Barclays To Maintain Bank Services In Dumfries Thanks To Midsteeple Quarter Team

Oct 12, 2023

Midsteeple Quarter has joined fo rces with Barclays to ensure the bank can retain face-to-face services in Dumfries town centre.

Barclays announced earlier this summer that its current branch, in Castle Street, will be closing in October.

But it pledged to maintain a presence in the community – and that will be at 113 High Street, The Smithy.

From Tuesday October 17, Barclays will operate a Local Hub in the community-owned building every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, between 9am and 5pm.

From Friday until Monday each week, The Smithy will remain available for hire as a pop-up shop unit and events space.

Midsteeple Quarter Executive Director Scott Mackay said: “Working alongside Barclays, this is an agreement which will deliver real community benefits.

“Firstly, it secures in-person services from Barclays in the centre of Dumfries, which are vitally important. We know how much people locally were keen to ensure they were not lost.

“Secondly, it keeps The Smithy available at its most popular times for pop-up shops and events, offering great opportunities for people and organisations.

“At the same time, the certainty of regular rental income for three days each week gives us greater scope to consider how we can even more effectively use the space in the rest of the week to provide a springboard for local people starting new enterprises, which is so important to the future of our town centre and a key part of our community benefit society’s mission. Depending on their circumstances, we may be able to agree individual support packages to help.”

The Barclays Local will be staffed by familiar faces from the current branch. Services will include:

Making a plan for your money
Home buying or moving
Reducing your outgoings
Digital banking and staying safe online

People will be able to ask staff questions about everyday banking. They will also be able to show what customers can do via the Barclays app. There will be no cash or counter service.

Midsteeple Quarter is a community benefit society owned by – and acting for – the people of Dumfries.

It is bringing High Street buildings into community ownership as part of a long-term vision to revamp them and breathe fresh life into the town centre.

That work is currently most visible on the site of the former Baker’s Oven at 135-139 High Street where a groundbreaking transformation project to create Midsteeple Quarter’s first wave of new homes and enterprise spaces is underway.

New Chair For Region’s Social Enterprise Network

Oct 12, 2023

A new chairperson is in place for a Dumfries and Galloway network to support social enterprises.

Beth Morrison, of Just Breath O2, was welcomed to the lead role at the first in person meeting of the Social Enterprise Dumfries and Galloway (SEDG) Network hosted by Third Sector Dumfries and Galloway.

The purpose of SEDG is to create opportunities for the Dumfries and Galloway social enterprise community to develop and thrive and to recognise their positive impact on society, the local economy, and the communities they work for.

Beth said: “”I am absolutely delighted to have been given the opportunity to work alongside other social entrepreneurs and their teams in the area. Social enterprises have a lot to offer the region’s communities and wellbeing; however something that is very important and often overlooked, is how incredibly beneficial social enterprises are for the economy.

“I am extremely excited to work together to unlock the unrealised potential for social enterprises in Dumfries and Galloway.”

Just Breath O2 based in Dumfries is dedicated to bringing accessible hyperbaric oxygen therapy to the South of Scotland, providing individuals with the opportunity to self-manage their symptoms associated with long term and complex health conditions.

The members also welcomed Chris Martin, CEO of Social Enterprise Scotland, who provided an overview of the relationship between social enterprise and the Scottish Government. He also spoke about the transition of social enterprise from the Third Sector Unit in Scottish Government into the Wellbeing, Economy, Fair Work and Energy division.

He said: “”What a privilege it was to spend the day in Dumfries; I love getting out to rural areas to see, first hand, local communities using the social enterprise model to regenerate the local area, support vulnerable people and deliver where there has been market failure.

“It was great to see the breadth and diversity of projects across the area and I look forward to getting back down.”

Chris said the move of social enterprise into the new division was a positive move and an opportunity for social enterprises to be recognised for the social impact they make as well as contributing to the national economy.

To find out more about SEDG, call 0300 303 8558 or go to www.tsdg.org.uk/social-enterprise/dg-network/.

Wilko Makes A Return As Online Shopping Experience

Oct 12, 2023

Retailer, Wilko is to recommence with an home delivery for online orders from today [12^th October 2023], with a huge selection of products and brands available via its ‘marketplace’ format.

The site launches with thousands of product lines in stock to help families get all their everyday household and garden jobs done. In addition, hundreds of new lines and favourite own-brand products will be added daily as the site builds and customer convenient delivery solutions including next day delivery are returned.

For launch day, items across categories including cleaning and household, decorating and DIY, garden and outdoor, homeware, pets and wildlife, storage, seasonal celebrations such as Christmas, and more will be live.

While not all wilko own brand favourites will be immediately available from day one, shoppers are encouraged to keep returning as hundreds of lines will be added daily.

Formerly the online hub for retailer, wilko, wilko.com is now part of home and leisure retailer, The Range. Shoppers will also see wilko branded products appear in The Range stores nationwide towards the end of the month.

Ben Exall, Chief Digital Officer for wilko, said: “There’s no denying that it was the team members and local store network that helped make wilko so special. The loss of thousands of jobs as stores closed up and down the country has been devastating

Following the acquisition of the wilko brand and website by the Range, what we’re working towards here is an opportunity to save an important part of the wilko brand that people know, love and trust and, to represent that on wilko.com where both new and loyal hardworking families will be able to find great value products to meet their everyday household and garden needs.

“As a team delivering the digital transformation at wilko.com, we’re committed to continuing the three pillars of the brand’s previous acceleration strategy – delivering on convenience, improving mobile experience and building lasting customer relationships.”

Alex Simpkin, CEO of The Range, said: “For 93 years, wilko has been a fixture of many British households, synonymous for its breadth of products offering great quality value. It was important to us that the brand had a future.

“Using our online and digital expertise, our intention is to continue to offer the best of wilko brands and products alongside a breadth of household brands to its loyal customers who we hope will be happy to see this trusted brand live on.”

Wylie Finishes Creditable Runner-up In Porsche Carrera Cup Pro-Am Championship

Oct 10, 2023

Ross signs off from 2023 Porsche season with two more podiums in Brands Hatch finale

Ross Wylie, from Thornhill near Dumfries, has finished up a superb runner-up in the Porsche Carrera Cup Pro-Am Championship.

The 32-year-old Scotsman finished just seven-points behind the class winner after finishing second and third in the final two races at Brands Hatch in Kent last weekend (8 Oct).

Wylie has enjoyed a phenomenally successful season at the wheel of his 170mph Glenturret Porsche 911.

Ross finished in the Pro-Am top-five on 13 occasions in the 16-race series, including nine podiums, six wins, and in eight qualifying sessions that set the grid positions for the opening race, claimed front row positions on six occasions – including a pole-position at his “home” Knockhill event in August.

Wylie missed out on “pole” in the final minutes of qualifying and the extra point towards his championship tally by a mere 0.045secs around the 2.43-mile Brands GP circuit, lining up second in class for the opening 25-minute race.

Race One was shortened and featured only five racing laps, the remaining seven laps completed behind the Safety Car after an on-track incident with Wylie coming home second in class, Ross closing the gap to the class leader to just 11-points to keep his title hopes alive.

Unfortunately, Wylie was pushed wide on the opening lap causing Ross to lose five overall places and a vital class place, dropping to third in Pro-Am – a position he kept until the chequered flag after 17-laps.

In addition to main sponsor, The Glenturret, Scotland’s oldest working distillery, Wylie has been supported by Scottish confectionery company, Tunnock’s, plus local Dumfriesshire companies AL-2 Teknik UK, PyroDry and Carronbridge Sawmill during the year.

Ross Wylie (GB):
Age 32. Born & Lives Thornhill nr Dumfries, Scotland:

“It was a good weekend. I honestly couldn’t have done anymore – I pushed until the very end in the hope of snatching the title but it wasn’t to be. I’ve scored more class wins than anyone else so I’m proud in what I’ve achieved.

“Qualifying went well for me until the very last minute when I ‘lost’ pole and fell back to second fastest. The opening race was chaotic with cars going off but I managed to bring it home in second on the road but taking maximum points.

“In the second race I was pushed wide aggressively on the first lap, losing places, but battled on until the finish.

“A big thank you to Redline Racing for giving me a reliable and competitive car all season and of course all of my sponsors and congratulations to Max Bird who claimed the title.”

Dumfries Baptist Church to Host Dumfries Musical Theatre Company’s Joseph

Oct 7, 2023

Dumfries Musical Theatre Company are busy rehearsing for their upcoming production, ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,’ set to take place at Dumfries Baptist Church from the 4th to the 10th of November 2023.

This amateur production is made possible through an arrangement with The Really Useful Group Ltd.

‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,’ featuring lyrics by Tim Rice and music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, is a well-known musical that narrates the tale of Joseph, a dreamer adorned with a remarkable multicoloured coat. This family-friendly performance combines captivating music, dynamic dance sequences, and an emotionally resonant storyline. Audiences can anticipate a show filled with humour, drama, and a profound exploration of hope, forgiveness, and the significance of pursuing one’s dreams.

Book Online

The production will commence at 7:30 pm each evening, with a matinee scheduled for Sunday, 5th November at 2:00 pm. It’s worth noting that there will be no performance on Tuesday, 7th November.

Musical Director, Christopher Watt: Just like Joseph’s coat this show has loads of musical colour and I hope you will be laughing, crying and grooving along with our superbly talented cast. It has been a real joy to help bring this show together and to bring out much of the humour within the musical.

Director, Amy McCreadie: Rehearsals for Joseph have been nothing short of magical! Our talented cast and crew have poured their hearts into every moment, and I can’t wait for our audiences to see all of our hard work come together.

‘Joseph’, Peter Whitelaw: I have loved playing this iconic character and bringing Joseph to life. It’s been incredible to give my all rehearsing, bring my own style to the part and to sing all of the fantastic songs! I hope you’re coming to see a show that will have you singing and dancing long after the final curtain!

The show takes place at Dumfries Baptist Church

Ticket prices for this event are as follows:

Adults: £15
Individuals aged 16 and under: £10

Interested individuals can purchase tickets either at the Midsteeple Box Office or online through TicketSource via this link: https://bit.ly/DMTCtickets.

For further information and updates, you can follow Dumfries Musical Theatre Company on their social media platforms at @DumfriesMTC or visit their website at www.dumfriesmusicaltheatre.co.uk.

The venue for this event is Dumfries Baptist Church, located at Gillbrae Rd, Dumfries DG1 4EJ.

New Galloway To Host Grand Opening Concert After £450,000 Town Hall Renovation

Oct 7, 2023

New Galloway will officially re-open the doors to its historic Town Hall on 21^st October following a £450,000 renovation project supported by local and national funders.

A Grand Opening Concert, titled ‘A Time and a Place’, will feature music from the Glenkens performed by the Catstrand Singers. Guests will be joined by local Cubs and pupils from Kells Primary to place items in a Time Capsule to be sealed behind a false wall under the Town Hall’s stairs. The capsule will contain writings, photographs, mementos, special edition memorabilia and historic artefacts, which together create a picture of 21^st century life in Scotland’s smallest Royal Burgh.

The refurbishment commenced in 2022 with funding from public and third sector organisations including The Community Ownership Fund, Glenkens and District Trust, and the Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership. The current B-Listed building with its distinctive clocktower dates from 1875, when an 18^th-century tolbooth was rebuilt and enlarged. As the Town Hall for the Council of the smallest royal burgh in Scotland, the building has more recently been used as a community venue. The renovation project was coordinated by Local Initiatives for New Galloway (LING), the charity that took asset transfer of the building from Dumfries and Galloway Council in 2022.

Having faced down challenges ranging from dry rot to Covid lockdown the Town Hall has been fully and sympathetically restored, bringing to life unique features like the Victorian Moral Maxims painted around the Upper Hall walls. The exterior rendering and paint work has been restored and the 150-year-old clock has had a thorough MOT. At the same time the building has been brought into the modern age with the installation of a lift and disabled toilets. Additional support from the Scottish Government’s Let’s Do Net Zero Fund has enabled the building to become more environmentally-friendly, with carbon and energy saving measures that include secondary glazing and an air source heat pump.

‘A Time and a Place’ is expected to draw attendees from across the Glenkens and beyond for an afternoon packed with entertainment, which also marks the relaunch of the Town Hall’s programme of classes, activities and social events. Zumba, indoor bowling and the popular LING Lunches are already being advertised to book or drop in as the building returns to its historic position as New Galloway’s community hub. LING Trustees and volunteers are keen to spread the word that the Town Hall is a fully accessible venue that belongs to the community, with potential to reduce isolation, improve wellbeing, and build on the connectedness of rural life.

Chair of LING, Barbara Barker, says, “From start to finish New Galloway’s Town Hall project has been community-led and supported by an incredible diversity of partners and funders. We’re delighted to extend this invitation to our Grand Opening Concert which, with the sealing of the Town Hall Time Capsule, will be a once-in-a-generation event. We’ve called the concert ‘A Time and a Place’ because we want to capture past and present in a space that is a source of real pride to local people, and celebrate the fact that the Town Hall will be a landmark for generations to come.”

Tickets to the New Galloway’s ‘A Time and a Place’ Town Hall Grand Opening on 21^st October are bookable via Eventbrite: [https://tinyurl.com/4kay6epj]. Alternatively, please contact LING’s Community Inclusion Officer, Jackie Wells on 07749 249781.

Dumfries Mart Weekly Sales Report 2 & 4/10/23

Oct 7, 2023

DUMFRIES STORE CATTLE 02/10/2023

C&D Auction Marts held their fortnightly Sale of 833 Store Cattle in Dumfries including Annual October Sale of Organic Cattle.

227 Organic Cattle – A good ringside of buyers in attendance with all classes being keenly sought selling to £1690 for a Limousin bullock from JW Gibb, Toftcombs and to 345p/kg for Shorthorn bullocks from Dumfries House Farm. Bullocks averaged 299.6p/kg. Heifers sold to £1680 for Limousin from Toftcombs and to 321p/kg for Angus’s consigned by M. Hamilton, Woolfords.

Organic Bullocks per head – Limousin – £1690 £1630 £1530 Toftcombs, £1250 Mainhill. Angus – £1630 £1600 Toftcombs, £1540 £1450 Dumfries House. Charolais – £1590 Woolfords. British Blue – £1500 Torhousemuir. Simmental – £1450 Outer Blair. Beef Shorthorn – £1380 Dumfries House. Whitbred Shorthorn – £1380 Dumfries House.

Organic Heifers per head – Limousin – £1680 £1370 £1330 Toftcombs. Simmental – £1370 Outer Blair. Swed Red – £1370 Outer Blair. Angus – £1330 Toftcombs, £1300 Woolfords. Hereford – £1320 Kirwaugh. British Blue – £1320 £1290 £1250 Torhousemuir. Beef Shorthorn – £1140 Dumfries House.

Organic Bullocks per kilo- Beef Shorthorn – 345p Dumfries House. Whitbred Shorthorn – 345p Dumfries House. Angus – 333.30p Toftcombs, 321p Woolfords, 315.20p Dumfries House. Limousin – 332.70p 315.50p Toftcombs, 320.5p Mainhill. Charolais – 327.80p Woolfords. Simmental – 311.80p Outer Blair. British Blue – 305.30p Marshill.

Organic Heifers per kilo – Angus – 321p Woolfords, 312.90p Toftcombs. Limousin – 317p 312.90p 311.40p Toftcombs. Swed Red – 279.60p Outer Blair. Hereford – 275p Kirwaugh. British Blue – 269.40 Torhousemuir.

606 Non- Organics – Trade for all sorts meeting flurries of bids from the normal large attendance

Bullocks sold to £1770 for Limousin from J&E McIntyre, Glenlea and to 332p/kg from Belridding bullocks, Averaging 269.1p/kg.

Heifers attained £1630 for British Blue x from A&F Baillie, Low Glasnick and to 330p/kg Glenlea. Heifers averaged 250.6p/kg

Bulls from Herries Farms, Lantonside made £1350 and 317.1p/kg

Bullocks per head – Limousin – £1770 Glenea, £1610 Holehouse, £1570 £1480 Belridding, £1510 Rashgill Park, £1480 Kirkbride & Nether Locharwoods. British Blue – £1690 Larglea, £1430 Upper Moor, £1370 Auchenhill. Angus – £1670 £1380 £1370 West Lanegate, £1460 Holehouse, £1410 £1370 Landis, £1410 Kirkbride. Charolais – £1555 Shenrick, £1510 £1480 £1430 West Lanegate. Hereford – £1480 Ballaggan, £1400 Landis. Simmental – £1320 Upper Moor. Friesian – £1250 Holehouse.

Heifers per head – British Blue – £1630 £1460 £1440×2 Low Glasnick. Limousin – £1540 Rashgill Park, £1440 Belridding, £1430 Lantonside, £1220 Highlaw & Upper Moor, £1200 Mosside. Charolais – £1490 £1430 High Auchneel, £1260 Mosside. Simmental – £1390 £1300 High Auchneel. Angus – £1350 £1240×2 Netherhall, £1330 £1260 High Auchneel, £1290 Highlaw & Shenrick. Beef Shorthorn – £1310 High Auchneel, £1220 Boreland of Southwick, £1180 Dalswinton Hereford – £1300 High Auchneel. £1220 Maxwellbank. Belted Galloway – £1190 High Auchneel. Luing – £1180 Dalswinton, £1130 Barlochan Wood.

Bullocks per kilo – Limousin – 332.60p 317.20p Belridding, 324.30 Lantonside, 308.3p Nether Locharwoods. British Blue – 311.60p Auchenhill. Charolais – 302p West Lanegate, 301.90p Shenrick, 300p Auchenhill. Angus – 300p Kirkbride. Hereford – 279.20p Ballaggan. Galloway – 278.90p Baltersan.

Heifers per kilo – Limousin – 330p Glenlea, 316.50p Belridding. British Blue – 303.20p Low Glasnick. Simmental – 286.60p High Auchneel. Angus – 281.80p Netherhall. Charolais – 280p Mosside.

Bulls per kilo – Limousin – 317.10p Lantonside. Simmental – 306.50p Newbie Mains.

DUMFRIES PRIMESTOCK 02/10/2023

C&D Auction Marts held their fortnightly Sale of OTM and Prime Cattle in Dumfries.

72 Forward – Fleshed cows in big demand with plainer types meeting some resistance.

Beef cows to 250p/kg Dalswinton Estate and £1856.80 from TW Dunlop, Tregallon to average 195.5p/kg

Dary Cows to 225p/kg from Herries Farms and £1266.50 sold by ms Allen, Grains to average 137p/kg

Per Head – BSH – £1856.80 No2 Tregallon, £1573.25 Marchbank. Ayrs – £1721.25 Lantonside. AA – £1707.75 £1614.60 £1575 Dalswinton. Lim – £1694.55 Lantonside, £1517.55 Dalswinton. Sim – £1521 Maryfield. Fri – £1266.50 Grains. Nor Red – £1211 Shenrick. Hol – £1200.45 Rue, £1196.25 Philgown.

Per Kilo –AA – 250p 230p Dalswinton, 211p Marchbank. Sim – 237.80p 232.60p Lochhill, 209p Millhill. Lim – 237p 209p Lantonside, 201p Dalswinton. Ayr – 225p Lantonside, 145p Grains. BSH – 211p No2 Tregallon, 207p Marchbank. Nor Red – 173p Shenrick, 167p Kenyon. Fri – 170p Grains, 160p Philgown. Hol – 165p Philgown, 159p Rue.

DUMFRIES PRIMESTOCK 04/10/2023

C&D Auctions Ltd held their Wednesday sale of Prime Lambs and Cast Sheep in Dumfries

978 Prime Lambs – Flesh required for all classes, leaner sorts meeting some resistance. Sellling to £131 West Crossleys

95 Lambs (32.1kg-39kg) averaging 245.1kg to 268p/kg Troloss

Tex – £97 Bennan

Chev – £96 High Cairn

421 Lambs (39.1kg-45kg) averaging 245.7/kg to 265p/kg Eastside

Tex – £113.50 £112.50 New Farm, £113 Druidhall, £112 Bennan

344 Lambs (45.6kg-52kg) averaging 248.4p/kg to 255p/kg Druidhall

Tex – £129.50 East Polquhirter, £125 Druidhall, £123.50 Barnbarroch

19 Lambs (52.1kg+) averaging 238p/kg to 243p/kg West Crossleys

517 Cast Ewes and Rams forward.

All classes sold easier on the week

Rams

Tex – £148 High Cairn £140 Ballagan

Ewes

Tex – £128 Harley Rigg £120 East Polquhirter £120,118 Craigielands

Xs – £94 West Lanegate £94 Esat Polquhirter

Half Bred- £95 Hartbush

NCC- £107 Skipmyre £98 Philgowan

EC- £98 Carronhill

Chev- £80 Pilmuir

BF-£70 Hayfield £64 South Mains

The firm also held their first Wednesday Sale of Store Lambs.500 forward, were a good show for quality and sold to a competitive ringside of bidders.More numbers are required on a weekly basis.

Tex- £92 Burnhead £92 Townpark £90 Pilmuir £89 Barshill

X- £79 Merkland

BFL- £80 Barr

BF-£71 ,£56 Merkland

Shet- £46 Old Hemp Farm

Disruption To ScotRail Services Due To Amber Weather Warning

Oct 7, 2023

network rail flood — Image credit - Network Rail

ScotRail is warning customers that there will be significant disruption to services following an amber weather warning by the Met Office for heavy rain for parts of Scotland, with up to 180mm of rainfall forecast in many areas tomorrow (Saturday, 7 October), including the Highlands and central Scotland, and in the Glasgow, Perth, and Stirling areas.

As a result, ScotRail services will be suspended on the following routes from 01:00 tomorrow until Sunday morning:

West Highland line from Oban, Mallaig and Fort William.
Helensburgh Central/Balloch to Dalmuir. Services between Dalmuir and Glasgow will operate.
Highland Mainline between Perth and Inverness.

For those routes, we are advising customers not to travel as no rail replacement travel is available.

Most other routes across our network will be affected by speed restrictions as a safety precaution meaning services may be subject to delay or cancellation.

Customers are advised that they should travel only when necessary, to expect delays, and to check their journey before travelling by keeping an eye on our website, app, or social media feeds for live updates.

Customers whose journey has been cancelled or disrupted due to adverse weather this weekend can travel one day before or two days after the date on their ticket. Customers can also apply for a fee-free refund on any unused tickets.

David Simpson, ScotRail Service Delivery Director, said:

“The Met Office has issued an amber weather warning for heavy rain for parts of Scotland, which could see over a month’s worth expected to fall on areas of the Highlands and central Scotland, as well as Glasgow, Perth, and Stirling.

“We know the impact that the withdrawal of some train services will have on customers but it’s a necessary step to ensure the safety of our staff and customers due to the severe rainfall.

“As a precautionary measure in order to keep our customers and staff safe, speed restrictions will also be in place across most routes in Scotland, which will result in extended journey times.

“Customers are advised that they should travel only when necessary, and for those that do, they should check their journey before travelling, and keep an eye on our website, app or social media feeds for live updates.”

Sports Clubs Across South Of Scotland In With The Chance To Score £2,500 Funding From Aldi

Oct 7, 2023

Past Sports Fund winners - Community Archers — Aldi and Leith Community Archers Leith Academy School, 20 Academy Park, Edinburgh. Local archery club, Leith Community Archers (LCA), has received a £500 donation from the Aldi Scottish Sports Fund. To mark the donation announcement, the archery club, based at Leith Academy, were presented with a giant cheque from the local Aldi store manager, Bradley Stevenson. Pic caption: L-R Amy Fyvie aged 13, Heather Nicolson, David Holm, Bradley Stevenson of Aldi, George Fyvie and Aaron Brand aged 7 Neil Hanna Photography neilhannaphotography

Aldi’s Scottish Sport Fund has returned for its eighth year in a row, and local sports clubs across the South of Scotland can now apply for a share of £50,000.

The Sports Fund was launched by Aldi Scotland to encourage people of all ages and abilities to take part in physical activity within their local communities. The fund offers sports clubs up and down Scotland the opportunity to bag some essential funding. There are a range of funding tiers available, with one club in the area guaranteed to secure a £2,500 funding boost.

Since launching in 2016, over 530 clubs across Scotland have benefitted from a funding uplift of £340,000 through Aldi’s Scottish Sport Fund, helping to achieve its goal of improving community access to sports across the country.

Aldi’s Scottish Sport Fund is open to any sporting organisation that meets the application criteria. In 2022, Aldi supported a selection of sports clubs across Scotland, including Ayrshire Speed Skating, Currie Star Football, West Lothian Handball, Edinburgh Pony Club, and Coatbridge Indoor Bowling Club. The additional funding helped clubs fund training sessions and purchase new equipment.

Richard Holloway, Managing Director for Aldi Scotland, said: “Since launching in 2016, Aldi’s Scottish Sport Fund has given a range of local clubs access to essential funding to help them invest in much-needed equipment and resources.

  

“Sports clubs across Scotland have faced a really challenging time over the last few years, and I am proud that Aldi’s Scottish Sport Fund is able to give these clubs a helping hand to continue the fantastic work they do in their communities.

“Every year we are blown away by the volume of applications we receive, and very much look forward to welcoming more in 2023. I’d wholeheartedly encourage any sports clubs across the South of Scotland to apply and take advantage of this excellent funding opportunity.”

Aldi’s Scottish Sport Fund is part of the retailer’s wider commitment to help local communities in Scotland, which it also does through its Neighbourly partnership and Supermarket Sweep.

Sports clubs located across the South of Scotland have from Monday 25^th September – Sunday 29^th October to apply for funding. One applicant will be selected to receive £2,500 of funding, two applicants will each receive £1,000 of funding, while several other applicants will each receive £500 of funding towards their sports club. Applications can be made via a form found on https://www.aldi.co.uk/scottishsportfund.

The Aldi Scottish Sport Fund is open to any sporting organisation in Scotland that meets the application criteria. All applications will be considered by the Aldi judging panel and entrants will be notified of the outcome of their funding application within four to six weeks from the region’s deadline. Please see the Aldi Scottish Sport Fund FAQs and Terms & Conditions for more information.

First Ever South Of Scotland Thistle Awards Celebrates The Region’s Leading Lights In Tourism & Hospitality

Oct 7, 2023

First ever South of Scotland Thistle Awards celebrates the region’s leading lights in tourism and hospitality

Tourism and hospitality businesses from right across the South of Scotland are celebrating after emerging victorious at the region’s first ever dedicated regional Thistle Awards, held in Dumfries on 5 October.

Finalists, key suppliers and local leaders turned out in their finery for the glittering ceremony at the Cairndale Hotel and Leisure Club, sponsored by Caledonia Park Designer Outlet.

The awards ceremony was also sponsored by The Borders Distillery, Fishers, the Scottish Licensed Trade Association and Johnstons of Elgin.

The Scottish Thistle Awards celebrate the very best of the tourism and events industry, helping to shine the spotlight on this vital part of the local economy.

This year saw the South of Scotland host its first ever dedicated regional awards event, encouraging even more businesses than in previous years to achieve richly deserved recognition and acclaim from their peers and from the region as a whole.

The South of Scotland award winners

At the sell-out celebration event, South of Scotland Thistle Award-winners were unveiled in thirteen separate categories.

The winners, who will now go on to represent the South of Scotland at the national Scottish Thistle Awards finals in December, were:

Innovation in Tourism – Dalscone Farm
Best B&B or Guesthouse Experience – Nithbank Country Estate
Best Self-Catering Accommodation Experience – Arden Holiday Cottage
Best Bar or Pub – The Cross Keys Inn Ettrickbridge
Best Hotel Experience – Cringletie
Best Eating Experience – Allanton Inn
Outstanding Cultural Event or Festival – Borders Book Festival
Climate Action Award – Nithbank Country Estate
Celebrating Thriving Communities Award – The Devil’s Porridge Museum
Best Visitor Attraction – Trimontium Museum
Best Outdoor or Adventure Experience – Kitchen Coos and Ewes
Tourism and Hospitality Employer of the Year – The Beagle Country Pub and Barend Holiday Lodges
Tourism Individual of the Year – Melanie Allen (Nithbank Country Estate)

David Hope-Jones, Chief Executive of the South of Scotland Destination Alliance (SSDA) said:

“Hosting our first ever South of Scotland Thistle Awards has been a wonderful way of bringing together and honouring the leading lights in tourism and hospitality from our region – it’s been a celebration of the South of Scotland, by the South of Scotland.

“The independent judging panel were blown away by the calibre of all those who applied for the Awards, and while of course the awards night was all about recognising our brilliant local winners, we want to celebrate and pay tribute to everyone who took part in the process.

“I’d like to thank all our generous sponsors and fantastic suppliers for helping make our inaugural awards event such a roaring success. Now we wish our splendid winners every success as they get ready to fly the South of Scotland flag at the national Scottish Thistle Awards finals on 1 December.”

Professor Russel Griggs, Chair of South of Scotland Enterprise, said:

“A huge congratulations to all the finalists and winners in the first South of Scotland Thistle Awards, who have been recognised for their hard work attracting and accommodating visitors to our wonderful region.

“To have a dedicated awards evening for the tourism and hospitality sector in the South highlights the commitment of SOSE, SSDA, VisitScotland and both Councils to the local industry.

“All the partners are also committed to the new South of Scotland Responsible Tourism Strategy which aims to deliver the best for our visitors, our businesses, our people, our communities and our environment.”

VisitScotland Board member and Chair of the Scottish Thistle Awards industry panel, Steven Walker said:

“Congratulations to all of the winners at the very first South of Scotland Thistle Awards.

“The Scottish Thistle Awards shine a spotlight on the very best of Scotland’s tourism and events industry, celebrating the businesses and individuals who work hard to create the fantastic destination and visitor experiences that Scotland is famous for.

“The Scottish Thistle Awards mark an important celebration of the very best of our tourism and events industry and support the ambition for Scotland to be recognised globally as a leader in this field.

“I wish the regional winners the best of luck as they continue through to the Scottish Thistle Awards National Final later this year.”

Midsteeple Quarter Executive Director Scott Mackay said: “Working alongside Barclays, this is an agreement which will deliver real community benefits.

“Firstly, it secures in-person services from Barclays in the centre of Dumfries, which are vitally important. We know how much people locally were keen to ensure they were not lost.

“Secondly, it keeps The Smithy available at its most popular times for pop-up shops and events, offering great opportunities for people and organisations.

“I am extremely excited to work together to unlock the unrealised potential for social enterprises in Dumfries and Galloway.”

He said: “”What a privilege it was to spend the day in Dumfries; I love getting out to rural areas to see, first hand, local communities using the social enterprise model to regenerate the local area, support vulnerable people and deliver where there has been market failure.

“It was great to see the breadth and diversity of projects across the area and I look forward to getting back down.”

Ben Exall, Chief Digital Officer for wilko, said: “There’s no denying that it was the team members and local store network that helped make wilko so special. The loss of thousands of jobs as stores closed up and down the country has been devastating

“As a team delivering the digital transformation at wilko.com, we’re committed to continuing the three pillars of the brand’s previous acceleration strategy – delivering on convenience, improving mobile experience and building lasting customer relationships.”

Alex Simpkin, CEO of The Range, said: “For 93 years, wilko has been a fixture of many British households, synonymous for its breadth of products offering great quality value. It was important to us that the brand had a future.

“Using our online and digital expertise, our intention is to continue to offer the best of wilko brands and products alongside a breadth of household brands to its loyal customers who we hope will be happy to see this trusted brand live on.”

“It was a good weekend. I honestly couldn’t have done anymore – I pushed until the very end in the hope of snatching the title but it wasn’t to be. I’ve scored more class wins than anyone else so I’m proud in what I’ve achieved.

“Qualifying went well for me until the very last minute when I ‘lost’ pole and fell back to second fastest. The opening race was chaotic with cars going off but I managed to bring it home in second on the road but taking maximum points.

“In the second race I was pushed wide aggressively on the first lap, losing places, but battled on until the finish.

“A big thank you to Redline Racing for giving me a reliable and competitive car all season and of course all of my sponsors and congratulations to Max Bird who claimed the title.”

Dumfries Musical Theatre Company are busy rehearsing for their upcoming production, ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,’ set to take place at Dumfries Baptist Church from the 4th to the 10th of November 2023.

“The Met Office has issued an amber weather warning for heavy rain for parts of Scotland, which could see over a month’s worth expected to fall on areas of the Highlands and central Scotland, as well as Glasgow, Perth, and Stirling.

“We know the impact that the withdrawal of some train services will have on customers but it’s a necessary step to ensure the safety of our staff and customers due to the severe rainfall.

“As a precautionary measure in order to keep our customers and staff safe, speed restrictions will also be in place across most routes in Scotland, which will result in extended journey times.

“Customers are advised that they should travel only when necessary, and for those that do, they should check their journey before travelling, and keep an eye on our website, app or social media feeds for live updates.”

Richard Holloway, Managing Director for Aldi Scotland, said: “Since launching in 2016, Aldi’s Scottish Sport Fund has given a range of local clubs access to essential funding to help them invest in much-needed equipment and resources.

“Sports clubs across Scotland have faced a really challenging time over the last few years, and I am proud that Aldi’s Scottish Sport Fund is able to give these clubs a helping hand to continue the fantastic work they do in their communities.

“Every year we are blown away by the volume of applications we receive, and very much look forward to welcoming more in 2023. I’d wholeheartedly encourage any sports clubs across the South of Scotland to apply and take advantage of this excellent funding opportunity.”

The South of Scotland award winners

David Hope-Jones, Chief Executive of the South of Scotland Destination Alliance (SSDA) said:

“Hosting our first ever South of Scotland Thistle Awards has been a wonderful way of bringing together and honouring the leading lights in tourism and hospitality from our region – it’s been a celebration of the South of Scotland, by the South of Scotland.

“The independent judging panel were blown away by the calibre of all those who applied for the Awards, and while of course the awards night was all about recognising our brilliant local winners, we want to celebrate and pay tribute to everyone who took part in the process.

Professor Russel Griggs, Chair of South of Scotland Enterprise, said:

“A huge congratulations to all the finalists and winners in the first South of Scotland Thistle Awards, who have been recognised for their hard work attracting and accommodating visitors to our wonderful region.

“To have a dedicated awards evening for the tourism and hospitality sector in the South highlights the commitment of SOSE, SSDA, VisitScotland and both Councils to the local industry.

“All the partners are also committed to the new South of Scotland Responsible Tourism Strategy which aims to deliver the best for our visitors, our businesses, our people, our communities and our environment.”

VisitScotland Board member and Chair of the Scottish Thistle Awards industry panel, Steven Walker said:

“Congratulations to all of the winners at the very first South of Scotland Thistle Awards.

“The Scottish Thistle Awards shine a spotlight on the very best of Scotland’s tourism and events industry, celebrating the businesses and individuals who work hard to create the fantastic destination and visitor experiences that Scotland is famous for.

“The Scottish Thistle Awards mark an important celebration of the very best of our tourism and events industry and support the ambition for Scotland to be recognised globally as a leader in this field.

“I wish the regional winners the best of luck as they continue through to the Scottish Thistle Awards National Final later this year.”

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Richard Holloway, Managing Director for Aldi Scotland, said: “Since launching in 2016, Aldi’s Scottish Sport Fund has given a range of local clubs access to essential funding to help them invest in much-needed equipment and resources.

“Sports clubs across Scotland have faced a really challenging time over the last few years, and I am proud that Aldi’s Scottish Sport Fund is able to give these clubs a helping hand to continue the fantastic work they do in their communities.