Dumfries and Galloway Council is required by law to protect the public funds it administers. The Council may share information provided to it with other bodies responsible for auditing or administering public funds, in order to prevent and detect fraud.

On behalf of the Accounts Commission and the Auditor General for Scotland, Audit Scotland appoints an auditor to audit the accounts of this authority. Audit Scotland also assists appointed auditors by conducting a National Fraud Initiative, which is a data matching exercise, every 2 years.

Details of this exercise are in the document named National Fraud Initiative 2008-2009.

Marking the 60th Anniversary of the NHS in Dumfries and Galloway will be held at the Crichton Memorial Church, The Crichton, Bankend Road, Dumfries on Wednesday, 9th July 2008 at 7pm

All staff, family, patients and friends welcome

Free Personal Care for older people

Charges for assistance with food preparation.

Between 1 July 2002 and 6 January 2006, Social Work service users receiving services and support from the Older People teams were charged for assistance with food preparation. The Council has decided that these charges should be refunded.

Refunds to current service users have already been made and the Council is now inviting relatives and executors of service users who also paid the charge between 1 July 2002 and 6 January 2006 to make a claim in writing for a refund of charges.

For a relative or an executor of a service user?s estate to receive a refund, the Council will require sight of one of the following documents:

- Appointment of Executor of Estate as detailed in the service user?s Will

- Certificate of Confirmation from the Sheriff Clerk of Court

- Evidence that the person is acting on behalf of the Executor

Before a refund is made, the Council will need to be satisfied that claimants are entitled to receive refunds. Accordingly, claimants will have to sign a form to that effect.

Original documentation (not photocopies) will be needed to make a claim and claims need to be lodged, in writing, with the appropriate documentation attached by Friday, 22 August 2008.

For claims for service users who lived in Annandale & Eskdale and Nithsdale please contact: Jan Nye, Adult Services, Social Work, Dumfries & Galloway Council, 8 Gordon Street, Dumfries, DG1 1EG. Tel: 01387 260 810 e-mail JanetN@dumgal.gov.uk

For claims for service users who lived in Stewartry and Wigtown please contact: Sheila McKie, Adult Services, Social Work, Dumfries & Galloway Council, Sun Street, Stranraer, DG9 7JJ. Tel: 01776 888 450 e-mail SheilaMc@dumgal.gov.uk

The Community Learning and Development Service is holding a free ?first steps into youth work? course for those interested in working with young people in local communities.

The training will be held at The Maxwell Hall, Portwilliam on Sunday 17th August 2008 from 10am until 4pm. During the course you will find out about: -

• How to record evaluation data, essential when applying for grant funding for your organisation.
• How to consult with young people, which enables you to put together a programme in line with young people's needs.
• How to organise a trip/outing. Includes assessing risk and the paperwork required for trips.
• Child Protection Awareness and Procedures.
• Values and principles of youth work
• Building relationships with young people.
• Games that require no equipment or resources.
  

This training is free of charge and lunch will be provided.

If you wish to attend, please contact Community Learning and Development Service at Wigtown County Buildings on 01988 402613 no later than Thursday 14th August.