Brian Whittle MSP has praised Dumfries House for its education programmes promoting healthy eating and an active lifestyle. Following a recent visit, Brian has lodged a motion in the Scottish Parliament describing the work of the Great Steward of Scotland’s Dumfries House Trust (GSSDHT) as “innovative and highly successful” and thanking all the staff and volunteers for their efforts to transform the house and estate over the past 10 years.
In the decade since the house and its contents were bought by a consortium of trusts led by HRH The Prince of Wales, The Duke of Rothesay, Dumfries House has been the subject of painstaking restoration and refurbishment. It’s now attracting tourists from around the world and is a popular venue for weddings and other events.
During Brian’s visit, he was given a tour of the grounds and heard more about the work the Trust are doing with schools and other youth organisations. The Estate is home to a purpose built teaching building that enables children to be introduced to engineering and a large kitchen garden with its own education centre delivering a horticulture and healthy eating programme. This gives children the chance to understand how to grow fruit and vegetables and also how to pick, clean and prepare them for eating. The Estate also has a residential centre which brings young people from dozens of different youth organisations to explore the estate and participate in various outdoor activities.
Now, the Trust which runs Dumfries House has begun to work outside the estate. Having recently transformed New Cumnock Town Hall into a multi-purpose centre for the community, work is underway to restore the town’s outdoor swimming pool and develop a fitness complex around it.
Commenting on the visit, Brian Whittle MSP said:
“After a decade of hard work by everyone involved, it’s fantastic to see the contribution Dumfries House is making to the lives of people in East Ayrshire and beyond. The Trust has turned the estate into an incredible resource for the public. Their focus on educating children about the benefits of healthy eating and getting them excited about being active is a model I hope others will be keen to follow. I look forward to working with Dumfries House in the coming years and support them as their various projects continue to grow.”
Kenneth Dunsmuir, Deputy Executive Director of GSSDHT, said:
“We were delighted to welcome Brian Whittle MSP to the estate and tell him all about the wide range of activity undertaken by the Trust. Given the Trust’s aim of making a positive difference within East Ayrshire and further afield, it is heartening to hear Brian’s praise and acknowledgement of the impact we are making on and around the estate. We would encourage Brian and all local people to enjoy regular days out at Dumfries House as the estate continues to evolve and the impact of the Trust grows.”