Delivering More Than Flood Protection: Creating a Lasting Legacy for Whitesands

The Whitesands Flood Protection Scheme is one of the largest infrastructure projects ever undertaken by Dumfries and Galloway Council.

Its primary purpose is clear: to reduce flood risk and help protect homes, businesses and infrastructure. But an investment of this scale also creates an opportunity to deliver deliver lasting benefits for local communities.

That's why we are launching a new Community Benefits and Social Value Programme, designed to make sure local people, groups and organisations directly affected by the works can benefit from investment being made through the project.

What do we mean by social value?

Major construction projects inevitably bring a degree of disruption. At the same time, the Whitesands Project gives us an opportunity to support communities, invest in people and create benefits that can last long after construction is complete.

Social value is about using the opportunities created by the project to deliver additional benefits for local people and communities.

These could include:

• support for community projects and local organisations
• volunteering and practical assistance
• education and skills initiatives
• employability opportunities
• community events and activities
• environmental improvements
• support for charities and voluntary organisations.

The aim is to ensure that the people and communities most affected by the project also have opportunities to benefit from it.

What support will be available?

The project's delivery partners, including McLaughlin & Harvey, Jacobs and Turner & Townsend, have committed resources to delivering community benefits and social value throughout the life of the project.

Importantly, support does not just mean financial assistance. Depending on the project or initiative, support could include:

• staff volunteering time
• professional skills and expertise
• educational activities
• training and skills development
• community investment
• employability and employment support

This is not intended to be a one-off programme. Opportunities will be available throughout the life of the Whitesands Project, helping to build a lasting legacy from the investment being made in Dumfries.

Could your organisation benefit?

Applications will be welcomed from community organisations, voluntary groups, charities, schools and other local organisations with ideas that could make a positive difference to local people and communities.

Applications will be considered against a range of factors, including:

• benefits for communities affected by the Whitesands Project
• alignment with relevant Local Place Plan priorities
• support for disadvantaged or vulnerable groups
• potential for longer-term community impact
• opportunities to support skills, volunteering, education and employability

We also want the programme to invest in the future. Around half of the available social value opportunities will therefore focus on schools, education, skills and employability-related activities.

How will applications be considered?

Applications will be assessed by an independent Social Value Assessment Panel made up of representatives from the project team, procurement and project partners.

The panel will review applications quarterly to ensure opportunities are allocated fairly, transparently and where they can have the greatest impact.

Building a legacy beyond construction

The success of the Whitesands Project will not only be measured by the flood protection infrastructure that is built.

Over the coming years, we want to tell the wider story of the project by highlighting the community projects supported, volunteering delivered, skills developed, opportunities created and other benefits generated for Dumfries and its communities.

Find out more

Full details of how to apply to the Community Benefits and Social Value Programme will be published soon through this website, the project newsletter and information office.

If your organisation has an idea that could benefit your community, we encourage you to get involved and help us build a lasting legacy from the Whitesands Project.