invitation to information session for those working in the Falkirk district

Information Session for Professionals

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Would you recognise an unpaid carer?

Come along to network and learn about what we do, how you can identify and signpost unpaid carers for support!

If you know any other professionals who work with carers, please let them know about this opportunity. This session will give professionals an overview of what we do at the Carers Centre and how we can work together to support the carers they work with.

✅ Learn how we support unpaid carers
✅ Meet our teams and learn what they all do
✅ Connect with other professionals

✅ Gain practical insights into the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016, Adult Carer Support Plans and Young Carer Statements, the hospital discharge process involving the carer, and more!

Let’s work together to support carers in our community!

📅 Thursday 24 September
⏰ย From 10.30 am to 12.30 pm
📍 Carers Centre, 1a Bank Street or via Zoom

Register for the event here!ย 

⁉️ ย Alternatively, if you can’t make this one and you’d like to be informed about upcoming sessions via emails, please register your interest here.

Invitation to Dementia Consultation

Consultation: Dementia – Services and Support

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Do you care for someone with a dementia diagnosis and live in Falkirk?

If so, you are invited to this consultation. We would encourage you to join even if you havenโ€™t attended any the previous ones, asย your valuable insights can help shape dementia support.

Yvonne Cairns, NHS Forth Valley Dementia and Delirium Lead, and Emma Douglas, leader of the Community Mental Health Team for Older Adult Services, will be joining us again and are continuing to gather your views and experiences related to dementia services and support. The specific topic for this session will be confirmed later. During the session, Yvonne will also talk about how carersโ€™ views and feedback shared in the last few sessions have shaped improvements in the accident and emergency department.

Please register by 1 pm on Tuesday 15 September; however,ย if you require a translator, please let us know at least 2 weeks in advance.

Details:
📅 Thursday 17 September 2026
⏰ From 10 am to 12 noon
📍 In person at the Falkirk and Clackmannanshire Carers Centre or on Zoom
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 – September

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Our new programme has now been released!

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

Tuesday 8 September 2026: Welfare Benefits Overview

Lyn McKay, Welfare Benefits Adviser, Citizens Advice Bureau, will give us an overview of different benefits, including working-age benefits and older adult benefits, with an opportunity to ask any questions you may have relating to welfare benefits.

Tuesday 15 September 2026: Canine Partners

William Holmes, Volunteer at Canine Partners, will be joining us to talk about the many incredible ways assistance dogs transform the lives of their Partners; not just making them more independent, but helping them gain confidence, socialise and take their place in society. Assistance dogs are trained to meet the needs of individuals with a physical disability or condition affecting their daily life and limiting their independence.

Tuesday 22 September 2026: Bowel Cancer UK Awareness Session

This session will be delivered by Bowel Cancer UK. You will learn important information about bowel cancer, including the prevalence of bowel cancer, the six most common signs and symptoms, and risk factors. Youโ€™ll also learn about the NHS bowel screening programme and the importance of taking part. There will also be an opportunity to ask any questions you might have.

Tuesday 29 September 2026: Caring for Smiles – NHS Forth Valley

Louise Balfour, Oral Health Central Nurse, NHS Forth Valley will talk about the importance of oral health. Did you know problems in the mouth can affect the rest of your body? Are you aware of different toothbrushes available to clean the mouth and teeth? Join us to find out more.

You can download the latest CwC programme leaflet from here.

To register for any of the sessions above, please click here.

For more information, please contact your Training Co-ordinator:

👩ย  Carly Crooks – Working hours: Monday โ€“ Thursday
📱 07563 391108
📧 carlycrooks@centralcarers.co.uk
invitation to help with transitions drop in cafe taking place in May

September Drop-in Cafe: Help with Transitions

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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:

🙋For unpaid carers in the Falkirk district, who are registered with the Carers Centre
📅 Thursday 17 September
🕒 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:

  • 15 October
  • 12 November
  • 10 December
6- week autism course

6-week Parent Information Programme

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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 session to feel empowered at medical appointments

Navigating Healthcare

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Feel more confident at medical appointments

Supporting carers to advocate, prepare and partner with healthcare professionals.

Join us for an informative and supportive session with Margaret Ruddy, Lecturer in Nursing and Allied Health at the University of Stirling, exploring how carers can work in partnership with healthcare professionals when the person they look after is admitted to hospital, or during other medical appointments. This session will provide practical guidance to help you feel more confident and empowered during hospital stays and appointments.

Topics covered:
– Preparing for a hospital admission
– Preparing for medical appointments
– Self-care
– Advocacy
– Raising complaints

Many carers have let us know that supporting someone with hospital admissions and appointments can, at times, feel frustrating. Margaret will provide an opportunity to share these experiences in a supportive setting and will share her experiences of how carers can best navigate the hospital setting.

We also want to hear from you. There will be an opportunity to share your experiences and discuss:
โ€ข What has worked well for you?
โ€ข What challenges have you faced?
โ€ข What would you like professionals to better understand?

Details:

🙋For unpaid carers in the Falkirk district, who are registered with the Carers Centre
📅 Tuesday 1 September
⏰ From 10.30 am to 12.30 pm
📍 Carers Centre, 1a Bank Street or on Zoom
For more information or to register as a carer with the Carers Centre first, please email 📧 daynafaulds@centralcarers.co.uk.
invitation to a free digital skills course for adult carers

Free Digital Skills Course for Adult Carers

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Get more from technology in everyday life

Gain confidence with digital tools, connect with others, and learn practical skills to help manage your commitments more easily.

We are delighted to welcome Neil McCarroll, Community Learning & Development Support Worker (Adult Learning) from Falkirk Council, who will deliver this practical 6-part training in a relaxed and supportive group setting.

The course will explore digital skills to help you stay connected, organised, informed and safe online. In a welcoming environment, you can develop the confidence to use technology safely and independently, and discover ways to make the most of your time, making it easier to balance all your commitments.

The programme is also a great opportunity to meet others, share experiences and discover useful digital tools at your own pace.

Topics may include:
โ€ข Using computers, smartphones & tablets with confidence
โ€ข Staying safe online and protecting personal information
โ€ข Shopping online safely and finding good deals
โ€ข Managing appointments, reminders and calendars
โ€ข Ordering repeat prescriptions and accessing services
โ€ข Recognising scams, fraud and misleading information
โ€ข Using email, messaging and video calls to keep in touch

No previous experience is required; equipment will be provided, and support is available every step of the way.

You are welcome to come along to the first session to see if this programme is useful for you, and then decide if you wish to continue with the rest of the block. Please register on the link below.

Details:

🙋For unpaid carers in the Falkirk district, who are registered with the Carers Centre
📅 Thursdays on the following dates: 3 September, 10 September, 17 September, 24 September, 1 October, 8 October
⏰ From 1 pm to 3 pm
📍 In person only at the Carers Centre, 1a Bank Street
For more information or to register as a carer with the Carers Centre first, please email 📧 daynafaulds@centralcarers.co.uk.
Invitation to fill out falkirk carers strategy online consultation

Online Consultation: Falkirk Carers Strategy

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Have Your Say on Falkirk Carers Strategy

Share your experience and help shape the future of unpaid carers in Falkirk!

Falkirk Health and Social Care Partnership are developing a new Falkirk Carers Strategy. Your feedback will help shape the final strategy and how progress is measured over the coming years.

Please follow the link to share your views: Falkirk Carers Strategy | Participate+

The consultation will be open until Sunday 13 September.

invitation to consultation with NHS Forth Valley about their Quality, Safety and Experience Plan

NHS Forth Valley Quality, Safety and Experience Plan

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Help shape the future of NHS Forth Valley services!

Your feedback will help ensure the Plan reflects local needs and priorities.

NHS Forth Valley is developing a new Quality, Safety & Experience Plan to support the delivery of their 10-year Population Health and Care Strategy. This Plan will set out how they will continue to improve the quality, safety and experience of everyone who uses NHS Forth Valleyโ€™s services.

We will welcome Jennifer Brisbane, Knowledge Facilitator and Lucy Atalla, Quality Improvement Advisor from NHS Forth Valley, who are seeking your help to shape this new plan. This consultation session will provide an opportunity to discuss the emerging priorities for the Plan, share your experiences and perspectives, and help shape the actions they take to improve quality, safety and experience across NHS Forth Valley. They would like to hear what is working well, where improvements are needed, and what matters most to you. Your feedback will help ensure the final Plan reflects local needs and priorities and is informed by the people who use, deliver and support their services.

There will also be further opportunities to contribute throughout the development process to ensure local feedback is reflected in the final plan.

Details:

🙋For unpaid carers in the Falkirk district, who are registered with the Carers Centre
📅 Monday 7 September 2026
⏰ From 10 am to 12 noon
📍 In person at the Falkirk and Clackmannanshire Carers Centre or via Zoom
Register for the event here.
imagery to describe the post is about minutes for any consultation that took place with Falkirk carers in 2026.

Minutes for consultations with Falkirk Carers

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Here you can find all the minutes for consultations with Falkirk carers that took place in 2026.

These meetings provide a great opportunity for carers to meet with other carers, representatives from local authorities, and other third sector organisations. Carers can share their views and experiences to help shape local and national carer support, and learn about useful services, as well as important updates that may impact their caring role. For minutes from the monthly Carers’ Voice meetings, please go to our Publications page.

If you’d like to join upcoming carer consultations, please email Sharlene Ramage, Carer Participation Development Worker, sharleneramage@centralcarers.co.uk.

Date Guest Organisation Topic Link to minutes Progress Updates
20.08.26 Expected Guest Speaker was Primary Care Mental Health Team Leader from Falkirk Community Hospital Services, Support, and hearing carers’ experiences and views Minutes
06.08.26 Hourglass Services and Support for older people experiencing abuse Minutes
31.07.26 University of the West of Scotland Research – Behind the Scenes: Understanding the role of unpaid carers looking after people affected by alcohol and other drug use Minutes
23.07.26 NHS Forth Valley Dementia: Post diagnostic support resources Minutes
18.06.26 NHS Forth Valley, Chief Executive Improvements to Hospital Services Minutes
09.06.26 Social Security Scotland Benefits Minutes
01.06.26 Woodlands Resource Centre (NHS The Bungalows) Mental Health Services for those aged 18-65 Minutes
28.05.26 Falkirk Health and Social Care Partnership Changes to Integrated Discharge and Care at Home Services Minutes
21.05.26 Scottish Government and NHS Forth Valley Vaccines: Flu, Covid, RSV Minutes
14.05.26 NHS Forth Valley Dementia: Sensory Changes Minutes
07.05.26 University of Stirling Nursing Programme Minutes
24.04.26 Falkirk Councilโ€™s Children with Disabilities Social Work Team Services and Support Minutes
12.03.26 NHS Forth Valley Discharge Process & Medication Minutes
05.03.26 No guest CONSOLIDATE Network Research Minutes CONSOLIDATE Research Report – July 2026
13.02.26 Falkirk Health and Social Care Partnership Hospital Discharge & Care at Home Services Minutes