Isle of Whithorn Arts Group

Hi everyone, 

There will be no Art Group at the Isle of Whithorn next Wednesday, 20th June!! Look forward to everyone getting back together on 27th June. The group will break for the summer for all of August and restart Wednesday 5th September. Any queries, please feel free to contact me. 

 dave.groves@nhs.net 

Jills in the Community - Garden tubs

Here is the first effort of a self made planter made with scraps of wood from the workshop.

The Jills are planning to make many of these for the Newton Stewart Hospital Gardens!!  The planters can be painted etc to make them waterproof and ready for action!!

Volunteering Workshop

Activity Fair 21st June, drop in between 10.30am and 3pm to Dumfries and Galloway College- Stranraer Campus.

Various Events - Alzeimers Scotland

Please take a look at the events below and see if you can support them!! 

(Click on photos to enlarge)

Stranraer Harbour Access Sailwest Building, Tuesday 15th May 2018, 11am to 8pm

Star Ball 18th May 2018, 7.30pm to 12am. In Aid of Learning Disability Week

Information Event and Open Afternoon,Tuesday 15th May, 2pm-5.30pm

Change of Office for Building Healthy Communities

Sadly, after 12 years of being based in Whithorn, Building Healthy Communities Machars, have moved office. As part of a larger team, the staff are now based in Newton Stewart Hospital.

Our new Contact details are as follows:

Building Healthy Communities
Newton Stewart Hospital
Stranraer Road
Newton Stewart
DG8 6LZ

Phone: 01671 404267

Email addresses have stayed the same and can be found underneath our photos.

Please contact us at the new address as from today, 25th April 2018.

Capability Scotland - Dumfries and Galloway Newsletter

To read the latest newsletter from the integrated service in Dumfries and Galloway, please click HERE!

The newsletter has lots of info on activities available across the region

Jills in the Community - Almost a 60 Minute Makeover

On Monday, the Jills were hard at work assisting someone in the community to decorate 2 rooms before they moved in to their new home.

Amazing what a difference a lick of paint can do!! Well done everyone. Another satisfied customer!

If you, or you know someone, who would benefit from the assistance of the Jills, please get in touch!

Monday Club - Wildlife Talk

On Monday, 10 members of the club were treated to a fascinating wildlife talk by Derek Farr.

Derek showed some 50 + slides of various wildlife in the area and all the group thoroughly enjoyed the morning. 

The next meeting is on 16th April where there will be information available and a talk about "Bloodbikes"

For further information on the Monday Club or any other activities, contact the office on

01988 501111

Keep Safe

Keep Safe aims to help disabled people feel safe in their community.

It also aims to raise awareness of disability hate crime and encourage people to report this.

For the full information on the Keep Safe Scheme, please click here.

Alternatively, visit:  www.iammescotland.co.uk 

Log in and Connect

Another busy morning at the Log in and Connect group on Wednesday saw some 12 people attend with their devices and receive assistance on a variety of topics from deleting group chats to accessing "apps" for the visually challenged.

The group meet every Wednesday at The Newton Stewart Centre (formerly The Hut) at 10.30 - 12.30

At 11.30, there is a Dancercise class available at the same location. 

Both the Log in and dancercise groups are open to all. For further information, please contact the Building Healthy Communities office on 01988 501111

Pets as Therapy update

Alyson, BHC Volunteer, along with Ben, BHC's "one and only" Pet Volunteer, have been very busy visiting the residents of Cumloden Manor as well as the members of the Activity Resource Centre.


They have also recently started the "Read2Dogs" scheme in one of the local Primary Schools by visiting fortnightly and providing support to 3 pupils. The scheme provides comfort, encourages positive social behaviours, enhances self-esteem, motivates speech and inspires young people to have fun.

As well as volunteering, Ben also works hard on the farm but always finds time for some well deserved fun!  Here he is below sitting on a motorbike and chilling in the snow in his new onesie!