Current Vacancies – July 2024

The Carers Centre is a growing and forward-thinking organisation with ambition to support an increasing number of children, young people and adults who provide unpaid care for a family member or friend due to disability, illness, addiction, or frailty.

We are currently looking to fill the following role:

        • Young Carer Involvement Worker

Applications for this post will close on Monday 22 July 2024.

You can find out more about this role at our VACANCIES page! Or if you’d like to apply, click below!

Much Ado About Dying – Carers Social Event at the Hippodrome Cinema

A free networking lunch gathering will take place at the Hippodrome Cinema, Bo’ness after the screening of a heartwarming new British documentary about ageing and caring, on Monday 3 June. 

The informal event has been planned around the showing of a new film – Much Ado About Dying (cert. 15) – and will be facilitated by members of the teams at Falkirk Health and Social Care Partnership, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire Carers’ Centre and Strathcarron Hospice tbc. 

The film follows Simon Chambers, who is shooting a film in India when his uncle David calls him with a message of doom: “I think I may be dying.”  Simon finds his life drastically interrupted but resolves to try to help his uncle have a good death. What the viewer doesn’t yet know is that David is a total drama queen, a former actor and Shakespeare-lover who has grown old on a diet of attention and applause. 

David’s anarchic spirit is unbreakable. He fights with Simon, refusing to go into a care home, insisting on dying in the squalor of his unheated tumble-down house. He can’t remember where he put his false teeth, but he still knows nearly all the lines from his beloved Shakespeare. David’s real life starts to echo King Lear, Shakespeare’s play about an old man who gives away his kingdom and is driven mad with grief, as David starts giving away thousands of pounds to the “hot young carer” who pops in from time to time.  Despite seemingly insurmountable domestic challenges, illness, and the dreaded care home, they create an award-winning final performance to send David on his way.

Alison Strauss Arts Development Officer (Film and Media) and Hippodrome programmer said:

“Despite the apparently bleak subject matter this is a lovely and funny film.  I was moved to tears by David’s precarious situation but moved to laughter by his fantastically irresistible ‘joie de vivre’.  David’s outlook is a real inspiration for us all, and his nephew Simon’s struggles remind us that you don’t have to be perfect to make a difference.  I am really pleased that the teams from Falkirk Health and Social Care Partnership, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire Carers’ Centre [and Strathcarron Hospice tbc] will be on hand for the lunch afterwards.  It will be a friendly and relaxed opportunity for folk to speak amongst themselves about the film – or about anything at all – over a nice sandwich and a cup of tea, and the teams will be able to answer any questions about the services they provide in the area!”

Ami McKnight Support Options for Carers Lead with Falkirk & Clackmannanshire Carers Centre said:

“It is estimated that 3 in 5 of us will, become carers at some point in our lives, and this networking event will be the perfect opportunity to speak with our team and some of our partners about the services we provide to unpaid carers in our community.  Falkirk & Clackmannanshire Carers Centre are pleased to work in partnership with the Hippodrome cinema throughout the year by providing unpaid carers with cinema tickets through the Respitality project.  Carers interested in accessing cinema tickets, or other local Respitality opportunities, can contact the Short Breaks Team on 01324 611510 or shortbreaks@centralcarers.co.uk.”

Tickets for the special screening at 11 am on Monday 3 June are £5 for the film only, or £7.65 for the film with tea/coffee and cake.  All ticket holders are welcome to stay after the film for a complimentary light lunch and informal get-together in the Hippodrome auditorium (12.45 pm – 2 pm).

Much Ado About Dying is screening four times at the Hippodrome Cinema, 10 Hope Steet, Bo’ness EH51 0AA – on Friday 31 May at 4.30 pm, Saturday 1 June at 2.30 pm (captioned for Deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences), Sunday 2 June at 7.30 pm.  Adult tickets £8.25 (pre-book) or £8.65 on the door.  Concession tickets £6.40 or £6.70 on the door.  The final screening of Much Ado About Dying plus networking lunch is on Monday 3 June at 11 am.

To book online see What’s On | Hippodrome (hippodromecinema.co.uk).  Bookings can also be made in person at the Hippodrome or by phone 01324 506850. 

Forth Valley Carers Card update

We are delighted to announce that carers who are registered with us can once again apply for a Forth Valley Carers Card.

The Forth Valley Carers Card is a carer identification card that has been developed by local carers, Carers Centres, NHS Forth Valley and local authorities to ensure that carers are more easily identified by health and social care professionals and recognised and valued as equal partners in care.

To apply, please complete our online application form: form.jotform.com/CentralCarers/carers-card

If you are unable to or require help to complete the form, please call us on 01324 611510 (option 1).

Summer 2024 newsletter now available!

The summer 2024 edition of the Carers Centre’s newsletter has now been sent out to all carers and organisations currently on our mailing list to receive information by post or email. If you haven’t received a copy of the newsletter, you can download the digital version by clicking below.

In this latest edition:

        • Excellence for Carers Award 🏆
        • Become a Board Member 📌
        • Forth Valley Carers Card update 💳

If you’ve missed this edition but would like to sign up to our e-mailing list to receive future newsletters, you can do so here.

 

Current Vacancies – May 2024

The Carers Centre is a growing and forward-thinking organisation with ambition to support an increasing number of children, young people and adults who provide unpaid care for a family member or friend due to disability, illness, addiction, or frailty.

We are currently looking to fill the following roles:

        • Carer Support Worker (Hospital Discharge)
        • Carer Support Worker (Falkirk)
        • Carer Support Worker (Clackmannanshire)

Applications for these posts close on Monday 20 May 2024.

You can find out more about this role at our VACANCIES page! Or if you’d like to apply, click below!

Easter Weekend and Support Services

The Carers Centre will be closed from Friday 29 March 2024 until Monday 1 April 2024 (inclusive), re-opening on Tuesday 2 April 2024.  Details of local support and emergency services are available below:

Young Carers Action Day!

It’s Young Carers Action Day!

Young Carers Action Day (YCAD) raises awareness about young carers (YCs) and young adult carers (YACs), the challenges they face and the support they need. This year’s theme is Fair Futures for Young Carers which will be focussing on why caring should not be a barrier to learning, earning or being able to get on in life – but for many, it is.

Being a young carer shouldn’t be a barrier to a young person’s dreams. It should be a stepping stone to a brighter future. Together, let’s create a future where young carers can dream without limits.

You can find more information and resources on YCAD at Carers.org/YCAD or get involved on social media using the hashtag #YoungCarersActionDay

Current Vacancies – March 2024

The Carers Centre is a growing and forward-thinking organisation with ambition to support an increasing number of children, young people and adults who provide unpaid care for a family member or friend due to disability, illness, addiction, or frailty.

We are currently looking to fill the following roles:

        • Impact and Reach Lead
        • Carer Support Worker (Falkirk)
        • Carer Support Worker (Clackmannanshire)
        • Short Breaks Activity Co-ordinator

Applications for these posts close on Monday 11 March 2024, except the Carer Support Worker (Clackmannanshire) post which closes on Monday 4 March 2024.

You can find out more about this role at our VACANCIES page! Or if you’d like to apply, click below!

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.

Festive Opening Hours and Support Services

The Carers Centre will be closed from 1 pm on Friday 22 December 2023 until Tuesday 2 January 2024 (inclusive), re-opening on Wednesday 3 January 2024.  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:
  • For information about local health services which are available during the festive period, 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 is 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 over the festive period, you can go to NHS Forth Valley – A-Z of Winter Services.
  • 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.
  • 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 116 123.

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 2024.