DG Voice

26/11/2025

Today we're at the DG Chamber business expo at Easterbrook Hall in Dumfries until 2pm. Come along to have a chat about and with us.
We are also running a raffle and for only £5 per ticket you can be in with a chance to win either a disability equality training session or an access audit from us. Bargain!! And all funds go directly back into the work our charity does, so you're funding a good cause.
We're looking forward to seeing you soon!

21/11/2025

Some important information here from Carer's Rights Day. Worth having a read through if you, or someone you know is a carer.

21/11/2025

The deadline for submitting your feedback to the Council's Budget Consultation is Sunday 23 November. We know the process is NOT accessible to many people and we want to help. We have created a template you can copy and paste and send to the Council by email at yourbudget@dumgal.gov.uk.

These cuts will be devastating for disabled people, their families and friends. If you can spare five minutes to send in your objections it will really help.

Here's the template to send to yourbudget@dumgal.gov.uk.

I wish to formally register my opposition to the proposed cuts listed below:

1.07 End funding for Information and Advice services provided by Citizens Advice
1.08 End funding for Representation and Engagement services provided by third sector groups

These services are essential for disabled people in Dumfries and Galloway and will have a disproportionate impact on their ability to take part in daily life.

I also oppose the following cuts because they will disproportionately affect disabled people:

1.01 Remove Instrumental Music Instruction Service
1.02 Remove funding for school-based Police Officers
1.03 Reduce spending on external Children and Families services in Social Work
1.04 Reduce winter road treatment
1.05 Reduce grass cutting on 60mph roads
1.06 Reduce the council’s subsidy of business rate reliefs
1.09 Reduce funding support for major festivals and events
2.01 Introduce fixed enrolment dates and capacities for nurseries
2.02 Change how out of hours social work calls are handled
2.03 Reduce spending on children’s direct payment support
2.04 Reduce emergency assistance payments through the council’s Children and Families
2.05 Undertake a “Digital Re-design” to automate processes
2.06 Share services with other organisations
2.07 Reduce live-streaming of council meetings
2.08 Go paperless for council committees
2.09 Review how we purchase staff training
2.10 Review of customer experience across services
2.11 Stop using a separate IT system for Housing/Homelessness service
2.12 Collect general household (grey bin) waste less frequently

3.01 Consult on the closure of small nurseries
3.03* Consult on school closures – 20 or less pupils
3.04* Consult on school closures – 25 or less pupils
3.05* Consult on school closures – 50 or less pupils
3.06 Close four seasonal museums and attractions
3.07 Close Hillview Leisure Centre, Kelloholm
3.08 Close the Midsteeple Box Office, Dumfries
3.09 Reduce the number of council office buildings
3.10 Review local services and buildings in each area
3.11 Close Whithorn Household Waste Recycling Centre

The above cuts to essential services will have a devastating impact on disabled people, their families and Carers.

I urge the Council to reconsider these proposals and explore alternative options, such as making savings on non-essential services, an earnings cap and a hiring freeze.

I request that my objection be registered as part of the formal consultation process. Please acknowledge receipt of this correspondence.

14/11/2025

While we couldn't be there today in person to say good bye, our thoughts are very much with Etienne and his loved ones.
The disability rights movement has lost one of its giants. Etienne has worked so hard to make the world a better place for disabled people. And he has been a friend to many of us. We will miss his presence and will keep fighting for disability equality, inclusion and right.
Our heartfelt condolences to everyone who was close to Etienne. ❤️

Today we say goodbye to a giant of Scotland's Independent Living Movement. Etienne d'Aboville was the founding member of Centre for Independent Living and the Independent Living in Scotland Project. But he was so much more than that. He was a wise, kind and determined human being.

The difference he made to the lives of disabled people who came to use GCIL's services and many others beyond is unprecedented but it can be calculated in the collective voice that he gathered and raised to make changes for the lives of disabled people across Scotland. We are depleted without him. And in his name we will continue his work.

Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family and loved ones on this sad but celebratory day.

14/11/2025

Third Sector Dumfries and Galloway has today made its submission to the Dumfries and Galloway Council budget consultation process.

A key aspect of the submission is the need for collective leadership and collaboration whilst ensuring there isn’t a withdrawal or extraction from communities to maintain systems and existing ways of working.

Alan Webb, Chief Executive of TSDG, said: “We hope our submission to the consultation process, and directly to elected members, signals a new way of working and some hope that we can achieve our ambitions together, despite the challenging financial climate.

“As the community and voluntary sector has been told for many years, you can’t just keep asking for more money to do the same thing. Our sector is the master of responsiveness, agility and holds those important trusted relationships with the communities in which each group and organisation belongs. I hope our honest submission sets clearly our commitment to working across sectors for the best interests of Dumfries and Galloway, our communities and our future.”

The TSDG response has been informed by a range of direct submissions from the across the sector. It’s hoped that by publishing our paper, more sector organisations will share their views directly through the budget consultation process, which closes on Sunday 24th November.

Respond to the consultation: https://www.dumfriesandgalloway.gov.uk/budgetconsultation

To read our consultation response, see the link in the comments.

11/11/2025

Drop-In Sessions Today!

📍 Sanquhar & Castle Douglas

Pop in, share your thoughts, and make sure your voice is heard!
Our team will be there for a friendly chat and to help you have your say.

📢 The public consultation on Dumfries and Galloway Council’s 2026/27 Budget Proposal kicks off this week — and it’s your chance to speak up.

DG Voice will be attending every drop-in session across the region. Come say hello 👋 and hear our take on how the proposed cuts could impact disabled people in Dumfries and Galloway.

🗣️ Your voice matters. Let’s make sure disabled people are heard loud and clear.

11/11/2025

🌟 Exciting news! 🌟 We’ll be at the DG Chamber Business Expo later this month, sharing how our Access Audits and Disability Equality Training can make a real difference for businesses and communities.

Come along, say hello, and discover how we can help you create more inclusive spaces! 💙♿

🚀 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗪𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝘅𝗵𝗶𝗯𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱! 🌟

The excitement is building for the DG Chamber Business Expo, and we’re thrilled to unveil our next wave of incredible exhibitors who are ready to connect, inspire, and showcase the best of business in Dumfries & Galloway!

Whether you're looking for new partnerships, local services, or just want to see what's buzzing in the business world—this is the place to be.

Exhibitor packages & day passes are still available! Get in touch today 🙌

09/11/2025

💪 We will not be silent

DG Voice may be small, but we are mighty.
We have fought before — and we will fight again.

We will attend every consultation event we can.
We will make disabled people’s voices impossible to ignore.
We will keep pushing for fairness, equality and inclusion.

Please stand with us.
📢 Please share this post and speak up for disabled people
📢 Write to your councillors find out who they are here.
📢 Say NO to these cuts
📢 Please take part in the consultation if you can using this link www.dumfriesandgalloway.gov.uk/budgetconsultation
📢 Or send your feedback to yourbudget@dumgal.gov.uk
📢 Ask your friends and family to tell the Council that they DO NOT SUPPORT these terrible cuts.

Together, we are stronger.
Together, we can stop this.

Like councils across Scotland, Dumfries and Galloway Council faces difficult financial choices in the years ahead. Rising costs and growing demand for services mean every pound must stretch further, while funding isn’t keeping pace. To help meet this challenge, councillors have agreed to consult e...

08/11/2025

💔 Why these cuts are devastating💔

💔These proposed cuts will have real, human consequences:

💔More isolation and poverty

💔Worsening health and mental health

💔Loss of independence and support

💔Communities left behind

Disabled people have already endured austerity, COVID, and a cost-of-living crisis.
Now, these cuts would push people past breaking point.

We are angry. We are sad. But most of all — we are determined to fight back.

👉 Please share this post and speak up for disabled people
👉 Please take part in the consultation if you can using this link - www.dumfriesandgalloway.gov.uk/budgetconsultation
👉 Or send your feedback to yourbudget@dumgal.gov.uk.
👉 Ask your friends and family to tell the Council that they DO NOT SUPPORT these terrible cuts.
👉 Help us fight back for the sake of disabled people across Dumfries and Galloway.

Like councils across Scotland, Dumfries and Galloway Council faces difficult financial choices in the years ahead. Rising costs and growing demand for services mean every pound must stretch further, while funding isn’t keeping pace. To help meet this challenge, councillors have agreed to consult e...

08/11/2025

Tens of thousands of disabled people and allies have made clear to the government that they reject any plans to cut spending on personal independence payment (PIP) and other disability-related supp…

08/11/2025

The findings of this important research will sound familiar to many disabled women and everyone! Social care charges are unfair and should be abolished.

Social care charging is an unfair, inconsistent system that leaves low-income families in significant financial hardship and masks unmet need.

08/11/2025

🎉Calling all friends and suppporters! 🎉

We’ve got a few exciting events coming up and are looking for raffle prize donations to make them extra special.

If you or your business would like to contribute - big or small - we’d be so grateful. 🙌

Every donation helps us raise vital funds for the work we do.

📍Drop us a message, email us at info@dgvoice.co.uk or call us on 07897 876181 and we can arrange collection.