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  5. Friday - Communities and Volunteers

Friday - Communities and Volunteers

A Scotland where we value our communities and volunteers.

Tackling Poverty Reference Group

The Tackling Poverty Reference Group (TPRG) is a region wide Group of volunteers who have direct experience of living in poverty.  They provide a vital voice of their lived experience and how future policies, projects and funding could be developed to remove barriers for anyone in poverty.

The Group meet on a monthly basis where they regularly take part in consultations and engage with Council Officers and partners on specific topics. 

We Need You....  we would like to expand the Group and would welcome new members who can bring new ideas and a new perspective... if you are interested in joining the Group or would like to learn more about the Group, click here to check out their webpage.

Third Sector Dumfries and Galloway  

Third Sector Dumfries and Galloway (TSDG) is passionate and ambitious for the role of the sector and for what can be achieved together with our partners and communities.

TSDG is a member of the TSI Scotland Network - a body of charities that support community and voluntary groups, volunteering organisations and social enterprises across Scotland.

TSIs offer advice, information and practical support to local charities and community groups to help them to survive and thrive. 

This can include assistance with:

  • Funding and fundraising, accessing national funds e.g. mental health;
  • Setting up/developing a charity;
  • Supporting local volunteers;
  • Training and employment;
  • How to survive and respond to challenges such as the cost-of-living crisis.

TSDG supports the sector by being alongside, offering advice and making connections for peer support and working together for shared outcomes. Communities are at the heart of our work.

We host a range of resources, training and subject matter forums that help build positive impact and sustainability.

The charity also shares regional and national stories and experiences, creating spaces to share and collaborate and opportunities to innovate.

Our Communities and Sector Support team, led by Joanna Jones, along with colleagues, inputs into the understanding of how to directly and indirectly tackle poverty in our communities.

There are hundreds of community and voluntary groups, charities, trusts and enterprises having real and positive impacts in their local community.

The third sector reaches from the smallest of local activities to operations at a national scale, each important to a thriving sector landscape.

Another area of our work is to help improve volunteering practice to increase the number of people who volunteer across Dumfries and Galloway.

Kateryna Stoian, is our Volunteering Development Coordinator. By developing resources, providing advice to sector organisations and contributing to events, she is central to supporting good volunteering leadership, creating and promoting volunteering opportunities and advocating for more inclusive volunteering.

She is also involved in sector events, forum and projects for the third sector working with colleagues across the organisation.

To discover more about TSDG, go to the website at: www.tsdg.org.uk

Free Warm Winter Clothes

Each year, we run Free Warm Winter Clothes Events across the Region where you can come along and help yourself to pre-loved warm winter clothes including, coats, jackets, jumpers, cardigans, hats, scarves and gloves.

To allow us to run these events and help people in need we need your help....

Do you have any warm clothes you no longer need or want?

Please consider donating these to one of our collection points below -

Warm clothes can be donated to any of these locations between Monday 7th October and Friday 25th October 2024.

All donations received will then be given away for free at our Warm Winter Clothes Events during November 2024.  Dates will be advertised soon.

Warm Winter Clothes Poster >> [PDF - 166KB]

Free School Uniform

Each year, in August, we run Free School Uniform Bank to School Events across the Region where you can come along and help yourself to Free School Uniform.

We also have 8 permanent School Uniform Banks in each of the following locations which are open all year for the donation and collection of School Uniforms.  Each location has an extensive stock of good condition school uniforms which are suitable for the schools near the uniform bank location.

If you have any pre-loved school uniform that you no longer need, you can donate it to any of the 6 School Uniform Banks listed above.  Items can include, trousers, skirts, dresses, shirts, polo shirts, jumpers, cardigans, school bags, school shoes, PE kit and any items of clothing with the school logo's.

Click here for more information.

Access to free Period Products

Dumfries and Galloway Council provides a range of Free Period Products for collection at public venues and community organisations across our region.

You can collect period products from public venues across Dumfries and Galloway including Customer Service Centres and Leisure Centres.  You can take what you need, when you need it and you can also pick up period products for your family and friends.

Most public venues will have a range of single use pads and tampons and may have other products such as panty liners.  The products will normally be available in the toilets of the building and signs will be displayed throughout the venue to guide you to where the products are.

For more details on our collection points, please click here.

Third Sector Dumfries and Galloway

Third Sector Dumfries and Galloway exists to promote, support, and develop a strong third sector; develop social enterprise; develop volunteers and volunteering; and connect the third sector to community planning. 

TSDG Leaflet >> [PDF - 1MB]

Click here for more information.

Local Place Plans

Local Place Plans offer communities the opportunity to produce a plan for their area expressing their aspirations and ambitions for future change.  Local place plans are produced by the community, the Council and its partners will be available to provide support, advice and guidance.  

Click here for more information.

Free Books

Pop in to one of our 24 libraries and borrow books- it's FREE for ALL THE FAMILY!

  • borrow up to 12 books and audiobooks
  • use library computers and internet (pre booking necessary, please telephone 01387 260196)
  • use library WiFi
  • use your card at any branch www.dumgal.gov.uk/lia
  • you can use your National Entitlement Card as your library card

Free Digital ebooks and e-magazines

Did you know that with your Library card you can get access to free eBooks, eAudiobooks and eMagazines?

With thousands of titles to choose from, all of which you can access from your phone or tablet!

You can learn more, join the library online and download Borrowbox by clicking the link below.

https://www.dumgal.gov.uk/article/17015/Digital-library

Free colouring activities

Did you know that EVERYONE can spend time colouring in our Customer Service Centres?

We have fantastic colouring pictures designed by local artists for adults to colour and colouring books for all interests.

Choose a spot to relax and create your own masterpiece (or just enjoy a doodle!).

Just ask at the counter for colouring pens and materials to use for free in the library!

Little ones can colour seasonal images too!!

All materials are funded by SLIC (Scottish Library and Information Council)

Free Bookbug sessions

We have regular FREE Bookbug Sessions for 0-4 years to enjoy songs and rhymes with their adult.  Pop along to your local Customer Service Centre or follow us on Facebook (@dumfriesandgallowaylibraries) for times and dates.

Click here for more information.

https://www.povertyalliance.org/cpw/

Recite Me - website customisation

You can access a range of accessibility features to customise this website via the 'Speak / Translate' link in the site menu at the top of each page. The Recite Me toolbar provides a Screen Reader, reading support tools, changes to website styling and real time translation.

Click 'Speak / Translate' at the top right of the page to get started

More info on "ReciteMe' >>

Community safety
Page last updated: 11/10/2024
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