Committee prepares to dish out £145,000

NEARLY £145,000 is set to be spent on Christmas lights, sports grants and community support across Nithsdale.

Christmas lights, Riding of the Marches festivals, sports grants, and support for community halls are among the priorities set to share £144,940 of funding from Dumfries and Galloway Council.

Councillors on Nithsdale Area Committee will today be asked to agree the distribution of the six-figure sum for 2026/27 — covering ten priority areas identified by elected members as key to supporting communities across the region.

The bulk of the cash — £58,560 — is earmarked for Christmas lights infrastructure in Dumfries, Kirkconnel, Sanquhar, and Thornhill, with a further £8830 set aside to support festive community events in those same towns.

In Dumfries, the Dumfries Partnership Action Group looks set to receive £5830 toward a community festive event, while community councils in Kirkconnel, Sanquhar, and Thornhill are in line to receive £1000 to deliver their own local celebrations.

Two of Nithsdale’s most cherished civic traditions are also in line for support: The Guid Nychburris Festival Association in Dumfries has been recommended for £8750, while Sanquhar March Riding Association will likely be granted £4650.

Community halls and centres will be able to apply for a share of £20,000 through a utility support fund, designed to help with rising energy costs. Grants of up to £2000 are available, based on 50 percent of 2025 utility invoices, with two application rounds planned for June and September.

A £8000 sports grants programme will offer funding of up to £250 for individual athletes and £600 for sports clubs, with the aim of helping local talent and teams reach the next level.

There is a desire to ensure “wider promotion of Nithsdale Sports Grants to ensure increased take up,” with two rounds scheduled for July and October.

Community groups with responsibility for defibrillators will be able to access up to £800 each from an £8000 maintenance fund.

A new addition to this year’s priorities is a £10,000 Community Food Provider Training and Skills Fund, offering up to £1000 to support food hygiene, governance, and health and safety training for staff and volunteers involved in community food provision across Nithsdale.