Dumfries and Galloway Council

21/08/2026

🐾 Did you know you can see this wonderful illustration for The Gentle Shepherd by Allan Ramsay, painted by Dumfries artist John Thomson, at Dumfries Museum?

🎨 The artwork is part of the museum's Woof! A Celebration of Dogs in the Past display, which has been organised to coincide with the successful A Dog's Life exhibition at Gracefield Arts Centre.

🐶 If you're a dog lover, history enthusiast or simply looking for something interesting to explore, why not pay a visit and discover the stories of our four-legged friends through the ages?

21/08/2026

👩‍🎓👨‍🎓 With schools back for a new term, don't forget about the fantastic free Bookbug Sessions taking place in libraries across Dumfries and Galloway 👩‍👩‍👧‍👦👨‍👧‍👦

🎶 Designed for pre-school children and their parents, carers and families, Bookbug sessions are packed with songs, rhymes, stories and fun. As well as being a great way to spend time together, they can help support language development, build social skills and lay the foundations for reading later in life. 🎶

🆓 All Bookbug sessions are free and open to anyone caring for a child under school age. Check the pinned post on the Libraries page to find a session near you. 🆓

Lockerbie Bookbug Sessions

20/08/2026

Volunteer Spotlight: Emma ⚽🏐

Emma Imrie is a passionate and dedicated volunteer who has made a significant impact on opportunities for young people to take part in sport within her local community.

Emma first became involved at Canonbie Primary School, where she began supporting netball sessions attended by her children. When the teacher leading the sessions left, Emma stepped forward to continue the club, working with the Active Schools Team to gain her Netball Coach qualification.

Since then, the school has seen great success in primary netball competitions, with players progressing to area and district squads. Just as importantly, more children have had the chance to take part in sport, build confidence and develop healthy, active lifestyles.

Emma has since gone on to support netball at Langholm Primary School and Langholm Academy. Many of the young people she has coached have continued their sporting journey, with the Langholm Academy junior team going on to win the Dumfries and Galloway Secondary Schools Regional Netball Competition.

Her passion and commitment have also led her to volunteer as a coach with the Dumfries and Galloway District Squad.

Alongside her netball coaching, Emma plays a vital role as Secretary of Langholm Girls Football Club. She carries out a wide range of work behind the scenes to ensure the club runs smoothly. What started as an after-school session has grown into a thriving club, giving girls from across the area the opportunity to take part in football in a supportive and structured environment.

Emma says her motivation comes from wanting young people to experience the same enjoyment she found in sport growing up, and she highlights the wider benefits sport brings, including improved physical and mental wellbeing, as well as life skills such as commitment, resilience and teamwork.

Emma’s dedication has created lasting opportunities for young people and strengthened community sport in the area.

20/08/2026

✈️ The Dumfries Aviation Museum – 50 years on!

Join David Reid at Ewart Library on Monday 24 August for the next Happy Library Mondays talk, looking back at 50 years of the Dumfries Aviation Museum.

📅 Monday 24 August
🕙 10am–noon
📍 Ewart Library, Dumfries
🎟️ Free to attend

Happy Library Mondays brings a different activity to Ewart Library each Monday morning.

19/08/2026

Have your say on tackling poverty and inequality in Dumfries and Galloway.

We're updating our plan to tackle poverty and inequality, and we want to hear from people with lived experience.

Life can be harder for some people than others. This might be because of money worries, a disability, poor health, caring responsibilities, or other challenges.
Your views will help us understand what matters most and improve support for people and communities across Dumfries and Galloway.

Complete our short survey and help us create a fairer future for everyone.
🔗 Survey link: https://orlo.uk/4sL56

19/08/2026

Fantastic turnout within Annandale and Eskdale for such a worthwhile programme. Well done to everyone who took part :)

CHOOSE TO LEAD SUMMER LEADERSHIP ACADEMY 2026 | 22 young people from Annan Academy, Langholm Academy, Lockerbie Academy and Moffat Academy this week have come together for a two-day sports leadership course at Lockerbie Academy. ⚽️🎾🏉🏏🏀🏓

Young people from each school applied to do the course, which includes the Go Lead Sports Leadership Award, which covered themes such as communication, organising, planning and evaluation and the STEPS principle. 👍

The two days also includes Safeguarding and Protecting Children, Disability Games, Forward Planning, Saltire Awards registration, and a number of practical delivery sessions. 👌

These days begin to provide young people with the necessary skills to organise, support and deliver sporting sessions in their school and local community. They will also get opportunities to gain further skills, experience, and qualifications as part of their leadership journey, which can enhance employment opportunities. 🙌

The Choose to Lead Leadership Academy Programme which is supported by funding from the The Holywood Trust Trust has been running successfully for over thirteen years in Annandale and Eskdale with many young people moving on to positive destinations. 🙏

Today we were joined by Dumfries and Galloway Councils Executive Director of Education, Skills and Community Wellbeing, Gillian Brydson to observe the young people's learning. 🎓

17/08/2026

If you are staying on at school or post-compulsory education, then you might be eligible for some financial support via the Education Maintenance Allowance. Check out our website or email [email protected] for more information

14/08/2026

Community Bulletin – 14 August 2026 Dumfries and Galloway Council sent this bulletin at 14-08-2026 06:00 PM BST Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. Friday 14 August 2026 Welcome to Community, your Dumfries and Galloway community bulletin. We are always keen to hear of any pos...

14/08/2026

🌿 Have your say on the future of nature in Dumfries and Galloway

We’re inviting residents, community groups, land managers, businesses and organisations to take part in consultation on the draft Local Biodiversity Action Plan (LBAP).

The plan sets out how we protect, restore and connect nature across our region – supporting wildlife, communities, and our local economy.

📄 Read the draft plan and share your views

📍 Meet us at local events, including:
• Stranraer Farmers' Market – 12 July
• The Buccleuch Centre, Langholm – 15 July
• The Usual Place, Dumfries – 22 July
• Dumfries Agricultural Show – 1 August

🗓 Consultation closes: 20 September 2026

Your feedback will help shape the final plan.

👉 Find out more and take part: https://orlo.uk/ZR753

14/08/2026

🐾 Meet some of the greyhounds in the care of Dumfries and Cumbria Greyhound Rescue at Gracefield Arts Centre tomorrow, from 11am to 3pm.

A perfect companion to Gracefield’s current A Dog’s Life exhibition. 👇

Saturday 15 August 11-3pm
Meet Dumfries and Cumbria Greyhound Rescue!
This dedicated team look for forever homes or foster places for retired or injured, ex-racing greyhounds. They never put a healthy dog to sleep and will look for a home for as long as it takes. Raising all their own funds through events, donations and sales in their charity shop, the staff are all volunteers, and all income is used for the welfare of the dogs in their care.
Come along to chat to find out more... and of course, meet some of the greyhounds in their care.