Welcome to your monthly Resettlement Project update. Read on for the latest local news and events
Women’s Wellbeing Group: A New Initiative by Lifelong Learning Service
The Women’s Wellbeing Group is a new initiative aimed at fostering a sense of community and enhancing the wellbeing of women from diverse backgrounds.
Lead by Vera Arkhipova of the ESOL team, this group provides a safe and welcoming space for women to engage in a variety of activities designed to promote mental, emotional, and physical health.
A Safe Haven
The Women’s Wellbeing Group brings together women from various parts of the world, as well as local women, creating a unique blend of cultures and experiences. This inclusive environment is crucial for the integration of New Scots, promoting inclusion and anti-racism. By offering a space where women can connect and share their stories, the group helps to break down barriers and build a supportive community.
Activities for Wellbeing
The group offers a wide range of activities aimed at enhancing wellbeing. Participants can engage in arts and crafts, language learning, mindfulness activities, and health and wellbeing talks. These sessions are designed to cater to the diverse interests and needs of the participants, ensuring that there is something for everyone.
Recently, the group has explored various art and wellbeing projects, including nature art, paper marbling, food preparation, and crochet. Additionally, participants have had the opportunity to learn breathing techniques and meditation, which are essential tools for managing stress and promoting mental health.
Addressing Social Isolation
One of the key objectives of the Women’s Wellbeing Group is to enhance social interactions for women who may lack opportunities to socialize due to language barriers, lack of employment, learning differences, or the demands of being primary carers for underage children and elderly relatives. By providing a regular meeting space, the group helps to reduce feelings of isolation and fosters a sense of belonging.
Participants have already recognized the positive impact of the group on their wellbeing. Many have noted that the sessions help them feel less isolated and more connected to their community. This sense of connection is vital for mental and emotional health, particularly for those who may feel marginalized or excluded.
Expanding the Initiative
Due to the initial success of the Women’s Wellbeing Group, a second group has been launched in Annan. This expansion reflects the growing demand for such initiatives and the positive feedback from participants. The hope is for the service to replicate this experience throughout Dumfries and Galloway and provide consistent and reliable spaces for women to come together and support one another.
In order to cater to as many women as possible, the service also offers childcare during the sessions, where children under school age can share the space while being looked after by our PEEP-trained members of staff.
Join Us
The Lifelong Learning Service invites all women to join the Women’s Wellbeing Group and experience the benefits of this supportive community. Whether you are looking to make new friends, learn new skills, or simply take some time for yourself, the group offers a welcoming and inclusive environment for all.
For more information, please contact Vera Arkhipova at vera.arkhipova@dumgal.gov.uk.
No place for prejudice
Don’t accept prejudice. Don’t accept hate.
If you feel that you are experiencing any type of hate speech or behaviour, then you can report it at either a Police station or a third party centre. You can find a full list of third party centres by clicking the button below.
If you are experiencing an emergency situation, then dial 999.
Valentyna Wants to Say Thankyou to the People of Scotland
Valentyna arrived in Annan with her dog Bona in April 2024.
It had been a long journey from Ukraine to Scotland for them both. She had left Ukraine with her family for Poland in March 2022. After two weeks, they headed to Spain, where they remained for 2 years.
However, Valentyna’s daughter was engaged to James, who lived in Dumfries and Galloway. It was an obvious choice that the family should make their way to Annan.
Although her daughter and granddaughter made their way by plane, Valentyna’s journey became a challenge as airlines would not allow Bona on their planes. The only way to get Bona to Scotland was by rail, as Valentyna had no car. James met her in Paris and eventually, they made it to Annan via the Eurostar.
Initially, Valentyna lived with her daughter and shared a room with granddaughter Solomiia, but admitted that there were times when she needed some quiet time. She found a flat of her own in the town in September 2024.
Valentyna smiled at me. ‘I was very nervous coming to Scotland… but Annan people are very friendly… all friendly.’ Even now, nearly a year later, Valentyna is very touched how local people always ask how she is and show real concern. Valentyna already feels that she has lived here for many years. She also describes her support worker, Lynda, as a friend and a great support.
It wasn’t long before Valentyna decided to do something to thank the local community for their kindness. Aged 75, she found a voluntary job at the Dog’s Trust for two days each week.
Volunteering has been incredibly beneficial for Valentyna. She meets a lot of people and it has helped her English knowledge enormously. I was amazed at how clearly she spoke with little help from the translator, as she knew very little of the language when she first came. She is now able to help customers in the shop directly with questions such as what price something is and whether the shop holds a particular size of clothing. She is determined to learn and attends online English classes twice a week. She is also a member of the Women’s Wellbeing Group in Annan.
I told Valentyna that I am surprised she has the time to do so many things, with her family so close as well. To my surprise, she then told me that she also packs in walks and swimming too! Valentyna smiled. ‘I like to keep busy’, she said.
I asked if she meets lots of other Ukrainians in the town. She does through the Women’s Group and at the swimming pool. One thing for sure – she is not nervous about living in Scotland anymore!
Is there anything that she really wants to do now she is living in the UK? Valentyna paused and smiled. ‘I have a dream… to see Edinburgh… it’s a big city and you need time to see it..’
Finally, I ask about Bona. Was she the reason that Valentyna chose the Dogs Trust? The Pekinese had now entered the room and was sniffing around my feet with curiosity. Valentyna laughed. Bona is certainly an important companion in Valentyna’s travels and she loves dogs. Bona herself was keen to pose for her picture, with Valentyna and Solomiia.
As our meeting came to an end, I thought about Valentyna’s courage and adaptability. Would I be able to uproot from all I knew at 75 years of age and arrive in a new land with few language skills? I didn’t dare answer my own question.
Seeding Enterprise Across Our Communities
Two day workshop 12-13 March 2025, at The Standard, Dumfries.
Do you have a spark of an idea for something you want to do that could earn money and grow into an enterprise?
Are you curious about what is involved in setting up a business but not sure where to start?
This relaxed two day workshop explores the early stage of starting a business and is aimed at women and under-represented groups in Scottish business.
Lunch is provided as well as transport and childcare costs if required.
The event runs from 9.30-3.30 each day.
The venue is The Standard (formerly The Baker’s Oven), 135-139 High Street, Dumfries DG1 2QT.
Tasting The World at DGMA
A Taste of Hope is being served up in DGMA thanks to New Scots Activity and National Lottery Funding.
Dumfries and Galloway Multicultural Association (DGMA) are running cooking sessions as part of their Taste of Hope programme. Running through the week, the programme aims to support volunteers to build their culinary skills, whilst also enabling them to share food from their home countries.
The sessions that have taken place so far, have been incredibly popular, with high demand for more regular sessions focussing on different cuisines. Work is underway to develop the project into regular community lunch sessions, and more information will be shared shortly about where and when these will take place.
DGMA are offering the sessions after successful funding applications to the National Lottery and the New Scots Activity Fund.
Attendees had the opportunity to take part in a range of activities, see artefacts and replicas of the time period to help it come to life.
Ukrainian Chapel and Heritage Site Open Days 2025
The Ukrainian POW chapel and heritage barrack at Hallmuir, Lockerbie, will host a number of open days throughout 2025.
The open dates are as follows:
Sunday March 30
Sunday April 27
Sunday May 31
Sunday June 29
Sunday July 27
Sunday August 31
Sunday September 28
Sunday October 26
Sunday November 30
Sunday December 28
The Ukrainian Chapel will be open for visitors between 11am-4pm. There will be a talk and PowerPoint presentation about the chapel and its history in the nearby Heritage Barrack between 2pm-3pm on each Open Day. The reading room will be available for use and Ukrainian language books will be available to buy at reduced prices.
New Scots Heritage Fun Day
Wordsmith Crafts CIC bring Heritage to Life in Heathall!
Understanding a new country and its history can be challenging, but thanks to the New Scots Activity Fund, Wordsmith Crafts CIC have been able to bring that history to life! On a cold and ‘dreary’ (wet, cold, cloudy) January Day, Heathall Community Centre was taken over by a Viking Enactment providing the valuable opportunity for community members to relive aspects of Scottish History.
Young Women’s Network Host Galentines Celebration!
Resettled Women from across Dumfries and Galloway came together with members of the Young Women’s Network to celebrate Galentines.
On Saturday the 15th of February young women aged 12-25 came together in the Youth Enquiry Service in Dumfries for a morning of fun-filled activities, intercultural dialogue and friendship. From bracelet making, to photography, fruit fondue to valentines themed wordsearches, young people had the opportunity to share their interests with one another, building new connections and exploring common issues for young women in their community.
The event was a roaring success with young women from Scotland, Ukraine, Syria and Afghanistan in attendance, all of whom are looking forward to continuing their connections at future events.
Do you have any news to share?
If you have any news or events you want to share with the Resettlement Newsletter, then get in touch with some details and we will be in touch.
Email us at ResettlementProject@dumgal.gov.uk