Health, Welfare and Advice

Medical

Glenkens Warm Spaces

  • Over the winter months, during the current cost of living crisis, a number of local spaces are open their doors to provide a warm space to sit, chat, enjoy a hot drink a chance to chat.

    All the information below was correct at the time of writing, but we recommend contacting the venues for latest info.

  • Warm spaces are being planned.

    See Balmaghie Public Hall’s Facebook page or contact secbalmaghiecc@btinternet.com.

  • Saturdays, monthly, 10am-1pm. Soup and home baking. Pay what you can (donations go to charity). See Facebook for more details.

  • Dalry Good Neighbours Club run a varied programme of events each week on Tuesdays 2pm - 4pm, in the Glenkens Community Centre, Dalry. Why not come along and join in the fun have a chat and a cuppa, make new friends and catch up with old ones.

    For more information, contact Michelle on 07795 613 148.

  • Warm space run by Dumfries & Galloway Council. Open Tuesday: 2pm to 5pm and Friday: 12noon to 5pm. Call: 030 33 33 3004 or email: yourlibrary@dumgal.gov.uk.

  • Join us every Thursday, 11am - 2pm in New Galloway Town Hall to learn new things, have chat, a cuppa and snacks. Different activities each week!

    Contact: info@ling.org.uk

  • 'Heat Bank' available where you can get warm, make tea & have a blether. Contact Andrew: 01556 690677 for more information.

  • LING Lunches, Tuesdays 12.30-2pm, cost £6.

    Contact : info@ling.org.uk

  • Carsphairn Community Trust invites residents on Mondays, 11am-2pm, for a blether, board games & refreshments. Call 07710 124255 or email carsphairn.trust@gmail.com

  • Join us for Soup Saturdays, 1-3pm in Mossdale Village Hall, on the last Saturday of the month, throughout the year.

    Come along and enjoy fresh homemade soup, a dessert and a hot drink, all for £5.

  • Weekly each Saturday from October - March in Balmaclellan Village Hall, from 12noon - 2pm.

    Donations welcome.

Food Cupboards and Banks

  • There a number of places in the Glenkens where you can get help with basic groceries and essentials like period products and school uniforms.

  • The community larder in New Galloway Town Hall is open for anyone to pop in, browse and help themselves on:

    • Mondays 9am - 4pm

    • Tuesdays 7pm - 9pm

    • Thursdays 9am - 4pm

    Donations welcome! Contact: info@ling.org.uk

  • Period Poverty collection point at New Galloway Town Hall

    Pop in on a Tuesdays from 12.00 - 14.00 pm or Thursdays from 11.00 am to 6.00 pm. You can either contact us in advance at info@ling.org.uk and we'll have a discreet package prepared for you or you can come and browse.

    If you can't come along between those times someone else can collect for you. All products are FREE and you don't have to live in New Galloway.

    Also available at venues and via community groups in larger towns (see full list at https://www.dumgal.gov.uk/article/25354/access-to-free-period-products).

    For residents who live in very rural areas, free period products can be posted to your home address. Please contact Wendy Jesson, Poverty & Inequalities Development Officer on 0788 094 2909 or email: wendy.jesson@dumgal.gov.uk.

  • Open 24 hrs/day for free food & staples in the garden of Dalry Library.

  • Free food and staples in the car park between the CatStrand and the Smithy Tearoom.

  • The Family Pass initiative runs all year round. If you're ever struggling to feed your children, get in touch and quote "family pass".

    The Family Pass initiative is mostly used as takeaway, however sit-in is available if a warm space is also required. Unfortunately they aren't able to deliver.

    For more information see their Facebook post from October 2023 - https://www.facebook.com/Marketinnhotel/posts/pfbid028AUifZ648q2zixNKMpqnm55YZUmb46EhA4xEbjg7h6rVL16eZZvFgafF2Yh2QRoAl

  • Located on 198 King St, Castle Douglas, this service is open between 10am and 12pm, Mon/Wed/Fri. Contact 07730 788335.

School Uniforms

  • Open to everyone at Dalry Primary & Secondary School and Kells School.

  • There are eight permanent free back to school points open all year round.

    Each location has a extensive stock of excellent to good-condition school uniforms which are suitable for the schools near the Uniform Bank locations.

    Our nearest for Glenkens Schools is:

    • Stepping Stones Food Bank, 9 St. Andrew Street, Castle Douglas, DG7 1DE

    See the Dumfries and Galloway Council page here for the full list: https://www.dumgal.gov.uk/article/25718/Free-School-Uniforms

Local Welfare Services Around the Glenkens

  • For support with alcohol, drug or gambling Issues: Alcohol & Drug Support are based in Castle Douglas and can be contacted on 01556 503550 or enquiries@adssws.co.uk.

  • Support for family or friends of loved ones with alcohol/drug issues: call Being There on 0333 8806950 or email beingthere@adssws.co.uk.

  • Just having a chat or a friendly ear to listen can make all the difference to an older person's day. Call FREE on 0800 12 44 222, Monday-Friday, 9am -5pm.

  • A support service for over 18s experiencing stress and low mood as a result of life circumstances such as bereavement and social isolation. Call 01556 505724 or email dg.hcs@nhs.scot.

  • For anyone over the age of 65 unable to shop for themselves. Stewartry Branch - 01556 288427 or everything@thefoodtrain.co.uk.

  • Care and Repair aim to help people over the age of 60 and disabled people of any age, to remain living at home in their own community by providing free support and advice on adapting their home. Call 01387 217744 (Monday–Friday 9am-5pm) or e-mail: enquiries@careandrepair-dg.co.uk.

Local Financial Advice and Support

  • SCU provides practical, affordable and straight forward financial services. They provide share accounts and simple loan accounts. For more information contact Anne (SCU Admin) on 01387 267200 or email:info@solwaycreditunion.co.uk.

  • A really useful source of information and support about a range of subjects, from making sure you’re getting all the benefits you’re entitled to, to advice on debt, work and housing. For more info visit www.dagcas.org or ring them on 0300 303 4321.

    The Citizens Advice Bureau Outreach Clinic also has a Generalist Advisor at The Glenkens Community Centre, Dalry, fortnightly on Mondays 10-4pm and at the Catstrand, New Galloway, fortnightly on Tuesdays 10-4pm.

  • On low income and needing help with rent deposit? Contact: 01387 269161 or email: rdgs@thehubdg.org.uk.

  • New service to help with the cost of living: www.costofliving.dumgal.gov.uk.

General Advice

  • For energy saving tips and information visit www.energysavingtrust.org.uk.

  • Having a Power of Attorney (PoA) lets you plan what you want another person to do for you in the future, should you become incapable of making decisions about your own affairs.

    Most solicitors should be able to assist you to draft a PoA (and provide legal advice) which is then registered with the Office of the Public Guardian (Scotland) - https://www.publicguardian-scotland.gov.uk/

    Find a solicitor - https://www.lawscot.org.uk/

    Advice from Alzheimer Scotland - https://www.alzscot.org/living-with-dementia/money-and-legal-matters

    News article from Martin Lewis (November 2023) - https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2023/11/martin-lewis-power-of-attorney/

  • Making a will needn’t be expensive and there are various schemes to help.

    The Will Aid scheme runs each November - https://www.willaid.org.uk/

    Free Wills Month happens every March and October, allowing those aged 55 and over to get a solicitor-drafted (or updated) will for free - https://freewillsmonth.org.uk/

    Advice from Martin Lewis on cheap and free wills - https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/free-cheap-wills/

  • The Digital Support Helpline provides digital support to anyone who needs it, whether you’re an individual in need of advice, or a support worker or community organisation looking for a helpful resource to refer those you support to. Call the helpline today for free digital support and advice. It is free to call and is open from Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm.

    ☎️ 0800 0 590 690

    🌐 https://peopleknowhow.org/reconnect/#connecting-scotland

    Anyone can call this freephone number and receive support and advice on topics including:

    • Using devices like smartphones, tablets, laptops or desktop computers

    • Connecting to the internet

    • Navigating the web and social media

    • Completing everyday tasks online

    • Connecting with the community, family and friends

    • Managing finances, paying bills and saving money online

    • Reducing costs (energy, data plans, shopping, etc.)

    • Finding opportunities for education and employment

    • Feeling less isolated and having someone to talk to