6- week autism course

6-week Parent Information Programme

Parents and unpaid carers of children on the autism spectrum, this series is for you.

Join this welcoming, conversational group led by Scottish Autism!

Scottish Autism’s Community Advisors will create a safe space that allows parents and carers to come together, share experiences, and learn from one another. Across six relaxed sessions, the group explores neurodiversity, communication and thinking styles, sensory understanding, stress and wellbeing, family relationships, and wider support networks, with time for reflection and open discussion throughout. This is a space for connection, conversation, and mutual support.

Session 1 (13th Aug): Introduction to Neurodiversity and Autism
Session 2 (20th Aug): Communication and Thinking Stylesย 
Session 3 (3rd Sept): Sensory Understandingย 
Session 4 (10th Sept): Stress and Wellbeingย 
Session 5 (1st Oct): The Wider Family and Circles of Supportย 
Session 6 (8th Oct): Final Reflectionsย 

Details:

📅 Thursday on the above dates
🕒 From 10.30 am to 12.30 pm
📍 Carers Centre, 1A Bank Street, Falkirk, FK1 1NB or Zoom
❗Register here.ย 

If you have any questions or you are not registered with the Carers Centre, but would like to attend, please email daynafaulds@centralcarers.co.uk.

invitation to help with transitions drop in cafe taking place in May

July Drop-in Cafe: Help with Transitions

Parents and unpaid carers of young people with additional support needs, pop in for a chat!

Join us if the child you care for is approaching or going through transitions, aged between 14 and 25, and lives in the Falkirk area.

Fiona Maguire (formerly known as Douglas), Transitions Coordinator for Falkirk Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP), is hosting monthly ‘Drop-in Cafรฉs’ in the Carers Centre (1a Bank Street, Falkirk, FK1 1NB). You can drop in between 10 am and 1 pm on the dates below with questions or for a chat about transitions. These sessions are open to unpaid carers registered with the Carers Centre.ย 

✅ Ask questions about support available
✅ Learn how young people are supported in their transitions beyond school

Details:

📅 Thursday 16 July
🕒 From 10 am to 1 pm
📍 Carers Centre, 1A Bank Street, Falkirk, FK1 1NB
❗We would appreciate if you could book your place here so that we can anticipate numbers, or just feel free to drop in on the day.ย 

If you have any questions or you are not registered with the Carers Centre, but would like to attend, please email daynafaulds@centralcarers.co.uk.

The next sessions will take place on Thursdays between 10 and 1pm on the following dates:

  • 6 August
  • 17 September
  • 15 October
  • 12 November
  • 10 December
snippet of summer newsletter

Summer Newsletter

Our Summer Newsletter has arrived!

Supporting, Celebrating and Connecting Carers

In this edition:

Young Carers Action Dayย 
Carers Week
Updates from the last few months
Upcoming events and training opportunities
Carers Week Prize Draw

 

invitation to talk about sensory and communication needs of children with ASN

ASN โ€“ Sensory and Communication Needs Overview

Join us for an engaging session!

Gain practical insights into the sensory and communication needs of children with ASN.

We will welcome Alice Grant from Falkirk Councilโ€™s Childrenโ€™s Services. Although Alice specialises in supporting children with additional support needs, the insights sheโ€™ll share are relevant and useful for people of all ages, making this session ideal for any carer.

What to Expect

Alice will provide a practical, accessible overview of the following:

  • sensory needs
  • distressed behaviours
  • regulation & stimming
  • model of child engagement

Details:

Please note this is a repeat session that was held on Wednesday 27 May.
🙋For unpaid carers in the Falkirk district and Clackmannanshire, who are registered with the Carers Centre
📅 Thursday 18 June
⏰ From 10.30 pm to 12.30 pm
📍 Carers Centre, 1a Bank Street or Zoom
📝 Register here by 6 pm on Tuesday 16 June
For more information or to enquire about future sessions, please email 📧 daynafaulds@centralcarers.co.uk
invitation to literacy support training in the Centre

Training: Literacy Support

Want a bit of help with reading and writing?

Work at your own pace in a relaxed and supportive space.

Join this friendly group designed for adults who want to build confidence with reading, writing and everyday tasks like filling in forms, letters, emails and job applications. The group can also help you work towards Qualifications Scotland units and Adult Achievement Awards, to make sure you are recognised for your learning.ย 

You donโ€™t need any qualifications to join โ€“ just comeย  along and give it a try. This session will be delivered by Gary McKinstry, Community Learning and Development Support Worker from Learning & Employability (Community Learning & Development ETU).ย 

Details:

🙋For unpaid carers in the Falkirk district and Clackmannanshire, who are registered with the Carers Centre
📅 Friday 5 June
⏰ From 11 am to 1 pm
📍 In person only at the Carers Centre, 1a Bank Streetย 
📝 Register here

If you have any questions or you are not registered with the Carers Centre, but would like to attend, please email daynafaulds@centralcarers.co.uk.

invitation to help with transitions drop in cafe taking place in May

June Drop-in Cafe: Help with Transitions

Parents and unpaid carers of young people with additional support needs, pop in for a chat!

Join us if the child you care for is approaching or going through transitions, aged between 14 and 25, and lives in the Falkirk area.

Fiona Maguire (formerly known as Douglas), Transitions Coordinator for Falkirk Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP), is hosting monthly ‘Drop-in Cafรฉs’ in the Carers Centre (1a Bank Street, Falkirk, FK1 1NB). You can drop in between 10 am and 1 pm on the dates below (apart from June – please note the time change below) with questions or for a chat about transitions. These sessions are open to unpaid carers registered with the Carers Centre.ย 

✅ Ask questions about support available
✅ Learn how young people are supported in their transitions beyond school

Details:

📅 Thursday 7 May
🕒 From 9.30 am to 12.30 pm
📍 Carers Centre, 1A Bank Street, Falkirk, FK1 1NB
❗We would appreciate if you could book your place here so that we can anticipate numbers, or just feel free to drop in on the day.ย 

If you have any questions or you are not registered with the Carers Centre, but would like to attend, please email daynafaulds@centralcarers.co.uk.

The next sessions will take place on Thursdays between 10 and 1pm on the following dates:

  • 16 July
  • 6 August
  • 17 September
  • 15 October
  • 12 November
  • 10 December
care with confidence programme header showing an older gentleman and woman with their daughter and giving information about the sessions (Tuesdays from 10.30 am for Falkirk and Clackmannanshire carers)

Care with Confidence Programme – May to June

Our new programme has now been released!

Come along to learn about topics that can help you with your caring role.ย 

Tuesday 26 May 2026: Dementia – Sundowning & Shadowing

You may notice that the person you care for becomes more confused and/or agitated in the late afternoon and evening. This is known as โ€œSundowningโ€. Learn about the steps you can take to help reduce sundowning, for their benefit as well as your own. Shadowing is a form of behaviour in which a person with dementia follows their caregiver around. Find out how to manage this behaviour by gaining an understanding of why this occurs.

Tuesday 02 June 2026: Visit to Falkirk Library

This session will take place at the Falkirk Library at Hope Street in Falkirk, FK1 5AU, so it will not be possible to attend on Zoom. We will meet at the library, and the Senior Library Assistant, Evelyn, will give us a tour and a brief chat about the library services. To name but a few, you can not only borrow books from the library but also musical instruments, tablets, and jigsaw puzzles. You have access to Wi-Fi and PCs. This is where you can pick up your hearing aid batteries. Come along to the library to find out more about all the services available.

Tuesday 09 June 2026: Carers Week

Watch out for our Newsletter and Social Media posts about Carers Week Activities.

You can download the latest CwC programme leaflet from here and the Dementia one from here.

To book a place or for further information on any of the above, please contact your Training Co-ordinator:

👩ย  Donna Mulder – Working hours:ย 21 hours per week (Monday โ€“ Wednesday)
📱ย  07824 381280
📧ย  donnamulder@centralcarers.co.uk

If you are aย carer in Clackmannanshire, you are welcome to join these Falkirk sessions either over Zoom or, if youโ€™d like to attend in person, travel may be provided. Please reach out to Donna for more information.ย 

invitation to presentation about ASN and communication needs

ASN โ€“ Sensory and Communication Needs Overview

Join us for an engaging session!

Gain practical insights into the sensory and communication needs of children with ASN.

We will welcome Alice Grant from Falkirk Councilโ€™s Childrenโ€™s Services. Although Alice specialises in supporting children with additional support needs, the insights sheโ€™ll share are relevant and useful for people of all ages, making this session ideal for any carer.

What to Expect

Alice will provide a practical, accessible overview of the following:

  • sensory needs
  • distressed behaviours
  • regulation & stimming
  • model of child engagement

Details:

🙋For unpaid parent carers in the Falkirk district and Clackmannanshire, who are registered with the Carers Centre
📅 Wednesday 27 May
⏰ From 12.30 pm to 2.30 pm
📍 Carers Centre, 1a Bank Street or Zoom
📝 Register here by 6 pm on Monday 25 May
For more information or to enquire about future sessions, please email 📧 daynafaulds@centralcarers.co.uk
invitation to training about suicide and prevention

Training: Suicide Awareness and Prevention

An informative session on suicide awareness and suicide prevention.

Join us to learn practical ways to support others.ย 

This session, led by Fiona Bartley, Senior Health Improvement Officer from NHS Forth Valley, is designed to help carers learn practical ways to support not only the people they care for, but also peers and others in the community. Youโ€™ll gain confidence in recognising signs, starting conversations, and responding effectively.

The training is open to unpaid carers residing in the Falkirk district and in Clackmannanshire.ย 

Details:

🙋For unpaid carers in the Falkirk district and Clackmannanshire, who are registered with the Carers Centre.ย 
📅 Thursday 21 May
⏰ From 11.00 am to 12.30 pm
📍 In person only at the Carers Centre, 1a Bank Street
📝 Register here by 5 pm on Tuesday 19 May
If you have any questions or you are not registered with the Carers Centre, but would like to attend, please email 📧daynafaulds@centralcarers.co.uk.
dementia programme header showing an older lady with her daughter and giving information about the sessions (last Tuesdays of the month from 10.30 am for Falkirk and Clackmannanshire carers)

Dementia Information Sessions – April to June

Our new Dementia programme is out!

Come along to learn about topics that can help you care for someone with dementia.

Tuesday 28 April 2026: Dementia – Brain Health

Come along to find out about the research called OMNI โ€œOral Microbiome & Nitratesโ€ for Brain Health, which is being used to try and help improve the lives of people living with Alzheimerโ€™s Disease. We will look at Nitric Oxide, which is a molecule in our bodies that helps keep our cardiovascular system healthy, and the oral microbiome, which is the community of microorganisms โ€“ mostly bacteria- living in the mouth. Come along to find out more about these topics and what the science says you can do to improve them.

Tuesday 26 May 2026: Dementia – Sundowning & Shadowing

You may notice that the person you care for becomes more confused and/or agitated in the late afternoon and evening. This is known as โ€œSundowningโ€. Learn about the steps you can take to help reduce sundowning, for their benefit as well as your own. Shadowing is a form of behaviour in which a person with dementia follows their caregiver around. Find out how to manage this behaviour by gaining an understanding of why this occurs.

Tuesday 30 June 2026: Dementia & Friends

Whether it is visiting others with the person you care for, or friends visiting you and your loved one at home, there are many things to consider in making these visits more pleasant and relaxed. Join us for this informative session, where you will gain a better understanding of this condition and increase your confidence about visiting or receiving visitors when caring for someone with dementia.

You can download the programme leaflet from here.ย You may also be interested in other Care with Confidence sessions, which you can find here.

To book a place or for further information on any of the above, please contact your Training Co-ordinator:

👩ย  Donna Mulder – Working hours: 21 hours per week (Monday โ€“ Wednesday)
📱ย  07824 381280
📧ย  donnamulder@centralcarers.co.uk

If you are a carer in Clackmannanshire, you are welcome to join these Falkirk sessions either over Zoom or, if you’d like to attend in person, travel may be provided. Please reach out to Donna for more information.ย