News

Everyone at Third Sector Dumfries and Galloway is deeply saddened at the passing of our friend and colleague Sharee Donoghue. Sharee was our Lead for Employability, Skills and Learning and joined the organisation in November 2021. Since then, she built and strengthened relationships with partners and other third sector organisations using her experience of over… Read more »

The next round of the Community Led Local Development Fund in Dumfries and Galloway is on its way. The fund priorities locally will be: Small revenue grants will be available up to £5,000 and the main revenue and capital grants programme will open to applications up to £50,000. A Local Action Group (LAG) made up… Read more »

Four community asset transfers from Dumfries and Galloway Council and the lease of land at Agnew Park in Stranraer to a local charity have been given the go-ahead this week. Queensberry Garages in Sanquhar was the site for a successful transfer application from Sanquhar Enterprise Company. Located off Queensberry Square, the garages will be refurbished… Read more »

What do volunteers mean to Food Train? Volunteers are Food Train. The charity introduces us to some for Volunteers’ Week 2024. We’re so grateful to all those past, present, and future who care to give their time and effort to make Food Train services happen across Dumfries and Galloway. This celebration of volunteering week, we… Read more »

Third sector organisations are being invited to take part in the Welcome Week at The University of Glasgow, Dumfries Campus from September 16th-20th. The university is seeking enthusiastic stallholders for various fairs, held daily from 9.30am to 2.30pm in the Rutherford McCowan Building on the Crichton Campus. Here’s what is planned for the week: Monday,… Read more »

As we celebrate the 40th anniversary of Volunteers Week, we are taking a look closer to home and featuring some of our own staff who volunteer for local organisations in their spare time. Richard Rennie, is our Locality Development Officer in Nithsdale, and volunteers as a cricket club coach. He said: “I recently moved back… Read more »

With the General Election due to take place on July 4, Third Sector Dumfries and Galloway has made the difficult decision to postpone our development conference ‘Build Innovate Sustain’ until later in the year. The election announcement has brought with it insurmountable logistical hurdles that require us to reschedule, to ensure the event can fully… Read more »

Dumfries and Galloway Citizens Advice Service profiles two volunteer generalist adviser for Volunteers’ Week 2024 Andrew Nyondo: Volunteer Generalist Adviser “Volunteering makes me feel like I am making a contribution to society.” Andrew Nyondo is a Volunteer Generalist Adviser at the Dumfries Bureau of Dumfries and Galloway Citizens Advice Service. Originally from Nigeria, he first… Read more »

Young volunteers donate their time to Dumfries Y Gymnastics Club and are mentored through the Saltire Awards Scheme. With their passion for the sport, the fantastic team of 9 young volunteers work with the gymnasts weekly in their classes and help out at club discos and competitions.  We have had great success in mentoring our… Read more »

The success of The Devil’s Porridge Museum is attributed to our dedicated volunteers, who come from all age groups. Our volunteers support different areas of the museum, from reception and the museum’s cafe, to supporting our collections, research projects, and clubs, as well as educational and holiday activities. In 2023, they provided activities and events… Read more »

Volunteers have always played a key role in our club structure throughout the years, more so now than ever. As our club continues to grow, the commitment and dedication from our volunteers is extremely valued. In our four-piece competitive section, we have Lorna and Lisa, who volunteer numerous hours weekly to help our gymnasts and… Read more »

For #VolunteersWeek, we feature Stewartry Dog Training Club, which was established in 1987 to provide people in the Stewartry and surrounding areas with an opportunity to train and learn with their dogs. The club also runs classes for puppies to help new owners, is registered with the Kennel Club and runs the Kennel Club Good… Read more »

For #VolunteersWeek, we feature some of the projects and the valuable work of Castle Douglas Development Forum. Stepping Stones Community Larder Stepping Stones Community Larder and Foodbank has been operating as a foodbank for over three years and more recently, as a community larder open to all, for almost a year now. They have an… Read more »

A pledge by the First Minister to eradicate child poverty in Scotland has been welcomed by Third Sector Dumfries and Galloway (TSDG) with a call to invest in the sector’s work in communities. In his statement to the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday, First Minister John Swinney made it clear that ending child poverty was the… Read more »

The 40th anniversary of Volunteers’ Week is fast approaching, taking place from June 3-9. Once again, Third Sector Dumfries and Galloway would love to help you showcase your volunteers throughout the week. We will be featuring the region’s amazing volunteers (including some of our own staff) across all our channels and hope you will want… Read more »

Elizabeth Sykes has worked as Manager of the Dumfries and Galloway Citizens Advice Service’s Stranraer Bureau since 2008.

Dumfries and Galloway Council in partnership with DG Unlimited has made grant awards totalling £50,000 from the Dumfries and Galloway Regional Arts Fund 2024/25. Thirteen local groups across the region are benefiting from the fund this year. Frank Hayes, Chair of DG Unlimited, the independent charity that champions the region’s arts, said: “DG Unlimited is proud… Read more »

Third sector organisations are invted to deliver free activities for vulnerable children and young people aged 5–16.

The plan will be used to help tackle inequalities and build a thriving economy over the next 10 years.

The Usual Place in Dumfries and seven other organisations in the region will benefit from a share of over £15 million of National Lottery funding which will help to keep vital local services running. The funding, made possible by National Lottery players, means that many community and voluntary sector groups will be able to continue… Read more »

Rosie McLuskie will succeed long-serving Michelle Carruthers in the role from April 1.

Food Train has secured top marks for the way in which the charity supports its volunteers to make a positive impact on older peoples’ lives. The Dumfries-founded organisation has been awarded Investing in Volunteers (IiV) status, recognising its high standards for good practice in how it works with its volunteers. Food Train’s operations are supported… Read more »

Disclosure Scotland is consulting on the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme fee waivers, discounting and accredited body fees.

Parents and families experiencing hardship can access essential items they need for their baby and toddler for free. 

The successful applicants were selected through an independent scoring panel.

The substantial sum directly contributes to the well-being of Carers and the individuals they care for.

Fledgling enterprises in Dumfries are being offered the chance to trade for free on the High Street. The opportunity to make use of The Smithy from Fridays until Mondays is part of a package of support being made available for start-ups through a Pop-up Enterprise Hub initiative aimed at providing a springboard to success. Led… Read more »

A Local Action Group made up of representatives from the third, public, and private sectors decided what applications were successful.

The £2.6 billion UK Shared Prosperity Fund succeeds the old EU structural funds.

Hello. I’m delighted to have joined Third Sector Dumfries and Galloway at such an important time for our sector and for our region. Much has changed over the past few years as we face the post-pandemic challenges that we haven’t yet addressed, on top of already difficult pressures for our children, families, and communities. I’m… Read more »

All community groups and community councils interested in gathering the views of their community for local place planning are invited to take part.

The map is designed to make the future simpler for companies across the region to access digital development.

Norma became the Chief Executive Officer of Third Sector Dumfries and Galloway in 2018.

Third Sector Dumfries and Galloway (TSDG) is looking for a consultant to identify third sector organisations within the region that are providing employability-related services to deliver activities linking to the Employability Pipeline. TSDG is one of 32 third sector interfaces in Scotland. There is one in each local authority area. TSDG has four purposes: To… Read more »

Community groups and charities across Dumfries and Galloway celebrate successful applications to the National Lottery and The Robertson Trust.

Those who participate will: develop business development and innovation skills, confidence, and leadership capabilities.

Equivalent to an MBE, it is the highest honour given to local voluntary groups in the UK.

12 ideas will be selected from submissions to Dumfries and Galloway Health and Social Care Partnership’s Intrapreneurship Programme. 

The Youth Awards recognise the incredible achievements, journeys and stories of young people and youth organisations in Dumfries and Galloway.

Kateryna Stoian’s primary responsibility is to assist volunteer involving organisations in enhancing their capacity and capability in volunteer management.

The funding from the Scottish Government will allow charities to deliver a range of projects.

Third Sector Dumfries and Galloway has a pool of consultants who we invite to support pieces of work on an ad hoc basis.

Michelle Carruthers praises volunteers and says: “It’s been an absolute privilege to do my job”.

The recognition marks the efforts of the organisation’s volunteers and the impact they have had on the community.

The Macmillan Improving the Cancer Journey service is a tried and tested model which provides one to one, tailored support for people affected by cancer.

Alan Webb will replace the organisation’s current chief executive, Norma Austin Hart, when she retires later this year.

The purpose of SEDG is to create opportunities for the Dumfries and Galloway social enterprise community to develop and thrive.

The total available in the region is £440,217 and is open to projects supporting those aged 16 and over.

The Minister had an opportunity to chat with clients who use their services, providing her with a rich insight into their experiences.

A Listening Ear Dumfries and Galloway will now be able to expand its current befriending services throughout the region following funding from the National Lottery Community Fund, Improving Lives. The project will see A Listening Ear continue its work to support people who are isolated and lonely in the region, extending its already successful telephone… Read more »