Since January 2015, we’ve invested more than £377,800 for new projects in Dumfries and Galloway thanks to National Lottery players but we would love to help more groups and organisations explore their past and uncover the heritage that is important to them.

Recent projects we’ve funded in Dumfries and Galloway include:

• Centre Stage Youth Theatre received a grant of £10,000 for The Gretna Girls project to find out about the women’s living and working conditions in the munitions factories in Gretna
• Whithorn: Hearth, Home & Farm project will enable pupils from local schools to learn about a range of farming techniques dating from the Iron Age. The Whithorn Trust received an Our Heritage grant of £22,700 to deliver the project
• The Langholm Initiative were awarded a grant of £59,500 for Making the most of Moorlands project. Volunteers from across the region will learn about the natural heritage of Langholm and Eskdale and carry out surveys and record local wildlife
• Penninghame Primary School in Newton Stewart will celebrate its 50th anniversary by delivering a project that will explore the school’s history thanks to a Sharing Heritage grant of £10,000
• The Trimontium Trust received a grant of £53,900 to investigate the archaeology of Burnswark Hill and deliver an exhibition to five different venues in Dumfries and Galloway
• Spring Fling received a grant of £10,000 for young people to learn traditional heritage crafts

Dumfries and Galloway is one of our priority areas which means we can offer you additional support and advice before you submit an application to us. We will be running workshops and one to one project advice surgeries in Sanquhar and Dumfries on Tuesday 27 and Wednesday 28 October 2015. The events are run in partnership with Dumfries and Galloway Leader funding so it is an opportunity to ask both funders your questions and how you could apply.

Lucy Casot, Head of HLF Scotland, said: “The heritage of Dumfries and Galloway is rich and there is so much to explore from the vibrant coastline and landscapes to its castles and historic houses. That’s why we’re working in Dumfries and Galloway to encourage more local groups to apply for funding. We are delighted to be able to offer two workshops this October to give additional support and advice to applicants.”

Workshops

Join us in October and we’ll help you through the application process, use our Eventbrite booking pages to reserve a space at one of the following workshops:

• St Bride's Church Hall, St Mary's Street, Sanquhar: Tuesday 27 October 2015 6-9pm. Register for the Sanquhar Hall workshop.
• Cairndale Hotel, Dumfries: Wednesday 28 October 2015 2-5 pm. Register for the Cairndale Hotel workshop.
• Contact Annie Mottisfont, Development Officer on tel: 0131 240 1586 or email: annie.mottisfont@hlf.org.uk if you would like to know more.

We look forward to meeting you this October!