Castle Douglas

Better Lives Partnership first welcomed young people to its pilot B2E Programme in Castle Douglas in September 2017. Funded by the Holywood Trust BLP opened with just 5 young people and 5 members of staff.

Since opening BLP’s flagship project has continued to grow, in the number of young people attending sessions in the workroom and in the options available. In April 2023 we began delivering our Community Skills Programme to our young people which focuses on skill-based based learning through social group activities.

In Castle Douglas, we like to give our young people plenty of opportunities to take the lead in what they learn and what sessions they want to take part in.

Our young people celebrating Better Lives Partnership’s 6th Birthday, since becoming a registered SCIO.

One of our young people volunteering with us, running his own fitness session.

Our Very Own Garden!

Better Lives Partnership won The Holywood Trust’s Peer Award, as voted for by organisations supported by the Trust, and received a cheque for £7,500 towards a community garden at Castle Douglas Community Centre.

This inclusive space will be used by the young people for their Foodwise and Environmental ASDAN accredited short courses to enable the young people to carry out practical learning.

Our young people have worked with Propagate’s Abi Mordin to design their space in the garden, so it best suits their needs!

Young person preparing chicken during an Independent Living session.

Involved with the Stewartry!

Our B2E@ Stewartry programme is located in Castle Douglas Community Centre which gives us amazing access to their resources, such as a full kitchen for our cooking sessions, a gym for sports sessions and activities, our very own garden, and the Community Centres Youth Group’s gaming facilities.

In Castle Douglas, we are very lucky to have also built a strong network with other local groups to develop further opportunities for our young people.

We have worked very closely with Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership over the years, and have recently been able to put on a ‘Go Wilds’ Rural Skills course with Threave Restoration Project for our young people.

We also have a close working relationship with Castle Douglas Development Forum (CDDF), for whom we volunteer at their Community Garden at the Stewartry Club and deliver the Castle Douglas Journal. We have also worked with CDDF as part of our Bridge 2 Business