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Young people from Ecclefechan have worked hard to organise a fundraising event for Poppy Scotland that saw over 50 people attend a coffee morning on Remembrance Sunday and raise £151.30 for the charity.

The project was started by young people in the Annan Detachment of the Army Cadets and developed as a partnership with Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Youth Work Service to mark Remembrance Day 2022. Through the partnership, young people successfully gained funding from Ecclefechan and Hoddom Community Council to access an appropriate venue and provide the refreshments for the event.

At the Youth Work Service’s Ecclefechan Youth Group over the last month, young people have made wreaths and decorations to support Remembrance Day reflections, and poppy badges to give out for a donation. Youth Workers, young people and family members also volunteered over the weekend to make soups and cupcakes, and to set up for the coffee morning. Young people also collaborated with Annan Harbour Action Group in the run up to the event to create a large poppy for visitors to put a message to lost ones on a ‘dog-tag’ replica.

The coffee morning was a real community event, adding games like dominoes, chess, and draughts to help young and old to come together and talk. The young people enjoyed getting to hear stories from the older members of the community as they shared in Remembrance throughout the morning. The community have asked the youth group to continue this collaboration in the future to showcase what young people can do in their community.

Councillor Archie Dryburgh, Chair of Communities Committee said: “It has been great to see the enormous efforts this group of young people continue to be involved in. The young people have done an outstanding amount of work to raise money for Poppy Scotland not only holding the coffee morning but going out during their group time to make the poppy with Annan Harbour Action Group.”

The Ecclefechan Youth Group meets every Wednesday in the Ecclefechan Village Hall between 6.30–8.30pm, providing informal support and learning opportunities for young people aged 12–18. One focus of the group is to support young people to learn about the environment and how they can help combat climate change. As a mark of success, the Climate Change Group who are part of this project has been successful in being selected as a finalist in the Environment category of the Dumfries and Galloway Youth Awards, while Sarah Lunney who attends the group has been successful in being selected as a finalist in the Inspiring Voice category.

Councillor John Campbell, Vice Chair of Communities Committee said: “The Ecclefechan Drop-In group of young people have been up to a lot of different projects this year. It is great to see them being recognised for their efforts as finalists for this year’s Dumfries and Galloway Youth Awards with commitment as they have shown this weekend. Young people should be proud of their efforts to have raised so much for a great cause.”

On Sunday 13 November three young leaders, Sarah Lunney, Eisa Rasool and Conlan Craig laid a wreath at the Cenotaph. The three young leaders have been volunteering at the Ecclefechan Youth Group for over 3 months and were a key part of planning for the coffee morning. The three young leaders were the ones who made the large Poppy at Annan Harbour Action Group. They asked the organiser of the ceremony at the Cenotaph if they could lay a wreath and were accepted to lay it on behalf of the youth group.

If you would like more information on what youth work opportunities are available – whether you are looking to complete a saltire award for volunteering, be a young leader, or just have a safe space to meet – please visit our Facebook page “Youth Work DG”; our Instagram @youthworkdg; or our Twitter @YOUTHWORKDG.

ENDS