Rebecca Goodwin
Occupation: Carer, D&G Council
Location: Crossmichael
The Glenkens is home to many wonderful young people working in all types of sectors and planning their futures here.
We met up with Rebecca Goodwin to find out what her life has been like since she moved to the area to work as a carer for Dumfries and Galloway Council, and to hear about her plans for her future career as a social worker.
Rebecca smiles when she speaks of her current role, even though she mostly works nights:
“Quite often, I'll start my work at about 4am… I'm looking after the vulnerable people within our community. I'll go to people's houses and make them their dinner. I may give them their medication. I help some people into their pajamas at night and do a bit of personal care and then help them into bed as well; it's very worthwhile, and it is a good job to do.”
When thinking about the people she cares for and in describing her job, there is a tangible warmth that comes from her. She considers the best part of her job to be helping people:
“I work with the elderly, so most people at that age want to stay at home. They don't want to go into nursing homes, so being able to keep people at home and keep them as independent as possible is probably what I love the most.”
When asked what brought her to the Glenkens, Rebecca says that her parents always liked visiting the area. Her father loves to go fishing on Loch Ken, so when they saw a house for sale overlooking the loch, they decided to take the leap and move to the area. Rebecca decided to move along with them. She soon started to integrate into the community, through her job and with her easy, amiable nature she fitted right in. Rebecca really enjoys the area's natural beauty and the quirks of rural community life.
”Living here you've got so many things to do - your time is occupied easily. Living in the Glenkens, it's quiet and peaceful and there's a lot of nature. I like going out walking round about, as well as walking up hills… I enjoy the walk around Threave.” She smiles as she speaks, and adds: “I would still live here even if I didn't live with my parents… Yeah, this area is home now.”
Moving in her mid-twenties, it would be easy to think that she might miss being in a more highly populated area. However, Rebecca says she has made her life here now:
”I definitely prefer it here. I think there is a lot going on, you just have to look for it as it's not always advertised well…I definitely think it’s a good place for young people to live.”
Rebecca has settled into the area easily, and enjoys what it has to offer. She is currently at university in Dumfries, studying to become a social worker, and she hopes to be able to pursue that career in this area.
“It's a job where you're helping people at their most vulnerable. Social workers are there to help people and families that are struggling, and that's what I want to be able to do…and I feel like I've got the skills and qualities to be a really good social worker.”
Rebecca is great at seeking out the less obvious entertainment and activities of a rural area and enjoys participating in village events across the Glenkens, as well as discovering the area’s hidden treasures:
“In Balmaclellan, I went to a really good night; they had a pop up quiz and bar…They also had a garden event, where they were selling plants. Then there is soup and sweets over at Mossdale...you pay maybe £5… it's really nice! I like just seeing the rest of the community. Everybody comes together and it helps raise funds for things, like local projects, or it keeps their halls up and running.”
Rebecca is warm and enthusiastic when talking about what her life is like in the area:
“Living here, it's very wholesome... you can go for a walk and you can pick up your box of eggs, and take them home, and then at Greenlaw, you can go and get vegetables out of an old horse trailer. Where else does that kind of thing, you know?”
“Yeah, I just love it here. It's home… it's my place now,” she laughs.
