The Usual Place
A Place for Everyone in D&G
Our Community: Empowering Young People to Build Skills, Confidence and a Way Forward
Changing Lives
Empowering Young People
Giving Back to Dumfries & Galloway
Gallery
A Place that Works
The Usual Place is based on a simple idea shaped by young people themselves.
That, with the right opportunities, young people who need additional support can move forward and build a life that works for them.
More than 2,000 young people from across Dumfries & Galloway have been part of The Usual Place so far…
- Work is the medium, not just the goal.
- We know what works, and how to do it.
- We’ve been doing this since 2015.
- We see the difference this makes every day.
Young people build skills, gain confidence, and move on into work, further learning, volunteering and more independent lives.
And that work continues…
A Place to Build a Future
We are here for the long term – committed to each young person’s progress, and to making sure The Usual Place is here for the next generation too.
Our unique Skills Academy provides education, training and work experience through paced, structured programmes, personalised mentorship, enablement and opportunities for young people aged 14-26 – transforming ambitions, lives and futures.
A Place to Choose
It’s a place young people choose to be part of. They might find us themselves, or are introduced to us by a family member, their school or a support worker, but we always work directly with them.
They decide if it’s right for them. And when they join The Usual Place they make a commitment to get involved and stick at it.
Want to know more about Usual Place training?
Ready to Transform Lives?
Young people who need additional support often encounter “cliff‑edge” moments — times when support suddenly falls away and they are expected to navigate the world alone. These moments can be destabilising, isolating, and deeply discouraging.
The Usual Place works mainly with young people aged 14–26, especially at key transition points.
Whether you are a young person looking for your next step, a parent, carer, teacher or support worker there are programmes you can get involved in.
If you want to support our work there are many ways to do this including visiting our cafe as a customer or through fundraising, donating, becoming a friend and philanthropic giving.
