Author: Christina Johnston

SSDA South Scotland Thistle Awards 2025

Best Community Tourism and Events Initiative

A fantastic win for the Stranraer Oyster Festival this year! Award received by the Trust Chairman, Romano Petrucci and the Trust Treasurer, Rod Baxter. Presented by Richard Lochhead – Tourism Minister for Scotland.

 

Photo Credits

SSDA South Scotland Thistle Awards 2025 Pic Phil Wilkinson

SSDASouth Scotland Thistle Awards 2025Pic Phil Wilkinson
SSDASouth Scotland Thistle Awards 2025Pic Phil Wilkinson

Autumn Crafting 14th October 2025

This year’s Autumn Crafting workshop was well supported and enjoyed by all. Thank you to all that attended this afternoon’s crafting session 🦊🦉🦇Very impressed with everyone’s artwork 🦔🐾 Lovely afternoon

 

Stranraer Young Developers Threave Gardens and Nature Reserve Trip 21st August 2025

Great day out at Threave Gardens & Nature Reserve. A huge thank you to Naomi at National Trust for telling us the history of Threave and about their 100 year restoration programme. Alexandra Cafe thank you for catering at short notice, the lunch boxes were delicious

 

 

Job Title: Project Assistant

 

  

Organisation: 

 

Stranraer Development Trust

 
Duration:

01/08/2025 to 31/03/2026 fixed term contract.

 Hours & Salary:

20 hours per week.

Salary will be paid at rate of £14.50 per hour.

 Location:

Stranraer
 

Responsible To:

  

Stranraer Development Trust Board of Trustees.

 
 

Responsible For:

 The Project Assistant will provide support to the Development Trust around the delivery of the Employability HUB within the community.

 

  • Provide information and support to clients and organisations using the HUB
  • Creation of a program of activity, events and drop-in sessions within the HUB
Key Tasks include:

 

  • Engaging fully and positively with local residents and groups, supporting local people and stakeholders, and building strong relationships
  • Be responsible for bookings, promotion, and engagement of the HUB
  • Monitoring the usage of the HUB
  • Work alongside the Employability, Skills and Partnerships Service within Dumfries and Galloway Council
  • Carrying out further duties appropriate to the post in the furtherance of Stranraer’s aims, objectives, policies, and priorities
  • Promote the support available through partners in DG Works

 

Person Specification

Skills, Knowledge and experience

 

Essential

  • Are passionate about the Stranraer area
  • An understanding of partnership working
  • Strong Communication skills and ability to create positive relationships
  • The ability to work as part of a team, as well as on your own
  • The ability to manage time effectively, work to deadlines, and work outside normal hours when necessary

 

Desirable

  • A knowledge and understanding of the issues facing disadvantaged communities
  • An understanding of the local and national Child Poverty agenda
  • Knowledge of employability services
  • An understanding of community participation and the Scottish approach to Service design
  • An ability to enthuse, motivate, and inspire others
  • Experience in using Microsoft applications and Teams
 

Applications

  

Applications with CV and a covering letter should be submitted to

Mr Romano Petrucci, Chairman, Stranraer Development Trust. Email romano@stranraerdevelopmenttrust.co.uk

Closing date for applications will be 5 pm on 18th July 2025, with interviews to be held the week beginning 21st of July 2025. By submitting your CV, you are confirming your availability for interviews during this period.

Job Opportunity

 

 

Job Title: Oyster Festival Administrative Assistant

 

  

Organisation: 

 

Stranraer Development Trust

 
Duration:

18 weeks fixed term contract, commencing June 2025.

 Hours & Salary:

20 hours per week for a period of 18 weeks, salary will be paid at rate of £15.50 per hour.

 Location:

Stranraer
 

Responsible To:

  

Stranraer Development Trust Board of Trustees.  Line manager is the Development Trust’s Events Officer.

 
 

Responsible For:

  

Administrative associated tasks supporting the planning, management and actual delivery of Stranraer Oyster Festival.

 
 

Job Activities:

 

 –          Support with overall organisation of the Stranraer Oyster Festival

–          Liaising with SDT festival staff to ensure that all administrative tasks are met.

–          Assistance with invoicing, trader correspondence, ordering of marketing collateral, ticketing enquiries, coordination of artist requests and overview of site signage/detail.

–          Develop and maintain a structured filing system.

–          Support with recruitment and support a team of community volunteers to help develop and deliver Stranraer Oyster Festival 2025

–          Support with social media activity for the festival.

–          Support with booking of festival equipment and festival activities

–          Report to and work closely with Events Officer and SDT Staff.

–          Work with partners to establish a programme of activity

–          Liaising with stall holders to ensure that their requirements are met.

 

 
 

Applications

  

Applications with CV and covering letter should be submitted to

Mr Romano Petrucci, Chairman, Stranraer Development Trust. Email romano66@aol.com

Closing date for applications will be 5 pm on 27th May 2025, with interviews to be held the week beginning 2nd of June 2025.

Job Opportunity

 

 

Job Title: Oyster Festival Assistant

 

  

Organisation: 

 

Stranraer Development Trust

 
Duration:

18 weeks fixed term contract,  commencing June 2025.

 Hours & Salary:

30 hours per week for a period of 18 weeks,  salary will be paid at rate of £15.50 per hour.

 Location:

Stranraer
 

Responsible To:

  

Stranraer Development Trust Board of Trustees.  Line manager is the Development Trust’s Events Officer.

 
 

Responsible For:

  

Supporting planning, management and actual delivery of Stranraer Oyster Festival.

 
 

Job Activities:

 

 –          Support with overall organisation of the Stranraer Oyster Festival

–          Support with recruitment and support a team of community volunteers to help develop and deliver Stranraer Oyster Festival 2025

–          Manage social media activity for the festival.

–          Support with identifying and organising advertising opportunities

–          Liaising with young people in Stranraer to develop the youth activities.

–          Support with booking of festival equipment and festival activities

–          Report to and work closely with Events Officer and SDT Staff.

–           Engaging with organisations to carry out training for the youth volunteers as Festival Guides and Media Team.

–          Work with partners to establish a programme of activity

–          Liaising with stall holders to ensure that their requirements are met.

 
 

Applications

  

Applications with CV and covering letter should be submitted to

Mr Romano Petrucci, Chairman, Stranraer Development Trust. Email romano66@aol.com

Closing date for applications will be 5 pm on 27th May 2025, with interviews to be held the week beginning 2nd of June 2025.

 

 

COMIC RELIEF 2025

5 volunteers in costumes left to right, female cowgirl, female surgeon, female apothecary, male, female bunny

Our Stranraer Young Developers helped to raise £38.63 for Comic Relief with their sponsored fancy dress walk on March 22nd, 2025 at Agnew Park, Stranraer. Thank you to all those who donated and to our young developers in creating, promoting and participating in the event.

Cycling infrastructure installed at the Gateway to Galloway Tourist Information and Community Hub

Stranraer Development Trust has recently installed a bike shelter, 12 bike racks, a repair station, and 12 heated lockers at the Gateway to Galloway Tourist Information and Community Hub.  While the outside infrastructure is free to use, there will be a small charge for the use of the heated lockers. The infrastructure has been funded by the South of Scotland Enterprise and is in support of the continued delivery of active travel within the region, and the Coast-to-Coast cycle path, from Stranraer to Eyemouth.

Stranraer Development Trust in partnership with D&G Employability Hub

Pop along and join us for an informal chat over a cup of tea or coffee to hear about the fantastic provision currently available.

The hub is located at 31 Queen Street , Stranraer Town, Stranraer, DG9 7LQ. Opening Hours: Monday and Tuesday 9am-2pm and Thursday and Friday 2pm-7pm

Our space is safe and fun for families with toys, books and art activities. With access to public WiFi and laptops. No appointment is necessary, just pop in and we’ll stick the kettle on!

The Employability Hub will also work with local businesses, employers, charities and Local Employability and Skills Partners to deliver workshops, job fairs, information sessions, host events and deliver programmes to support the local workforce.

For more information please contact: pop-up@stranraerdevelopmenttrust.co.uk

The services we provide can help with the following:

  • Volunteering
  • help with reading, writing and maths
  • digital skills support
  • training opportunities
  • paid work placements
  • help with money and budgeting
  • health and wellbeing support
  • 1 to 1 support into work

You must meet all of the following criteria:

-16 years of age or older

– Resident in Dumfries and Galloway

– Have the right to work and live in the UK

– Unemployed and looking to get back into work OR in employment and claiming an income-based benefit (e.g. Universal Credit)

AND at least one of the following characteristics:

– Parents with a child under the age of 19 (still registered in full time education)

– Armed Forces Veteran

– Asylum Seeker

– Care experienced

– Caring responsibilities

– Childcare needs

– Criminal convictions

– Homeless or affected by housing inclusion

– Long term health condition / illness

– No / limited work experience

– Refugee

– Substance related conditions

– Lack of transport

Employment Key Workers offer 1-2-1 and group work support to individuals looking to move into positive destinations (employment, FE/HE, training).

Participants are given a dedicated Key Worker who works with them to identify their goals, plan their next steps and access further employability support with partner agencies.

Participants will also be supported to create CVs, job search, better understand job applications and how to apply, learn interview techniques and preparation and access work experience placements.

The purpose of the programme is to support clients into the destinations listed below and will be delivered by CEIS D&G’s employer engagement team.

– Volunteering

-Work experience

-Employment

-Self-employment

-Modern apprenticeship

-Further or higher education

-Accredited training

Once the referral has been received, a face-to-face appointment will be arranged, where possible, to carry out a handover with the client, their Key Worker and one of our Employer Engagement Officers present to ensure a smooth transition. Once the initial appointment has been carried out, the participant will then begin the programme of support to progress into employment.

Eligibility ​

Meets DG Works eligibility criteria. ​

Referral Information ​

Referrals, including self referrals should be sent to dgemployabilityreferrals@dumgal.gov.uk ​

Named Contact

Keyworker Co-Ordinators,

greg.cameron@dumgal.gov.uk Lorraine.irving@dumgal.gov.uk

 

 

Stranraer Youth Development Team

Throughout 2024, the Stranraer Youth Development Team has been actively working hard to ensure that the young people of Stranraer continue to have their voices heard. The continuation of the weekly youth group meetings held at the Gateway to Galloway Hub has been entertaining and rewarding for all who attend, providing an inclusive and accessible space for creativity and engagement. In addition to these sessions, the Team has been attending twice-weekly lunch sessions throughout the year at the local Academy to host sessions with the students on topics that are important to them. As well as alerting the young people of Stranraer as to how they can get involved with local issues and also how to access volunteering opportunities at events such as the Trust’s annual Oyster Festival.

The Team has also been actively delivering fun crafting sessions at local events and festive times to ensure that the young people of Stranraer have fun, free, and creative activities to get involved with.