Easter Bank holiday closure and local emergency services details

Easter Weekend and Support Services

The Carers Centre will be closed from Friday 3 April 2026 to Monday 6 April 2026 (inclusive), re-opening on Tuesday 7 April 2026.  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 on 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 24 on 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.
invitation to consultation by Children with Disabilities Team on Friday 24th April

Consultation: Children with Disabilities Team

Falkirk Parent Carers, you’re invited! 

Children with Disabilities Team are seeking your views!

Nicola Millar, Social Work Assistant Team Manager, is looking to hear your views and experiences about what’s working well and what could be improved. 

Please register by 1 pm on Tuesday 21 April; however, if you require a translator, please let us know at least 2 weeks in advance.

Details:
📅 Friday 24 April 2026
⏰ From 10 am to 12 noon
📍 In person at the Falkirk and Clackmannanshire Carers Centre or on Zoom
invitation to right to a break consultation by the Scottish Government.

Consultation: Right to a Break

The Right to a Break Consultation is now open.

Help shape the right that supports you and your caring situation best!

The Scottish Government have launched a 12–week consultation on the new right to a break, seeking views on proposed options for implementation of this right.

This consultation provides an important opportunity for the right to a break to be shaped by the unpaid carers it aims to support, and the organisations that will help deliver this right.

While the right to a break has the potential to be transformative, planning and delivery must recognise the current challenges unpaid carers and services face. The time for effective and meaningful change to short breaks is now.

You can find out more information about this consultation and have your say by clicking here.

invitation to national online survey carried out by Heriot-Watt university in partnership with Age Scotland and the University of Strathclyde.

National Dementia Survey – Your views are needed!

If you care for someone who’s received a dementia diagnosis, this survey is for you!

Heriot-Watt University, in partnership with the University of Strathclyde and Age Scotland, is leading a three-year research initiative called CONSOLIDATE Network.

The research explores how technology can support independence for people living with dementia. They would like to understand the lived experiences, hopes, and challenges of people living with dementia and their unpaid carers. Your insights will be invaluable in helping shape future research and innovation in dementia care. You can find more information about this research here.

If you are interested in sharing your views, please take the survey here.

dementia research consultation on 5th March from 10am

Consultation: Dementia Research – CONSOLIDATE Network

Take part in this dementia research to help shape future research and innovation in dementia care.

Those caring for someone with dementia and living in Falkirk are invited to this consultation. 

Heriot-Watt University, in partnership with the University of Strathclyde and Age Scotland, is leading a three-year research initiative called CONSOLIDATE Network. The research explores how technology can support independence for people living with dementia. They would like to understand the lived experiences, hopes, and challenges of people living with dementia and their unpaid carers. Your insights will be invaluable in helping shape future research and innovation in dementia care. You can find more information about this research here.

If you are interested in attending, I would appreciate it if you could complete and, if possible, return the attached consent form to Sharlene Ramage by email before the session, or bring it along with you. Should you not be able to do so, Sharlene will have some spare forms on the day for you to fill out. You can access the participant consent form here.

Please register by 2 pm on Tuesday 3 March; however, if you require a translator, please let us know at least 2 weeks in advance.

Details:
📅 Thursday 5 March 2025
⏰ From 10 am to 12 noon
📍 In person at the Falkirk and Clackmannanshire Carers Centre or on Zoom
consultation with NHS Forth Valley on 12th March from 10 am in the Carers Centre

Consultation: NHS Forth Valley

Falkirk Carers, you’re invited! 

NHS Forth Valley is joining us for this consultation.

Karen Goudie, Executive Nurse Director, and Ross McGuffie, Chief Executive of NHS Forth Valley, are looking to hear your views and experiences about various topics, such as how carers are being recognised within NHS establishments, prescriptions, and carers’ involvement in the hospital discharge process, and much more.

Please register by 1 pm on Tuesday 10 March; however, if you require a translator, please let us know at least 2 weeks in advance.

Details:
📅 Thursday 12 March 2025
⏰ From 10 am to 12 noon
📍 In person at the Falkirk and Clackmannanshire Carers Centre or on Zoom
online survey for adult learning opportunities - closes on 13th March

Online Survey: Free Adult Learning Opportunities

We are exploring interest in free Adult Learning groups for carers in Falkirk.

We would really value your input!

Falkirk Council’s Adult Learning Team is considering offering small, friendly groups to support carers who would like to build confidence in areas such as reading, writing, numbers, or digital skills. These groups would be relaxed, supportive, and tailored to what learners want – whether that’s helping with everyday tasks, supporting children with homework, gaining skills for work, or simply feeling more confident.

By filling in this short and anonymous survey by Friday 13 March, you are helping us understand what would be useful for carers.

You’ll find more information about the types of support the Adult Learning Team can offer here.

Thank you very much for taking the time to share your views. Your feedback helps shape our services and make a difference for carers.

Survey Link: https://forms.office.com/e/SE0SzfHQUe

If you have any questions, please feel free to get in touch with Training Co-ordinator Dayna Faulds – daynafaulds@centralcarers.co.uk

invite for consultation about hospital discharge and care at home services

Consultation: Hospital Discharge and Care at Home Services

Falkirk Carers, don’t miss this consultation!

You are invited to take part in an important discussion about Hospital Discharge and Care at Home Services.

Lana Ray, Team Manager – Central Locality, at Falkirk Health and Social Care Partnership (FHSCP), is keen to hear directly about your experiences. This is an opportunity to share what matters most to you, highlight what is working well, and help shape improvements for carers and the people you support.

To attend this consultation, please register here by 10 am on Wednesday 11 February.

Meeting details:
📅 Friday 13 February 2026
⏰ From 10 am to 12 noon
📍 At the Carers Centre in Falkirk or via Zoom
a person taking a survey in the background, the Falkirk Health and Social Care Partnership is seeking carers views by 15 Feb

Consultation: Falkirk Carers Strategy

Falkirk Carers, help shape the next Carers Strategy!

Falkirk Health and Social Care Partnership (FHSCP) are seeking initial insights from carers to help identify key priorities for the next Falkirk Carers Strategy (2026 – 2029). 

The strategy sets out how unpaid carers will be identified and supported, and how carers’ rights will be protected under the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016. This survey is for carers only. A wider programme of public engagement will take place soon as part of the Falkirk HSCP Strategic Plan engagement activity. 

The Partnership thanks you for taking the time to share your views, as it will help them create a strategy that is realistic, achievable, and shaped by carers’ voices.

Take the survey here by Sunday 15 February: Shaping the Future for Carers in Falkirk

Christmas-themed image showing closure times

Festive Opening Hours and Support Services

Falkirk and Clackmannanshire Carers Centre will be closed from Wednesday 24 December 2025 and will reopen on Monday 5 January 2026. The Carers Centre in Falkirk will close on Tuesday 23 December; however, our phone lines will remain open on Wednesday 24 December. 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 on 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 24 on 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.
  • Our friends at CVS Falkirk have also put together a Wellness in Winter page on their website with lots of useful information and links – CVS Falkirk – Wellness in Winter 2025/26
  • Whatever you’re going through, Samaritan’s 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 peaceful, healthy and safe festive season, and we look forward to continuing to offer support in 2026.