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Women’s Cricket: Summer Wee Bash comes to Dumfries

Women's Cricket: Summer Wee Bash comes to Dumfries
The teams at the Cricket Scotland Women and Girls Wee Bash tournament at Dumfries

The Cricket Scotland Beyond Boundaries Wee Bash returned to Dumfries on Sunday for some more women and girls soft ball cricket. Teams from Dumfries, Galloway and Prestwick cricket clubs and a mixed South-West Scorchers side took part in the 6-a-side event designed to encourage starters.

Each team played four games and although the emphasis is on playing fun cricket Galloway won the final against the ‘Scorchers’. Prestwick tied two games against Galloway and then Dumfries and each required a ‘super-over’ play-off to decide the result. With several playing their first game thanks go to Cricket Scotland for this Wee Bash and with more coming tournaments scheduled indoors. Those interested in trying women’s soft ball cricket can contact Dumfries CC and Galloway CC.

 

Alcohol Related Deaths On Rise Across Scotland

ALCHOL RELATED DEATHS ON RISE ACROSS SCOTLAND

More work is required on reducing alcohol-related harm, Drugs and Alcohol Policy Minister Elena Whitham has said.

Ms Whitham reaffirmed the Scottish Government’s focus on measures to tackle alcohol abuse, as the latest statistics show a small rise in deaths caused by alcohol.

The figures, published by National Records of Scotland, found that there were 1,276 alcohol-specific deaths registered in Scotland in 2022 – an increase of 2% (31) on 2021. Female deaths rose by 31 to 440, with male deaths unchanged at 836.

Visiting a Managed Alcohol Programme (MAP) pilot in Glasgow, which provides people experiencing homelessness and long-standing alcohol dependency with a regular dose of alcohol in an accommodation-based project, Ms Whitham said:

“Every life lost is a tragedy and my sympathy goes to all those affected by the loss of a loved one through alcohol.
“While we will need to better understand the reasons for this increase in deaths, I will do all I can to reduce alcohol-related harm. We will continue to work closely with Alcohol and Drug Partnerships (ADPs) and the third sector to address this public health priority, backed by substantial investment. This year £113 million will be made available to ADPs to support local and national initiatives ensuring that local services can respond to local needs.
“We will address the unique challenges women face when accessing treatment, support and recovery, including stigma, while recognising that men still remain at the highest risk of death. We are also working to ensure that people continue to receive the same quality of care as those with problematic drug use. We are supporting a review and update to clinical guidelines for alcohol treatment which will introduce new approaches in a broad range of settings including hospitals. This will help ensure anyone with problematic alcohol use receives the right treatment at the right time.
“This is in addition to wider activity – including our world-leading Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) policy. Recent research estimated it has saved hundreds of lives, likely averted hundreds of alcohol-attributable hospital admissions each year – and also contributed to reducing health inequalities. The research found the largest reductions in deaths and hospital admissions wholly attributable to alcohol consumption were seen in men and those living in the 40% most deprived areas.”

Simon Community Scotland deliver the Managed Alcohol Programme, supported by more than £210,000 Scottish Government funding over three years.

CEO Lorraine McGrath said:

“We took a big, brave and bold step in opening the first Managed Alcohol Programme in Scotland. We’ve learned a lot since we opened our doors – we learn from every man and his unique circumstances. We are gathering substantial evidence that this enhanced approach to harm reduction really works. It provides a safe home and support to men who, in some cases, haven’t had that in decades.
“Our ambition is not just for the men who we are privileged to get to know as they make their home here, but for every other person in Scotland who has an enduring dependence on alcohol. We hope that a MAP approach can become part of the fabric of services and opportunities made available, including for people in their own homes.”

Background

Small increase in alcohol-specific death statistics | National Records of Scotland (nrscotland.gov.uk)

Use ‘Second Hand September’ To Help Families Across Dumfries & Galloway

Use ‘Second Hand September’ to help families across Dumfries and Galloway

The region’s largest social landlord is asking people across Dumfries and Galloway to donate furniture to help local families “turn their house into a home.”

As part of Oxfam’s awareness month, ‘Second Hand September’, Wheatley Homes South are calling for people across the region to donate their unwanted furniture.

‘Second Hand September’ has been launched by Oxfam to encourage people to donate, reuse and rewear to reduce waste.

Wheatley’s Home Comforts service – funded by Wheatley Foundation, the charitable arm of Wheatley Group – collects and up-cycles furniture and then distributes it to tenants in need.

The furniture is cleaned while white goods are PAT tested and any repairs made before being distributed to families.

Launched in Dumfries and Galloway in 2022, the service is delivered in partnership with SHAX, a charity based in Dumfries, and the Community Reuse Shop in Stranraer.

Alan Glasgow, Managing Director of Wheatley Homes South, said: “We always do everything we can to support our customers across Dumfries and Galloway.

“Some of our tenants have very little furniture when they move into their new home but, thanks to our partnership with SHAX and Community Reuse, they will get the basics they need to get started in their home.

“We hope that people across the region will support this scheme by donating unwanted furniture to help our tenants turn their house into a home.”

Home Comforts is one of a range of wraparound support services offered by Wheatley Group to help tenants, including emergency food supplies through EatWell as well as free expert welfare benefits and fuel advice.

Anyone looking to donate items should visit https://shax.org.uk/donate/ or http://reuseshop.org.uk/

 

Jade and Jon Go Walkies For Dumfries and Galloway Canine Rescue Centre

Jade and Jon Go Walkies For Dumfries and Galloway Canine Rescue Centre
Jade and Jon

Dumfries and Galloway Canine Rescue Centre are half way through their 20th year.

During that time they have rehomed well over 5000 dogs and helped many more. To celebrate they are doing a fundraiser every month this year and this month three members of the team are walking 20 miles in one day.

Jade, Jack and Jon will be walking from Gretna back to the kennels in Glencaple on Saturday. They will be joined along the way by some of the dogs.

Organisers have set up a donate page online but you can also donate directly to the team on the day. With the current financial situation Dumfries and Galloway Canine Rescue Centre are finding more and more people are looking for help and being forced to give up their dogs, fundraisers like this really help these organisations stay open and continue to help as many dogs as possible.

Dumfries Locals Nominated for Scots Language Awards

An inspirational local businesswoman and an iconic Dumfries venue are among those  nominated for the Scots Language Awards 2023 in recognition of their incredible contribution to the language.

 

Angela Gilmour, managing director of LIFT D&G, a not-for-profit local community group, is nominated in the Scots Speaker o the Year category, while Moat Brae, the birthplace of Peter Pan and home to the National Centre for Children’s Literature, is up for Scots Project o the Year. They are among over 60 nominees in the running across 12 categories at the annual awards ceremony.

 

The ceremony will take place at Johnstone Town Hall, in partnership with Renfrewshire Council, on Saturday 16th September, showcasing the very best of Scots language and culture. The awards, which were first started in 2019, celebrate the importance of Scots language within arts and culture but also within daily life, education, and business.

 

Voting for this year’s Scots Language Awards will be open from Monday 28th August to Sunday 10th September 2023.

 

There will be a host of incredible entertainment on the night, including a recital from Renfrewshire’s poet laureate poet Shaun Moore, who was appointed as the region’s Tannahill Makar last year, talks from esteemed Scottish writers Cat Cochrane and Shane Strachan, and musical performances from celebrated brother duo Euan and Lewis McLaughlin, and talented folk singer Iona Fyfe.

 

Angela Gilmour said: “When I started the community group, I started meeting people who were involved with funding, local politics and the council. I felt like I came across as “common” or unintelligent, and approached my Board to provide me with training on how to speak “properly.” The Board assured me that the way I spoke was true and authentic to me and the area I live in, and to speak differently would be an injustice to myself and the people I aim to support in my work. It is for this reason I proudly speak the way I was brought up to speak – in Scots.”

 

Natalie Smith, Visitor Attraction Manager at Moat Brae, said: “We asked James Robertson an Matthew Fitt and a the guid folk at Itchy Coo if we could mark their 21st birthday wi a programme celebratin a their buiks in Scots, fae ‘The Gruffalo’ tae ‘Paddington’. Oor local visitors a uaise Scots and they were fair chuffed tae hear it in the centre. We uaised Scots buiks in a wir groups fur weans. We read ‘The Gruffalo in Scots’ at the Big DoG Bairns’ Buik Festival. We did a wee exhibition a aboot ‘The Eejits’, an in that we telt oor visitors a aboot the Scots leid. We even hid a ‘Chocolate Breakfast’ wi Wullie Wonka an the Oompa Loompas – it selt oot saw fast we hid tae hae mair!
“Fowk uaise Scots here in Dumfries every day, it widnae be richt tae let on fowk uaise English only. That’s how we hae sae much Scots in wir programmes.”

 

Scotland’s traditional culture, music and arts organisation Hands Up For Trad organise the annual event, and organiser Simon Thoumire said: “We ur delichtit tae let ye ken the number o nominees fir the Scots Leid Awards submitit ower aa the sindrie categories haes bin jist grand! An its bin wunnerfu tae lairn aboot aa the fowk, some names we already kent, ithers new tae us, ettlin tae mak shuir oor braw Scots leid steys in guid hert. It haes nivver been mair importint tae acknowledge the fowk whaes wirk is keeping the leid tae the fore baith in thir daily lives an in its cultur, music an wirds. Sae mony nominations tae mak ye prood, an submitit as weel fae aa pairts o Scotland includin Dumfries!
“Aince votin stairts, its ower tae the public tae mak thir chuisins. The winners wull be anooncit at a ceremony in Johnstone Toon Ha’ Johnstone Renfrewshire oan Seturday 16th September. It wull be a haurd joab tae chuise fae sae mony amazin nominees. Sae mak shuir ye get yer votes in!”

 

Scots language has long been used by authors, spoken in our top films, and is experiencing a contemporary year on year resurgence via social media including a huge new audience of all ages on TikTok, as communities connect and realise their heritage, led by the public, influencers, and media alike.

 

Voting for the Scots Language Awards will open on 28th August and votes can be cast at www.scotslanguageawards.com.

 

Tickets for the Scots Language Awards are available here:  https://renfrewshireboxoffice.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/1173641551

 

Sanquhar Riding School For Disadvantaged & Disabled Celebrates Successful Crowdfunding Campaign

Sanquhar Riding School For Disadvantaged and Disabled Celebrates Successful Crowdfunding Campaign

Horse lovers of Sanquhar and Upper Nithsdale are buzzing with excitement as Happy Hooves Sanquhar C.I.C, a much-loved riding school and equestrian centre, announces the success of its recent crowdfunding campaign.

Thanks to an outpouring of support from local residents and beyond, Happy Hooves has not only met but surpassed its £10,000 fundraising target, bringing its vision of an accessible, inclusive indoor equestrian arena closer to reality.

The community’s enthusiasm for the ambitious project is evident as donors, riders, local businesses and supporters rallied together to contribute to this worthy cause. The Sir Peter O’Sullevan Trust generously donated £7000 to the campaign. The Trust continues the legacy of Sir Peter O’Sullevan, a racing commentator and philanthropist known for his contributions to horse racing and charitable work.

Laura Wilson, the driving force behind Happy Hooves, expressed her thanks to all those who have made the campaign a success. “We are absolutely over the moon with the support we have received. This is a huge step forward for the project and demonstrates the public demand for the type of facilities we have planned”.

The funds will play a pivotal role in bringing the long-awaited Indoor Arena to life. This state-of-the-art facility will provide a versatile all-weather space for riding lessons and training, and with a vision for community empowerment and learning, the arena will collaborate with Upper Nithsdale Riding for the Disabled Association to offer transformative therapeutic programs for riders with complex physical and emotional needs.

Among its features are a Changing Space accessible toilet and shower, dedicated equipment to support disabled riders, a soft play area, retail space, and a café. Furthermore, the arena will open its doors to a range of community activities, like dog agility and other sporting events.

You can continue to donate to the Crowdfunding appeal until 20th September.

For more information about Happy Hooves and their mission, please visit https://happyhoovessanquhar.co.uk/new-indoor-arena-project

About Happy Hooves Sanquhar CIC:

Happy Hooves Sanquhar CIC is a community interest company based in Sanquhar. Committed to providing riding lessons and support to disadvantaged and disabled riders of all ages, Happy Hooves believes in the transformative power of equestrian therapy. The company is raising funds to build an all-weather indoor arena, enabling them to expand their reach and make a lasting impact on the community. With our upcoming indoor facilities, including a café, soft play area, classrooms for equine care training, and space for community use, we aim to be a hub of learning, engagement, and support. Our ambition is to make a positive impact on Sanquhar and its surrounding areas, fostering a vibrant and resilient local economy.

About the Sir Peter O’Sullevan Trust:

The Sir Peter O’Sullevan Trust is dedicated to improving the lives of those in need through grants to charitable organisations. By supporting a range of causes, including healthcare, welfare, and education, the Trust continues the legacy of Sir Peter O’Sullevan, a racing commentator and philanthropist known for his contributions to racing and charitable work.

SRUC Celebrates “Skills & Resilience” of Graduating Students

SRUC celebrates “skills and resilience” of graduating students
Image: Award-winning Applied Animal Science student Leigh Bell

More than 600 students are graduating from Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) in a range of subjects from Agriculture to Wildlife and Conservation Management.

A morning ceremony at the University of Glasgow’s Bute Hall today (28 August) will celebrate the achievements of HNC and HND students from the North, Central and South & West faculties, followed by an afternoon ceremony for degree and postgraduate degree students. 

Among the graduands is BSc (Hons) Applied Animal Science student Leigh Bell who has been awarded the SRUC Trust Prize for best honours dissertation and The Texel Sheep Society Educational Award for the best honours dissertation on a sheep-related topic.

The 22-year-old grew up surrounded by animals on the family farm at Kirkton, Hawick, which offered her plenty of work experience as a youngster.

After completing an HNC Animal Care course at the Barony campus, she went on to study Applied Animal Science in Edinburgh and is now starting a job as a trainee laboratory technician at SRUC’s Biomarkers lab on the campus.

She said: “The Applied Animal Science course allowed me to gain knowledge and experience in a variety of topics, from nutrition to epidemiology and conservation to breeding and genetics.
“Alongside these, current global issues surrounding climate change are also discussed, which I feel is of huge importance.
“In addition, the variety of learning methods – practical, in person lectures, trips and online lectures – helped maintain interest throughout the course.”

Graduating with an MSc in Organic Farming, David McKay hopes to put his thesis on Organic Action Plans in the UK and Europe to good use in his job as Head of Policy at the Soil Association.

The 46-year-old, from King Edward, Aberdeenshire, who studied via distance learning, has been awarded the SRUC Trust Prize for the best Master of Science Student in Organic Farming.

He said: “I consider myself extremely lucky to have been taught by people who wrote some of the core textbooks on this subject and have been involved in academic research that is regularly cited by others.“
Ahead of the ceremonies, Principal and Chief Executive Professor Wayne Powell said: “We are extremely proud of all our graduands.
“Although we have emerged from the restrictions and uncertainties of the pandemic, new challenges are emerging. The talent, skills, resilience and initiative our students have demonstrated and developed during their studies will ensure they are well equipped to face these issues.”

For more information about studying at SRUC, visit: www.sruc.ac.uk/courses

The Great Corsock Show Sets New Records!

Saturday 26th August was the day of the Great Corsock Show, with exhibitors and visitors coming from far and wide to attend a vital feature in the Stewartry’s event calendar.

A competitive record was set, with 319 entries received across the 55 categories, from baking to craft and vegetable to scarecrows.

 

The show was opened to the public at 1pm, with the ribbon cut by Pen Symonds, village resident and long-term show stalwart. Visitors were welcome to tour the categories, eat at the BBQ, take part in the bottle stall and enjoy some home baking. As a welcome addition this year, there was also clay pigeon shooting and a great fun golf game.

 

At 2.30pm, the cups and prizes were awarded, the remaining produce was auctioned off and then the raffle took place.

Cup winners:

Best Baking:                Mary Wong

Best Sponge:               Sharon Mitchell

Best Fruit & Veg:         Ronnie Carson

Mis-Shapen Veg:         Noah Elgar

Basket of Veg:             Ronnie Carson

1 flower + 1 veg:         Ronnie Carson

Scarecrow:                  Corsock House

Best Homebrew:         Tina Sanilands

Mini Garden:               Camila Ingall

Best Eggs:                    June Carson

Flowers:                       Ronnie Carson

Judges Challenge        Rose Jarvis (4 cupcakes)

Best Preserve:             John Green

Best Handicraft:          Cathy Laurie

Best Photo:                  Alisdair Marshall

Children’s Cup:            Flora Haggerm

Best Chutney:  Harriet Ingall + Duncan Forteath

 

Judi Shaw, a member of the organising committee, said:

“I spent the day saying “I haven’t seen you for ages, good to see you!”. It was great to welcome new people to the event, especially so many young people and capture their joy and enthusiasm. It was a wonderful event that demonstrated the coming together of a Village. I was able to share my auction goodies with a friend then she won one of the fabulous veg baskets in the raffle and shared that with me!
Once again record entries, with lots of folks already planning what they could enter next year! People enjoyed the additional activities, and we couldn’t survive without the BBQ.

Thank you to absolutely everyone involved.”

 

Funds raised will go to a variety of local good causes.

Wylie Almost Claims Another Class Podium Despite Back Of Grid Start

WYLIE ALMOST CLAIMS ANOTHER CLASS PODIUM DESPITE BACK OF GRID START
Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, Silverstone 2023 #37 Ross Wylie (UK, Richardson Racing)

Local Race Ace, Ross Wylie, from Thornhill near Dumfries, heads to the penultimate Porsche Carrera Cup GB event of the season next month still second in the Pro-Am class championship standings after enduring mixed fortunes in the latest races (27 Aug).

For the fifth time from six races, Wylie started his Glenturret Porsche 911 from the front row of the Pro-Am category, denied a second consecutive pole-position in the closing stages when he was baulked at the last corner of Donington Park’s 2.5-mile Grand Prix circuit.

Having made a good start, making up a place, Ross was unceremoniously hit up the rear halfway around the opening lap, ending his race on the spot. Team Redline Racing mechanics did well to repair the damage allowing Wylie to line-up 22nd on the 22-car grid later in the day.

Remarkably, Ross catapulted himself up the leaderboard, incredibly making up 11 places and into third in class with three-laps remaining despite the opening two-laps being neutralised behind the Safety Car. But fluid on the track at the final corner caused Ross to “lock-up’ and run wide, costing two places. At the chequered flag following 19-laps, Wylie missed out on his sixth Pro-Am podium of the season by a mere 0.353secs finishing fourth, dicing for ninth overall, having also set the class fastest lap.

Prior to his next Porsche Carrera Cup GB commitment at Silverstone over 23-24 September, Ross contests GT Cup races at Donington on 16-17 September. Wylie leads the GT Cup Championship outright by 38.5 points and heads the GTO class by a commanding 111.5pts.

Ross Wylie (GB):Age 31. Born & Lives Thornhill nr Dumfries, Scotland:
“Snatching the Pro-Am title is going to be a challenge as I’m now 23-points behind the leader but with four races remaining, there’s over 40pts still up for grabs so I’ll be pushing hard to the very last lap of the final race.
“It would have been really nice to snatch a podium in Race 2 having started from the very back of the grid but all things considered, it wasn’t a bad recovery. I had a car spin in front of me so lost momentum then got into third [in class] late on but had a lock-up when I hit fluid on the track and sailed past the corner, losing places, and critically third in Pro-Am.
“Getting hit up the rear on the opening lap of Race 1 was very frustrating which caused me to start from the back of the grid in the second race. I was in a good position, had made up a place, car felt great, and I felt confident. I was four lengths in front of a car behind but that car was hit by another pushing the car behind into me. Disaster. It marked my first non-finish in what was the 11th race of the season.”

 

Glenwhan Gardens Designated By Historic Environment Scotland

Glenwhan Gardens designated by Historic Environment Scotland
Credit -HES

Historic Environment Scotland (HES) has added Glenwhan Gardens and Arboretum, Dumfries and Galloway, to the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes.

Glenwhan Gardens and Arboretum is the inspiration of Tessa Knott Sinclair who began creating the garden from scratch during the late 1970s. Glenwhan is of outstanding artistic interest for how Tessa Knott Sinclair transformed wild and seemingly inhospitable moorland into one of Scotland’s most distinctive new gardens of recent times. The gardens benefit from outstanding views over water, linking water features of the garden with views over Luce Bay and the Mull of Galloway beyond. Glenwhan Gardens and Arboretum are also of interest for their collections of tender and rare species rhododendron and azaleas, shrubs, and trees, including many rare specimens from China and the southern hemisphere.

A member of the public nominated the site as part of Historic Environment Scotland’s  Designed Landscapes of the Recent Past project, an initiative to identify, record, recognise and celebrate Scotland’s modern garden and designed landscape heritage.

Glenwhan has now been added to the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes, a record of nationally important gardens and designed landscapes and a major resource for enhancing appreciation and understanding of these sites, as well as promoting education and stimulating further research.

Dara Parsons, Head of Designations at HES, said: “Glenwhan Gardens is an excellent addition to the inventory.

“Gardens and designed landscapes of the recent past such as Glenwhan are an important element of Scotland’s historic environment and landscape. However, they are not always valued as much as older sites and can also be vulnerable to loss. It’s important to record and promote awareness of these sites through our work. We also need to ensure we protect them in the same way as older sites.”
Tessa Knott Sinclair said: “We are delighted that Glenwhan Gardens has been recognised for its national significance in Scotland. For many years, we have worked to create a special and unique place for all to come enjoy the seasons in the garden. We are so pleased our efforts will now be marked and celebrated by Historic Environment Scotland.”

More information on Glenwhan Gardens and its designation status can be found on the HES Portal.

Adding this site to the inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes ensures that its cultural significance can be taken into account in future decisions about its management. More information about can be found on the HES website at Listing, Scheduling and Designations | Historic Environment Scotland.

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