Young people in Dumfries and Galloway will have the chance to take part in a wide range of free activities over the summer holidays taking place in local communities across our region.
Dumfries and Galloway Council has invested £264,000 of funding that will provide activities to ensure that children and young people across the region have a summer to remember.
Activities are available from Friday 4 July until Wednesday 20 August and are specifically aimed at children and young people aged 5 to 16 years old (up to 25 years old for care experienced young people) who are within the priority groups that the funding is aimed at.
The activities on offer will give young people the opportunity to meet with their friends, make new friends, and to take part in fun and free activities and new opportunities.
The programmes and activities available throughout the duration of the school summer holidays will provide support to children and young people who may otherwise struggle to access experiences during the holidays, giving them the opportunity to play, socialise and get to know organisations and services within their local community.
Chair of Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Education Skills and Community Wellbeing Committee Councillor Maureen Johnstone said:
“There is something for everyone as part of this fantastic summer programme of activities that are on offer. All activities are entirely free to attend, and this further emphasises our council’s commitment to tackling and alleviating child poverty across our region. We have a fantastic range of organisations from across Dumfries and Galloway delivering activities for children and young people throughout the summer.”
There are activities for all ages, and all interests including sports sessions, arts sessions, free leisure facility access, summer camps, workshops on different topics, day trips and creative and performing arts sessions and much more.
Vice Chair of Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Education Skills and Community Wellbeing Committee Councillor Lynne Davis said:
“We would encourage all young people who are aged 5 to 16 to make the most of this opportunity and to try something new this summer and to head over to the website for a full list of what is available across Dumfries and Galloway, you can search for activities based on where you live, or what your interests are.”
The young people who were involved in the Summer of Play Fund through the co-production group have ensured that the activities on offer across Dumfries and Galloway have been designed by young people, for young people through co-design with organisations, and that they opportunities are spread the length and breadth of the region.
Young people also helped to set the fund’s priorities and sat on the independent scoring panel, ensuring that the activities will make a positive difference to young people in communities across Dumfries and Galloway.
Ailsa McDairmant, Chairperson of Dumfries and Galloway Youth Council said:
“We received a very high number of applications for this funding, and it was a difficult job in making sure that the right activities were made available to young people of all ages and interests. This is a great programme of activities, and we cannot wait to see young people across Dumfries and Galloway having an amazing summer with their friends. Make sure you visit the Youth Enquiry Service website for full details of what is on near you, and how you can sign up.”
To see all that is on offer, and how to sign up for activities, please visit: www.youthenquiryservice.org/whats-on
