Creative Breaks Grants Update – January 2024

We regret that, due to limited funding for Creative Breaks grants, the 2023/24 Fund is now closed to new applications.  We will continue to process applications that have already been submitted.

We hope to re-open the Fund to new applications for the 2024/25 financial year in March 2024, and further information will be available on our website nearer the time.

Due to the increasing demand for Creative Breaks grants, there will be some changes to the eligibility criteria for this funding in 2024/25.  Unfortunately, this will include limiting the grants to carers who have not received a Creative Breaks grant within the previous 24 months.  Other eligibility criteria will apply and full details will be available when the fund re-opens.

Creative Breaks Grants Update – September 2023

All the funding made available to the Carers Centre from the Short Breaks Fund has now been allocated. New applications cannot be accepted at this time. We are working to secure further funding and hope to be able to reopen applications for Creative Breaks grants in December 2023. Please keep an eye on our website for further updates.

If you would like to discuss your caring role, or find out about what other short breaks opportunities are currently available, please call us on 01324 611510, and select either option 1 for Falkirk, option 2 for Clackmannanshire, or option 3 for Young Carers and Young Adult Carers.

Falkirk FC and the Carers Centre sign new deal!

The Carers Centre has once again teamed up with The Falkirk Foundation and Falkirk Football Club to give those that are struggling the opportunity to come to games this season for free through the Support our Bairns initiative.

Thanks to the generosity of the Falkirk fanbase, carers in Falkirk and Clackmannanshire and their families will have the opportunity to attend Falkirk games at The Falkirk Stadium this season. 50 tickets will be made available to Falkirk & Clackmannanshire Carers Centre, who will distribute them through the Respitality programme, ahead of every home game to give the carers and cared for in our community a chance to experience a match day and support their team without having to worry about the cost as well as the opportunity to have a break.

Falkirk Football Club matched what was raised, doubling the number of tickets and thus doubling the impact of the project and with gift aid added at no additional cost to fans, we were able to reach more of our community.

There is still an opportunity to be part of this as we are still raising funds for this initiative and if anyone would like to donate they can do so here: Donate with PayPal Giving Fund. Thank you to everyone who kindly donated to this worthwhile cause.

Interested in receiving matchday tickets for the 2023/24 season? Then sign-up here, or click the button below:

And if you’d like to hear what other carers had to say about receiving matchday tickets during the 2022/23 season, you can read our feedback report for last season here!

 

Falkirk and Clackmannanshire carers to receive Falkirk FC home tickets thanks to the Support our Bairns initiative

Following an incredibly difficult two years and amidst the ongoing cost of living crisis, The Falkirk Foundation teamed up with Falkirk Football Club to give those that are struggling the opportunity to come to games this season for free through the Support our Bairns initiative.

Thanks to the generosity of the Falkirk fanbase, carers in Falkirk and Clackmannanshire and their families will have the opportunity to attend Falkirk games at The Falkirk Stadium this season. 50 tickets will be made available to Falkirk & Clackmannanshire Carers Centre, who will distribute them through their Respitality programme, ahead of every home game to give the carers and cared for in our community a chance to experience a match day and support their team without having to worry about the cost as well as the opportunity to have a break.

Falkirk Football Club matched what was raised, doubling the number of tickets and thus doubling the impact of the project and with gift aid added at no additional cost to fans, we were able to reach more of our community.

There is still an opportunity to be part of this as we are still raising funds for this initiative and if anyone would like to donate they can do so here: Donate with PayPal Giving Fund

Thank you to everyone who kindly donated to this worthwhile cause.

Derek Allison, CEO of Falkirk Foundation, said:

“The Falkirk Foundation would like to thank Falkirk FC and all the supporters who donated to the initiative to make football at The Falkirk Stadium more accessible to those that might not be able to afford the day out. As a result of the funds raised we have partnered with the Falkirk & Clackmannanshire Carers Centre to provide their service users with some respite and the opportunity to come to the Falkirk Stadium and experience all the thrills of being at a game. Many carers may find it difficult to cover the costs of attending a football match and this initiative may ease that concern and allow them to enjoy a family day out.”

Ami McKnight, Carer Support Worker (Short Breaks) at Falkirk & Clackmannanshire Carers Centre, added:

“Although caring for someone can be tough, stressful, and mentally and physically tiring, it can be rewarding too, often involving a great deal of pride and commitment. For many carers, however, the opportunity to have a break from their routine is vital to enable them to keep themselves well and have time out from their caring role.

“Falkirk & Clackmannanshire Carers Centre recognises the benefits of having a short vital break to carers and is incredibly grateful to the Falkirk FC Foundation and Falkirk FC for their donation of match-day tickets to our Respitality programme. Not only will carers be able to support their local team and do something they may not normally be able to afford, we will also be able to offer the carers the gift of making memories.”

Jamie Swinney, CEO of Falkirk Football Club, said of the initiative:

“Firstly I would like to thank every Falkirk supporter who kindly donated to the Support our Bairns initiative. I want our football club and Foundation to act as an anchor for our local community, to provide support, assistance and a source of pride to people. The current cost of living crisis is making it more and more difficult for people to spend money on hobbies as people have less disposable income. This is particularly true for the most disadvantaged people in our community, so I am delighted we are able to jointly deliver this project with the support of the Foundation and Ami and her team. We look forward to welcoming many different families throughout the season with the thanks to the generosity of the Falkirk support.”

Better Breaks Family Outings Summer 2018

Applications are invited for the Better Breaks Outing for children and young people (up to 20 years) with additional support needs and their families across Falkirk and Clackmannanshire:

  • East Links Family Park, Dunbar, Wednesday 25 July 2018, 10 am till 4.30 pm.  Please bring a packed lunch.
  • Pals Inclusive play park, Pittencreiff Park, Dunfermline, Wednesday 1 August 2018, 10 am till 3.30 pm.  This will be a smaller outing, please contact the Centre to discuss further.
  • Glasgow Riverside Museum and The Tall Ship, Glasgow, Thursday 9 August, 10 am till 4.30 pm.  Lunch will be provided.

Transport will be made available to those families who require it and would like to travel with the larger group.  Families are also welcome to self-travel and attend independently.  As in previous years, and in keeping with Better Breaks funding criteria, a small contribution of £2.50 per head will be required towards admission.

To apply for a place on the trips, please complete the Better Breaks Application Form and submit as soon as possible. Application forms are available on request by calling the Carers Centre on 01324 611510, emailing centre@centralcarers.org or by downloading a form below:

Better Breaks Application Form

Please complete the application form as soon as possible.  East Links Family Park application deadline is Wednesday 13 July.  Pals and Glasgow Riverside Museum is Wednesday 18 July at 5 pm.

Places cannot be guaranteed, and priority will be given to families who have not participated in, or who have participated in fewer, previous Better Breaks outings.

 

 

Better Breaks Family Outing November/December 2017

 

 

 

 

Applications are invited for a Better Breaks Outing for children and young people (up to 20 years) with additional support needs and their families in Falkirk District and Clackmannanshire:

  • The Snow Queen Pantomime, Larbert Amateur Operatic Society, Dobbie Hall, Larbert on Monday 20 November at 7.30 pm
  • Chick Whittington Pantomime, Macrobert Arts Centre, Stirling on Saturday 25 November at 7.30 pm or Saturday 9 December at 2 pm

Transport to the venue will be made available to those families who require it and would like to travel with the group. Families are also welcome to travel and attend independently.

This year in order to sustain these trips and in keeping with Better Breaks criteria a small contribution will be required at £5 per head towards admission for everyone attending any of the Macrobert pantomimes.

To request a place for the Pantomime trips, please complete the Better Breaks Application Form available from the Admin Team at the Carers Centre: phone 01324 611510, pop into the centre, email to request a form using our contact form, or download an application form here:

Better Breaks Application Form

The deadline for receipt of completed applications for this outing is Friday 3 November at 5pm. Places cannot be guaranteed and priority will be given to families who have not participated in, or who have participated in fewer, previous Better Breaks outings.

 

 

 

 

Better Breaks Family Outing 17 August 2017

 

Applications are invited for a Better Breaks Outing for children and young people (up to 20 years) with additional support needs and their families in Falkirk District and Clackmannanshire to visit Glasgow Science Centre on Thursday 17 August 2017, 10 am till 4.30 pm, please provide a packed lunch for your family.

Transport to the venue will be made available for families who require it and who would like to travel with the group. Families are also welcome to travel and attend independently.

This year, in order to sustain these trips and in keeping with Better Breaks criteria, a small contribution will be required at £2.50 per head towards admission for everyone attending.

To request a place for the Science Centre, please complete the Better Breaks Application Form which you can request from the Admin Team at the Carers Centre, by phone, email, popping into the Centre, or by using our website contact form, or download the application form here:

The deadline for receipt of completed applications for this outing is Thursday 3 August at 5 pm. Places cannot be guaranteed and priority will be given to families who have not participated in any, or who have participated in fewer, previous Better Breaks outings.

Better Breaks Family Outing 17 June 2017

 

Applications are invited for a Better Breaks Outing for children and young people (up to 20 years) with additional support needs and their families in Falkirk District and Clackmannanshire to visit Almond Valley Heritage Centre, Livingston, on Saturday 17 June 2017, 10 am till 4.30 pm where lunch will be provided.

Transport to the venue will be made available for families who require it or for those who would like to travel with a group. Families are also welcome to travel and attend independently.

This year, in order to sustain these trips and in keeping with Better Breaks criteria, a small contribution will be required at £2.50 per head towards admission for everyone attending.

To request a place for Almond Valley, please complete the Better Breaks Application Form which you can request from the Carers Centre, by phone or email, or by using our website contact form, or download the application form here:

Better Breaks Application Form

The deadline for receipt of completed applications for this outing is Thursday 8 June at 5 pm. Places cannot be guaranteed and priority will be given to families who have not participated in any, or who have participated in fewer, previous Better Breaks outings.

Better Breaks Outings 2016

Applications are invited for this year’s Better Breaks Outings for children and young people (up to 20 years) with additional support needs and their families in Falkirk District and Clackmannanshire:

  • Dreamnight at the Zoo – 19th August 6-9 pm, Edinburgh Zoo
  • Christmas Pantomime- December 2016 (details to be confirmed)

Transport to Dreamnight at the Zoo will be made available to those families who require it or would like to travel with a group, families are also welcome to travel and attend independently.

Further information about Dreamnight at the Zoo can be downloaded below. To request a place for Dreamnight, or to express an interest in attending the Christmas Pantomime (further information will be sent closer to the event), please complete the Better Breaks Application Form available from the Admin Team at the Carers Centre: phone 01324 611510, email to request a form using our contact form, or download an application form here:

Better Breaks Application Form

Dreamnight at the Zoo Information Sheet

The deadline for receipt of completed applications for the Summer outing is Friday 17th June at 5pm. Places cannot be guaranteed and priority will be given to families who have not participated in, or who have participated in fewer, previous Better Breaks outings.

Tickets for Dreamnight have been made available by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland and, thanks to funding from the Scottish Government’s Short Breaks Fund (Better Breaks programme), we are able to offer transport for a limited number of eligible families.

Short Breaks Fund Logo

Better Breaks Outing

Blair Drummond Safari Park
Saturday 19 March 2016

For children and young people (under 20 years) with multiple support needs in Falkirk district and Clackmannanshire and their families and carers 

Click on link below to download further information including details of how to request places.  As places are limited, priority will be given to eligible families who have participated in no, or fewer, previous Better Breaks outings.

Better Breaks Safari Park Information