Meeting invitation to consultation by Falkirk HSCP and Falkirk Council to improve various services

Invitation to a consultation by Falkirk HSCP and Falkirk Council

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Falkirk Carers, you are invited to this consultation to share your experiences!ย 

Falkirk Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) is working in partnership with Falkirk Council on a new Trauma-Informed Strategy and Action Plan, which aims to improve various services available across the Falkirk District.

They want to ensure that their plans draw on real-life experiences and are grounded in what matters most to the community. Your insights, as a carer, will be invaluable in highlighting what works and what needs to change

Details:
📅 Monday, 1 September 2025
⏰ From 10 am to 12 noon
📍 Falkirk and Clackmannanshire Carers Centre, or online via Zoom

Carers Centre Manager’s Report 2024/25

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We are pleased to present our annual report, detailing the fantastic results the Carers Centre delivered during 2024/25, including some pictures and quotes showing the impact and value of our work.

We will continue to strive to work hard and support carers of all ages, ensuring that carers in Falkirk and Clackmannanshire are recognised, informed, supported, and given opportunities to be involved with changes that may impact them.

 

Invitation to fill in the State of Caring Survey 2025

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Carers UK have launched their annual State of Caring Survey to help paint a comprehensive picture of what life is like for carers at the moment, the challenges they might face, and the impact caring has on different areas of their lives.

The survey will close on Sunday, 10 August, and they will share the results later in the year. As the survey is designed to deeply understand carersโ€™ experiences, it is a longer survey. Therefore, it might take you about 30 minutes to complete.

This survey is the UKโ€™s most comprehensive research into the lives and experiences of carers. It plays a vital role in shaping policy and improving support services by providing robust evidence to governments, local authorities, and health and social care providers.

Last year, over 12,500 carers shared their experiences. With new proposals and policy changes being announced by the UK Government, it is more important than ever that you have your say. Your voice is essential in driving change and ensuring that carersโ€™ needs are recognised and addressed.

We very much appreciate you taking the time to complete it.

The survey can be accessed here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QN5QWF7

Results from last year

Last year Carers UK were able to use carersโ€™ responses to the survey to successfully:

  • campaign for an increase to the earnings limit on Carerโ€™s Allowance
  • respond to the independent review of Carerโ€™s Allowance overpayments
  • campaign for paid carer’s leave
  • publish a new report calling for changes to older carers’ benefits
  • respond to the consultation on the NHS 10 Year Plan and to the Select Committee report on the cost of inaction on social care

In addition, the results from last year have been discussed on national TV shows, as well as local BBC radio, and in many national and local newspapers, raising the profile of unpaid caring.

Carers Week 2025

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Only one more week to go until Carers Week 2025, which is a yearly campaign that aims:

  • to raise awareness about caring and who unpaid carers are
  • to raise awareness of and recognise the challenges unpaid carers face
  • to acknowledge the immense contributions unpaid carers make to our society
  • and to celebrate the vital role unpaid carers play in our communities

The theme for Carers Week 2025, “Caring About Equality”, highlights the inequalities unpaid carers face due to their caring role, including but not limited to, they are at a greater risk of:

  • poverty
  • social isolation
  • poor mental and physical health
  • missing out on opportunities in their education, careers, or personal lives

Each day of the week will explore different aspects of how inequality affects carersโ€™ lives.

  • Monday: Health and social care
  • Tuesday: Financial wellbeing
  • Wednesday: Work and employment
  • Thursday: Younger carers
  • Friday: Older carers
  • Saturday: Mental health and wellbeing
  • Sunday: Reflections on Carers Week

At Falkirk and Clackmannanshire Carers Centre we believe that carers deserve to be recognised for the difficulties they face, respected for their efforts, informed about their rights and options, and supported to continue caring safely.

Our Carers Week Programme:

5 Days of Carers Week Prize Draw

Our popular prize draw is back!ย We will be doing a draw each day from Monday 9 June to Friday 13 June.ย To show our support, prizes include vouchers from multiple local businesses. Please note you only need to enter your details once for all 5 days.

Enter the prize draw here:https://form.jotform.com/CentralCarers/cwpd

Monday 9 Juneย 

Pamper Day in the Centreย 

  • Time: 10 am to 4 pm
  • Location: at the Carers Centre, 1a Bank Street, Falkirk
  • Available treatments: facials, massage, and manicure with gel or nail polish. When booking for manicure appointments, please state your preference.
  • How to book: Call 01324 611510

***Please note appointments will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis and are limited to one appointment per carer.

Alva Carer Get-Togetherย 

***Please not this event is only for Clackmannanshire carers and spaces are limited which will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Tuesday 10 Juneย 

Pamper Day in the Centreย 

  • Time: 10 am to 4 pm
  • Location: at the Carers Centre, 1a Bank Street, Falkirk
  • Available treatments: facials, massage, and manicure with gel or nail polish. When booking for manicure appointments, please state your preference.
  • How to book: Call 01324 611510

***Please note appointments will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis and are limited to one appointment per carer.

Wednesday 11 Juneย 

Central Carers Association Annual General Meeting

  • Time: From 10 am
  • Location: at the Carers Centre, 1a Bank Street, Falkirk

Our Annual General Meeting is open to anyone, and no booking is required. Those who cannot attend in person will be able to join via Zoom. Please only get in touch by callingย 01324 611510ย or emailingย centre@centralcarers.co.ukย if:

  • you require the Zoom link
  • live in Clackmannanshire and require transport to attend the meeting
  • would like to become a member of Central Carers Association, which is the local voluntary organisation and the managing body of the Carers Centre

Thursday 12 June

Clackmannanshire Afternoon Tea for Clackmannanshire Carers

***Please note, this event is only for Clackmannanshire carers, spaces are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Notice of Annual General Meeting (AGM)

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The 29th AGM of Central Carers Association (CCA) will take place on Wednesday 11 June 2025 at 10.00 am, followed by a memberโ€™s lunch in the Carers Centre at 1a Bank Street, Falkirk, FK1 1NB. If you live in the Clackmannanshire area and need travel assistance, please contact the centre using the contact details below. Those who cannot attend in person will be able to join the AGM via Zoom.ย  ย 

CCA is the local voluntary organisation that support carers in Falkirk and Clackmannanshire and is the managing body of the Carers Centre. Full membership of CCA is open to all carers 18 years of age and over in Falkirk and Clackmannanshire, and associate membership is open to young carers under the age of 18. By becoming a Member of CCA, you will be demonstrating your support for the work of the organisation and strengthening its voice as a body that represents carers. Full Members are also entitled to vote at the AGM. The current annual subscription fee is ยฃ5 for full or associate membership.ย  If you would like to become a member, please contact us on 01324 611510 (option 1) or via email: centre@centralcarers.co.uk.ย 

Please share your views about Mental Health Strategy Plan in Forth Valley

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Carers, you have the opportunity to shape how mental health supports and services are delivered locally!

Clackmannanshire & Stirling Health & Social Care Partnership, Falkirk Health and Social Care Partnership, and NHS Forth Valley are working together to create a new Mental Health & Wellbeing Strategy for the Forth Valley area.
They have created a draft Mental Health & Wellbeing Strategic Commissioning Plan and would like to hear the views of people across the region. The closing date is 3 June 2025.

HSCP seeking your views about new policy

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Falkirk Health and Social Care Partneship (HSCP) is seeking your views on a new Self-Directed Support Policy. This new policy sets out how people can access social care support in a way that best suits their needs. The policy is also based upon national guidance and best practice.

You can learn more about the draft policy by visiting the link below, and you’ll be able to by taking part in the survey it closes on .
https://participateplus.falkirk.gov.uk/en-GB/projects/self-directed-support

Easter Weekend and Support Services

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The Carers Centre will be closed from Friday 18 April 2025 to Monday 21 April 2025 (inclusive), re-opening on Tuesday 22 April 2025.ย  Details of local support and emergency services are available below:

  • If you need an urgent Social Work service outwith normal office hours, you can contact:
    • Clackmannanshire Emergency Social Work on 01786 470500
    • Falkirk Emergency Social Work onย 01786 470500
  • For information about local health services which are available, such as GPs and Pharmacies, please visit NHS Forth Valley – Know Who To Turn To When You Are Ill.
  • There is a Minor Injuries Unit for anyone living in NHS Forth Valley. Contact NHS 24ย onย 111, day or night before attending the Minor Injuries Unit, or visit Minor Injuries Unit.
  • For an A-Z of health services, you can go to NHS Forth Valley – Local Services Finder.

Carerโ€™s Digital Discovery Project

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Imagine how much difference it would make to your life if you not only had access to technological devices that can make caring easier, but someone showed you how to use them!

Would you be juggling fewer tasks and feeling less overwhelmed? How about worrying less about your loved ones because you will be able to stay connected? Would you even have more time to yourself to do the things you enjoy? We think so!

Our Carerโ€™s Digital Discovery project is a new space within the Carers Centre that will support you by showcasing how technology can make things a bit easier and less stressful.

The project will provide you with hands-on experience using devices such as voice assistants, wearable alarms, and smart home tools to help with your everyday tasks, monitor those you care for, and stay connected.

You will receive support to set up and use these devices in your own home, improving independence and well-being for both yourself and those you care for.

Help us make a difference! Vote now Backhand index pointing right https://bit.ly/vote_for_fccarerscentre

📍Note
You must live in Ward 7 โ€“ South Falkirk, and submit your vote by 28 February!ย 
Map of Ward 7: https://bit.ly/ward7_southfalkirk_map
List of postcodes in Ward 7: https://bit.ly/4hWnNfO

Festive Opening Hours and Support Services

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FESTIVE OPENING HOURS AND SUPPORT SERVICES

The Carers Centre will be closed from 1pm on Tuesday 24th December 2024, and will re-open on Monday 6th January 2025! Details of local support and emergency services are available below:

    • If you need an urgentย Social Work serviceย outwith normal office hours, you can contact:
        • Clackmannanshire Emergency Social Work on 01786 470500
        • Falkirk Emergency Social Work on 01786 470500
    • For information about local health services which are available during the festive period, such as GP’s and Pharmacies, please visitย NHS Forth Valley – Know Who To Turn To When You Are Ill.
    • There is a Minor Injuries Unit for anyone living in NHS Forth Valley. Contact NHS 24 on 111, day or night before attending the Minor Injuries Unit, or visitย Minor Injuries Unit.
    • For an A-Z of health services over the festive period, you can go toย NHS Forth Valley – Winter Zone
    • Our friends at CVS Falkirk have also put together a Winter Warmers 2024: Finding the Right Support this Winter section on their website with lots of useful information and links!
    • Whatever you’re going through,ย Samaritan’sย will face it with you! They’re there for you 24 hours a day, 365 days a year – call for FREE on 116123.

Finally, the staff and Board of the Carers Centre wish carers a happy, healthy and safe festive season, and we look forward to continuing to offer support in 2025.