PROGRAMME LAUNCHED TO SUPPORT KIRKCUDBRIGHTS INDEPENDENT RETAILERS

Castle Street Kirkcudbright , Copyright R.B Photography

Independent retailers in Kirkcudbright town centre are being encouraged to enrol in the “Let’s Talk Shop” programme, a free course of specialised Shop Doctor support.

Bill Smith, the Shop Doctor, will be delivering his informative and motivational retail master-class, “Let’s Talk Shop” workshop to retailers on the evening of Monday 15th Sept. The evening starts at 6.30pm at Kirkcudbright Town Hall, and there are high hopes for a big turn out from the town centre businesses. Business owners attending will have an opportunity to share ideas on how the economic vitality of independent retailers in Kirkcudbright can be enhanced.

In addition to the master-class, independent retailers in the town will qualify to receive an “in store” surgery from The Shop Doctor enabling them to directly benefit from his specialised advice.

Each of the shops enrolled for the “one to one” visits will also receive a comprehensive report focused on helping to re-energise each of the individual businesses participating, and be eligible for a £500 grant towards the implementation of recommendations made by the Shop Doctor. A follow-up check-up will be arranged 12 months later. To be considered for a visit/grant, retailers need to register before the 15th Sept and attend the workshop on the night.

Councillor Colin Smyth, Chair of the Council’s Economy, Environment and Infrastructure Committee said:
“Expert and impartial advice is always welcome when town centres are struggling. In many cases retailers don’t have to spend a fortune to benefit from the Shop Dr’s advice and our high streets could be completely transformed. I would encourage all independent retailers in Kirkcudbright to get involved in this programme.”

To register for the ‘Let’s Talk Shop’ workshop, contact the Council on 030 33 33 3000 and ask for Stephanie Carrick in Economic Development or
email stephanie.carrick@dumgal.gov.uk

For further information contact: Grant Coltart, Economic Development Officer, Planning & Environment Services Department. Tel No 01387 260327 or email grant.coltart@dumgal.gov.uk

 

THE SEARCH IS ON FOR A DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY GOLDSMITH

1 a 1 a gold 4 DGWGO were Contacted today , to help someone with a very Special and secretive project !

The Actual Gold our page member has collected with their pan.
The Actual Gold our page member has collected with their pan.

A DGWGO page member who shall stay 100% anonymous , who since mid July has spending /time  in the Mennock Pass  panning for gold .  The Mennock pass carries the B797  road which runs from the small village of Mennock on the A76 to Abington near the M74, passing through the villages of Wanlockhead reaching 467 metres which makes it the highest village in Scotland  and Leadhills ,here in our very own Dumfries and Galloway .

Well the whole point of our Prospectors Panning was to gather enough Gold to make a wedding band for their partner ,and they have now succeeded .

This is where you lot come in , Do any of you know of a local Gold smith who can Turn this D&G Gold hoard into a wedding band ? If you have any info that may help or if you are skilled to do this , please contact us on info@dgwgo.com so we can pass the info on !

 

 

 

If your interested in learning about panning for gold in the hills of Dumfries and Galloway the Lead mining Museum at Wanlockhead  run gold panning Classes –

Whether you are serious about gold panning or just want to try your hand, we can help. Gold Panning taster sessions are available daily throughout July & August and also during major Bank Holiday weekends. Follow the directions of the Gold Panner and we guarantee that you will find REAL gold that you can take away with you and we will even send out a certificate confirming that you found gold at Wanlockhead!

If the bug catches then you can hire a gold pan and wander off into the local rivers and burns to try your luck, we won’t guarantee success but what nicer way to spend a day than by a burbling river in the Scottish hills.

For the more serious prospectors we run regular 5 hour gold panning courses with an experienced gold panner or 2 day courses with Vincent Thurkettle (former World Champion Gold Panner and President of the World Gold Panning Association).

More info on http://www.leadminingmuseum.co.uk/home.shtml

 

DGWGO FRIDAY FOCUS -BORDERS ASPERGER & AUTISM GROUP SUPPORT

1 a 1 a Employment relationships A5On Tuesday 16 September BAAGS will be hosting an event in the Cairndale Hotel, Dumfries aimed at all employers, managers, business owners, employment support staff, teachers, voluntary groups and third sector organsiations, social workers, careers advisors, parents, carers, individuals on the autistic spectrum and any others who may wish to learn more about encouraging an autistic person to gain employment skills and experience.

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The event is organised by BAAGS , and independent parent-run support group based in the Scottish Borders (Galashiels) but which covers the whole of the Borders, including Dumfriesshire.

 

 

There will be four speakers delivering short presentations between 1pm and 4pm. Cost is £40 per person and will include lunch. The speakers are a solicitor with vast experience and 1 a 1 a Dugals Friday Focusknowledge of Employment Law, an Company Director of a firm which employes young adults with a wide range of disabilities including autism, a Company Owner who founded the firm initially to help his son who has autism gain useful employment and a very intelligent lady who has had an exceptionally varied career including working as an Autism Co-ordinator and Government Advisor – who also has autism.

We would very much appreciate being able to maximise this event through all media options to reach as many people as possible in our aim to promote the skills autistic people have and how they could benefit and improve the working environment for all trades and business areas so please do share this link to anyone you know who it may help .

 

Find out more at http://www.baags.co.uk/

How to contact BAAGS

Address :

Borders Asperger & Autism Group (BAAGS)
1 Cotgreen Road
Tweedbank
Galashiels
TD1 3SG

E-Mail :

baags@btconnect.com

 

Telephone :

Call Derek on 01896 668 961

18,000 FOLK THROUGH THE GATES AT GALLOWAY COUNTRY FAIR 2014

 The Galloway Country Fair team can confirm that 18,000 people attended the event over the course of last  weekend. The Team from Drumlanrig’s flagship event sent these photos , a wee selection of their favourites , so you can see just how much fun everyone had .

 

If you attended the event , they would love you to fill in their wee survey , to help them build on things for next year

https://surveymonkey.com/s/T889JPQ

 

Photos supplied and Copyright to  Galloway Country fair

DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY’s ALBATEC RX TEAM SIGNS FIRST WOMAN DRIVER

Dumfries, Scotland (UK) — Friday 22 August, 2014: Swedish rally star Ramona Karlsson will replace Jacques Villeneuve in an Albatec Racing Peugeot 208 in round nine of the FIA World Rallycross Championship presented by Monster Energy. The first female to enter the World RX arena, Ramona will join 2011 MSA British Rallycross Vice-Champion Andy Scott in Buxtehude over the weekend of 20&21 September.

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Former motocross racer Ramona has an impressive pedigree behind the wheel, twice becoming Swedish Crosskart champion and Swedish junior rallycross medalist before moving into rallying in 2000. The first Swedish woman to take part in a World Rally Championship (PWRC) event in a Mitsubishi EVOX, Ramona collected four Swedish championship podiums in 2013 in a Skoda Fabia WRC where she became the first female driver ever to win an event outright, on her way to the Rally Driver Of The Year award.

The rapid racer also contested the opening rounds of the 2014 Euro RX in a Saab 9-3, but now joins Albatec Racing at the wheel of a 600bhp two-litre, 16v Peugeot 208 Supercar in a bid to break into the semi final positions. With the support and backing of Swedol, STP, Motorlotteriet and Thoréns i Kil, Ramona will join the team at a test session at Mayenne in France, immediately prior to Lohéac, before making her World RX debut two weeks later.

So far this season Andy has qualified for three of the four rounds contested, after missing the three Scandinavian rounds to give up his car for former F1 World Champion Jacques, who crashed heavily in testing. The French-Canadian was well-placed to qualify at Trois-Rivieres last time out, running fifth overall before damage sustained in heat three forced him out of the event.

The former Indycar World Series Champion returns to World RX action in the Franciacorta round of the series at the end of September, after missing the two rounds due to clashing television commitments.

Andy Scott, Team Principal, Albatec Racing:

“I’m very excited to see Ramona in the team, as I believe she has a lot of potential both in the car and out. She comes into rallycross with a huge amount of experience across rallying and rallycross, and she will I’m sure be an asset to the team.

“In our dealings with her so far, she has been incredibly professional and a pleasure to work with. And I look forward to working with her during the event and hopefully beyond. She has proven her ability time and again, and is very proactive and commercially aware, which can only benefit both parties as well as rallycross in general. I look forward to welcoming her into the Albatec family where we are determined to provide her with the tools to help her achieve her goal of reaching the semi finals.”

Ramona Karlsson, Albatec Racing driver #47

“In Höljes, we had some technical issues with the car, which resulted in me not competing in Belgium, and I was approached by Albatec to see if I was interested in opening up discussions for 2015. During that conversation, we talked about the commercial benefits of all parties for me to take part in some races this season, as I intend to contest the full World Rallycross Championship next year.

“The co-operation with Albatec was very recently settled, and I’m extremely excited to be joining them. I have watched the team with interest all season, having had communications with them before the start of the year, and I’ve been incredibly impressed by their professionalism, their attention to detail, and their enthusiasm. I look forward to working with their engineers and mechanics to help develop the 208 into an outright race-winning car.

“I hope we have a good test and I get a good feeling for the car, I think it will be a big difference from the Saab, but I will really take the opportunity to soak up all I can. I’m really looking forward to Germany and my goal is to reach the semi finals.”

 

Photo credits: Tony Welam, Tom Banks Photography and emotorsport.se

MULL OF GALLOWAY TRUST RECIEVES £10,000 AWARD

1 a 1 a mull of galloway 4The Mull of Galloway Trust has recently been awarded £10,000 by Awards for All. Maureen Chand, Chairperson of the Mull of Galloway Trust said “
“We are absolutely delighted to receive this funding to enable us to continue to develop and improve the site which will attract additional tourists to the area and hopefully increase the economic prosperity of the community”

The grant is to be used for new signage around the Mull of Galloway reserve and lighthouse to include interpretation panels about history, flora and fauna and the Beaufighter air crash in 1944. This new signage will help communicate important aspects to visitors about Scotland’s most southerly point and provide facts, information and guidance to visitors in order to increase their enjoyment of the reserve and lighthouse.
The Trust will be working closely with RSPB over the next few months and using the services of their design team. The new interpretation panels are hoped to be in place for the 2015 season at the Mull of Galloway.

ANNANDALE AND ESKDALE YOUNG SPORTS LEADERSHIP ACADEMY

A four day Young Sports Leadership Academy has been taking place in Annandale and Eskdale delivered by Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Active School and Community Sport Team.

Twenty young people from Langholm, Lockerbie, Moffat and Annan were brought together in Lockerbie Academy for a four day intensive course. This course included a series of workshops and training activities which would provide them with the necessary skills to deliver organised sporting sessions in their school and local community. The courses the young people participated in during the four days included UK Sports Leaders, First Aid, Positive Coaching Scotland, Lets Motivate, Top Play/Sport and Safeguarding and Protecting Children and Volunteering.

The course was aimed at enhancing the delivery of physical activity and sport in schools and communities across Annandale and Eskdale by inspiring school aged pupils to become ambassadors for sport and leadership in the secondary school and associated primary cluster. The initiative that grouped together pupils from S4 – S6 to provided skills and training far beyond the Sport Leader course content. This enhancement will also create realistic pathways into university courses and careers and also build confidence in leadership skills.

Annandale and Eskdale Area Committee Chairman Cllr Ronnie Ogilvie “Hopefully this training will set the young people up to help support and deliver extracurricular programmes of sport and physical activity in schools and in their local community in Annandale and Eskdale. Our Council have delivered a range of certified training opportunities for these young people that not only demonstrate their commitment but can open up doors to further education or employment. We will continue to work with the young people and mentor them to enhance both the young people skills and confidence and provide more opportunities for others to take part in sport and physical activity in the school and local community”

‘IN OUR TOWN’ BRINGS BIKE ACTION AND THRILLS TO DOCK PARK

1 a 1 a  in our town copy1 a 1 a bike 3 1 a 1 a bike 27Stanes bike display team are on their way to Dumfries.
They’ll be bringing with them two of the best trials riders in the UK who will be performing big drops, riding rails and taking part in competitions against each other.

 

Take a look at some of the action to expect:
Get along to Dock Park between 12pm and 5pm for a spectacular FREE to see, afternoon show.

DGWGO FEATURED ARTIST – JANE MADDEN

1 a 1 a Jane Madden profile picJANE MADDEN is an artist and illustrator who lives and works in Dumfries and Galloway.

She spent her early years on a farm in the Lake District before moving to a farm in South Devon and has always had a keen interest in wildlife and the countryside.
Jane did a foundation course in art at Plymouth College of Art and Design and went on to do a degree in Illustration at the University of Westminster, London.
She moved, with her family, to Dumfries and Galloway in 2004 and has since built her own studio called ‘Black Cat Art Cabin’ at her home near Kirkton.

 

 

 The Dumfries and Galloway countryside is a constant source of inspiration for her artwork as it is “…so beautiful and rich in wildlife. Every season has its own character and there is always something to see.”
Jane is, currently, working on a series of paintings of ‘Birds in Landscapes’ but she also paints animal portraits and particularly enjoys painting farm animals. She likes to use a variety of different mediums for her artwork but most of her larger paintings are either oil or acrylic paint on canvas.

She has, also, painted murals at a couple of local primary schools (Duncow Primary School and Ae Primary School). At Duncow Primary School she painted a ‘Four Seasons’ mural and, also, painted some designs on the playground. At Ae Primary School she painted a ‘Tree of Knowledge’ mural which is composed almost entirely of words.

Jane has, recently, created a large mosaic for the ‘Sam Leask Memorial Playground’ in Kirkton. The playground mosaic was commissioned by Sam Leask’s mother, Katharine. Katharine assisted Jane in the creation of the mosaic.

She has, also written and illustrated a children’s book called ‘Fartimus – Fart Propelled Owl’ which is a humorous story, told in rhyme, about a little owl with a BIG problem with wind. The book is on sale at Tarff, the Heathhall Garden Centre and is also available on Amazon. Her inspiration for the illustrations in the book was drawn from the Dumfries and Galloway countryside.

 

For ‘World Book Day’ Jane ran a folding book making workshop at Ae Primary School. The children at the school were asked to create a story of a journey. Jane produced some examples to inspire the children. One was a journey of the imagination, where a boy imagines travelling to the moon. Another is of a snail’s journey across the patio. The children came up with some fantastic ideas of their own and thoroughly enjoyed the workshop.
Jane feels very privileged to live in such a beautiful place as Dumfries and Galloway.

You can Purchase a copy of Fartimus on this link http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jane-Madden/e/B00HYDQKVY

DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY BASED ‘NATURAL POWER’ CELEBRATES NEW PARTNERSHIP

Local Firm Benefits from Wind Farm Banks Renewables “Go-Local” Commitment
A local renewable energy firm is celebrating after extending its partnership with a wind energy company.
Natural Power, based near Castle Douglas, will continue as lead consultant for Banks Renewables, which is waiting on a decision from Dumfries & Galloway Council on its planning application for the seven turbine, 23.8MW Knockendurrick Community Partnership Wind Farm project, located between Twynholm and Gatehouse of Fleet.
The industry leading team at Natural Power have carried out feasibility studies, producing reports on aspects such as ecology, landscape architecture, archaeology and traffic implications.
They will now carry on this essential work, helping Banks Renewables to deliver the assessments required to fully satisfy the stringent planning process.
Emily Peatson, a former pupil of Douglas Ewart High School in Newton Stewart has been leading on the project in her role as project development manager at Natural Power.
She said: “Banks Renewables is a highly valued client to Natural Power.
“We have provided an array of services to Banks throughout the UK and Knockendurrick has been a particularly rewarding project as it is in such close proximity to our Global Headquarters in Dumfries and Galloway; allowing us to demonstrate our expertise within our own local community.”
Natural Power was established in 1996 and employs nearly 300 people and is recognised as one of the leading independent experts in supporting the delivery of renewable energy projects.
The company provides technical, planning and development, ecology, hydrology, construction, geotechnical, asset management and due diligence services to the renewable energy market.
They provide a service that offers consultancy throughout the full life cycle of renewable energy projects, taking into consideration the clients, the local community and also the environment, respectively, to ensure optimum results are achieved for all parties.
The partnership with Natural Power demonstrates Banks Renewables’ commitment to using local firms wherever possible on its projects. It’s estimated that construction work on the Knockendurrick site would inject upwards of £5 million into the local economy, while also creating immediate and longer term job opportunities in the area.

Contracts would be required for construction and maintenance, ground works, quarry and building products, plant hire and haulage, waste solutions, fencing, fabrication, accommodation, aggregates, utilities, professional services, hospitality and many more services.

Colin Anderson, development director at Banks Renewables, said: “Our partnership with Natural Power has been very successful to date and this further commitment to use them on the next stage of the project reinforces both their local expertise and our commitment to supporting good local firms whenever we can.
“This partnership will further support the communities own priorities; it will support Dumfries and Galloway’s Tourism Strategy and the local businesses involved in this vital industry; and it will help give more young people a chance to get into long term employment locally.
“If we earn approval to build this wind farm, it will be because we have shown we have fully considered and responded to feedback from locals. This has helped to shape plans which will deliver many and varied long term local benefits over the 25 year life of the project.”

Banks Renewables’ Community Partnership proposal on Knockendurrick would see local people secure 3% of the site’s gross revenues, underwritten by a guaranteed minimum of £119,000 per year over the 25 years of the project; as well as the benefit of a 5% Community Equity Option.

Banks Renewables is part of the Banks Group (www.banksgroup.co.uk), a family firm founded in 1976, which now employs more than 420 people in the renewable energy, property and mining sectors. The company’s development with care approach underpins all community consultation and ensures environmental excellence.

Full details about the Knockendurrick Wind Farm can be found at the dedicated website, http://www.banksgroup.co.uk/knockendurrick/.