimes can become confusing when there’s too much going on. But a few simple adjustments can help people see their food more clearly, stay independent, and enjoy eating again.

Here’s what helps:
✅ Use contrast. Brightly coloured plates can make food easier to see.
✅ Keep it simple. Reduce clutter and limit items on the table.
✅ Improve lighting. Bright, even light supports visibility.
✅ Make drinks visible. Coloured cups help them stand out.
✅ Reduce distractions. Turn off TVs and background noise.
✅ Keep centrepieces small. Large displays can block the view.

Try to avoid:
❌ Busy patterns or tablecloths.
❌ Too many utensils.
❌ Cluttered settings.
❌ Poor lighting.

As dementia progresses, the brain can struggle to separate objects from their background. That means food can “disappear” on the plate if there isn’t enough contrast.

💡 This isn’t about being difficult, it’s about how the brain processes information.

When we design tables with this in mind, we can:
✔ Support better nutrition
✔ Promote independence
✔ Make mealtimes more enjoyable

10/06/2026

If you're interested to hear what Dumfries Town Board have planned, why not pop along to one of their Pride in Place drop in sessions? A good chance to meet the team, hear about plans and share your own thoughts. More in the post below 👇

Join us at our Pride in Place Drop-In Sessions!

The Dumfries Town Board would like to invite everyone to our upcoming Pride in Place drop-in sessions, where we'll be sharing our exciting plans for the future of Dumfries.

📅 Session dates:
• Thursday 18 June 2026, 10am–2pm
• Friday 19 June 2026, 10am–2pm
• Monday 22 June 2026, 10am–2pm
• Thursday 25 June 2026, 5pm–7pm

📍 Venue:
Dumfries Town Board Office
The Hub, 24–26 Friars Vennel, Dumfries, DG1 2RL

Come along to hear more about our 17 Year One projects, our longer-term ambitions, and the key themes that will help shape Dumfries in the years ahead.

This is your opportunity to meet Town Board staff, Board members, and project partners, ask questions, share your thoughts, and find out how these projects will benefit our community.

We can't wait to share what we have planned! We'll also be providing more details about each project in the weeks leading up to the sessions, so keep an eye on our channels for updates.

10/06/2026

If you own an empty home – or are looking to buy a property – you can register with the Empty Homes Matchmaker Scheme.

The free scheme connects owners who want to sell with buyers actively searching for empty properties. It’s a simple way to increase the visibility of unused homes and help bring them back into use.

Owners can register online, upload photos and share key details about their property. You’ll receive an email when someone expresses interest and can choose whether to make direct contact. Support is also available on council tax, renovation and where to find further guidance.

Buyers can browse registered homes, view photos and partial addresses and submit an enquiry that goes straight to the owner.

Empty homes – whether in need of work or ready to live in – can offer affordable routes into homeownership or investment.

Find out more and register here 👉 https://orlo.uk/u1LlK

09/06/2026

A remarkable part of Dumfries and Galloway's heritage has received international recognition.

The Crichton Royal Institution Archive has joined the UNESCO Memory of the World Register, recognising its importance as a record of 19th century life, care, creativity and patient voice at the Crichton in Dumfries.

The archive is owned by NHS Dumfries and Galloway and cared for by our expert colleagues in Dumfries and Galloway Council's Heritage Service, with support from the Crichton Trust.

Read more: 🔗 https://orlo.uk/KaO8J