RSS Press releases

Dumfries and Galloway Council, along with our third sector partners, is delivering a wide range of free festive activities and events throughout our Christmas Holidays this year.

From Monday 23 December to Tuesday 7 January (at all locations) young people from Primary 1 to S6 can access free food as part of our Holiday Food Programme.

This detailed programme of Christmas events and activities which begins on Monday 23 December offers festive fun and games, arts and crafts, play sessions, sports and leisure activities and interactive sessions which are available for everyone to come along to including parents and carers. This wide range of projects and events are aimed at all school pupils from Primary 1 to S6 so there will be something for everyone to enjoy.

We know that all of the school holidays, no matter when they happen, can be a pressurised time for families in all circumstances. Christmas is the most expensive time of year for all families. Our Festive Food Fund Programme is designed to help with the costs of feeding families during the holidays and ease the anxiety which increases for all families at this time.

This range of Christmas fun events and projects have been specifically designed with the children and young people which it will support in mind to ensure that there are sessions which they will all enjoy throughout the holiday period. There is also an increased range of events in each area this year so that everyone can choose where they want to go to have a day filled with fun and the opportunity to meet their friends and to enjoy their Christmas holidays.

Councillor Andy Ferguson, Chair of Communities Committee, stated;

“Our Christmas Holiday Food Programme has been specially designed to offer as much enjoyment to as many children and young people taking part as possible. We are especially happy to work in partnership with all of our third sector partners this Christmas who will be delivering their projects from the heart of their communities. We know that holidays are the most challenging time for parents and carers, especially during the Christmas Holidays in terms of increased costs which is why we have designed this programme of support.”

Councillor John Martin, Vice Chair of Communities Committee, stated;

“Our Council is committed to supporting all of our children and young people and the continuation of our Holiday Food Programme delivers our pledge to support our families not just during the 38 weeks of Term Time but also during the 14 weeks of holidays which happen throughout the year. We want all of our children and young people to have a wonderful Christmas and these fun events will make a positive difference to everyone taking part.”

For full details of our Holiday Food Programme, please go to;