Young Carers Action Dayย Carers WeekUpdates from the last few monthsUpcoming events and training opportunitiesCarers Week Prize Draw
We will welcome Alice Grant from Falkirk Councilโs Childrenโs Services. Although Alice specialises in supporting children with additional support needs, the insights sheโll 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:
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
daynafaulds@centralcarers.co.uk
Carers Week is a yearly campaign that aims:
The theme for Carers Week 2026, “Building Carer Friendly Communities”, highlights what an important role communities play in ensuring carers get the opportunities and support they need.
As a result, unpaid carers can have fairer support and opportunities, living a better life.ย
Unpaid carers often get overlooked, undervalued or are unsupported. Yet, they are the backbone of our communities facing challenges affecting many aspects of their life including but not limited to their physical or mental health, education, relationships, careers, to name a few. Carer friendly communities have the power to turn understanding into action and make support a daily constant in carers’ lives. Even the smallest contribution can make a great impact on carers’ lives.ย
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. Throughout the week, we will be raising awareness and encouraging communities to take practical and meaningful steps to create positive change.
We will also be celebrating carers with the below programme.ย
Our popular prize draw will be back! We will be doing a draw each day from Monday 8 June to Friday 12 June. 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
***Please note appointments will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis and are limited to one appointment per carer.
If you answer yes to these questions, this session is for you:
– Do you help to look after a partner, child, relative or friend who needs your help due to disability, illness, frailty or addiction?
– Do you live in the Falkirk district?
– Are you between the ages of 8 and 100?
👉 Why attend?
– learn about support available to you, and your rights
– have a casual chat with understanding people and get emotional support if needed
– find out more about benefits you may be eligible for
– free tea/coffee and biscuits
– ask your questions
🫶 You will feel more informed, involved and supported.
*Carers who have expressed an interest in Short Break Activities were invited along to try our community- themed activities If you would like to hear more about future short break activities on offer or join our cancellation list, please contact shortbreaks@centralcarers.co.uk. Please note carers must be physically fit and able to walk for 4 hours.ย
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:
***Please note, this event is only for Clackmannanshire carers, spaces are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Cost to carers is ยฃ5.ย
*Carers who have expressed an interest in Short Break Activities were invited along to try our community- themed activities. If you would like to hear more about future short break activities on offer or join our cancellation list, please contact shortbreaks@centralcarers.co.uk.ย Carers must be in good health and must complete and pass a health questionnaire before participating.
A massive thank you to all Carer Representatives who have completed the Carer Representative Training and sit on various Falkirk Health and Social Care Partnership (FHSCP) groups or are involved with alternative Carer Representation roles!ย ย Their time and commitment to helping others are highly appreciated!
The Carer Representatives regularly engage with carers via carer groups and local forums to gather views and information to understand issues affecting carers. This ensures their input reflects carersโ views, not only personal experience.
When participating in meetings, Carer Representatives contribute to discussions and provide advice and scrutiny from a Carerโs perspective. Where possible, they may add relevant items to meeting agendas and are prepared to raise relevant points and ask questions.ย If youโd like to share your experiences, please contact Sharlene, who will ensure the relevant Carer Representative shares your views on your behalf.
Weโre pleased to share a major milestone: lived-experience representatives will finally have an equal voice by having full voting rights from 1 September 2026 on the IJB Boards, which means IJB Carer Representative, Sharon Mwale, and the Depute, Amanda Winters, will have voting rights, as well.
Carer Representatives Mandy Winters and John Giovanacci were invited to the closed session of the NHS annual review, where they raised carers’ experiences of hospital discharge and spoke about the need for suitable supports for dementia care due to an aging population, with dementia figures set to rise. As a result of the meeting, we held a consultation in the Centre with NHS Chief Executive Ross McGuffie and Karen Goudie, Executive Nurse Director. Notes from the meeting can be found here.
Dana has been meeting regularly with Jennifer Faichney, Policy and Research Officer, from the Falkirk Health and Social Care Partnership (FHSCP) during the development of the new Carer Strategy. ย Meetings will continue as the strategy is still being developed. We hope to bring you specific updates soon.
As a result of John regularly attending the Dementia Strategy Group, we have regular consultations, held in the Centre, with Yvonne Cairns (Dementia and Delirium Lead NHS Forth Valley) and Emma Douglas (Community Mental Health Team Lead for Older Adults NHS Forth Valley). These sessions are an opportunity for carers to learn new information and share their experiences of NHS services relating to dementia. You can find out more about the sessions by emailing Sharlene Ramage, Carer Participation Development Worker – sharleneramage@centralcarers.co.uk. Minutes of previous meetings can be found on our Publications page, under Falkirk Consultations: https://centralcarers.org/information/publications/
The 30th AGM of Central Carers Association (CCA) will take place on Wednesday 10 June 2026 at 10.00 am, followed by a members-only lunch in the Carers Centre at 1a Bank Street, Falkirk, FK1 1NB.
The AGM is open to all.
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. (Email for the link.)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
Meeting Details:ย
Contact Details:
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 donโt 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
Friday 5 June From 11 am to 1 pm In person only at the Carers Centre, 1a Bank Streetย Register hereIf you have any questions or you are not registered with the Carers Centre, but would like to attend, please email daynafaulds@centralcarers.co.uk.
Are you aware that the Scottish Government has introduced some changes to carer benefits with the aim of ensuring better support for those eligible?
We would like to invite you to a meeting with Social Security Scotland, the Executive Agency of the Scottish Government responsible for managing the benefits devolved to Scotland.
We will welcome Claire Lister, Partnership and Events Manager from Social Security Scotland,ย on Tuesday 9 June from 10 am to 12 noon. As part of Carers Week, the meeting will take place in the Carers Centre, 1a Bank Street, however, if you cannot attend in person, you are welcome to join via Zoom.
Join us to learnย more about these recent changes, the benefits Social Security Scotland deliver as well as the eligibility criteria. There will be an opportunity to ask your questions.
Please register by 1 pm on Friday 5 June; however,ย if you require a translator, please let us know at least 2 weeks in advance.
Tuesday 9 June 2026 From 10 am to 12 noon In person at the Falkirk and Clackmannanshire Carers Centre or on Zoom
Carers Week is a yearly campaign that aims:
The theme for Carers Week 2026, “Building Carer Friendly Communities”, highlights what an important role communities play in ensuring carers get the opportunities and support they need.
Unpaid carers often get overlooked, undervalued or are unsupported. Yet, they are the backbone of our communities facing challenges affecting many aspects of their life including but not limited to their physical or mental health, education, relationships, careers, to name a few. Carer friendly communities have the power to turn understanding into action and make support a daily constant in carers’ lives. Even the smallest contribution can make a great impact on carers’ lives.ย
As a result, unpaid carers can have fairer support and opportunities, living a better life.ย
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. Throughout the week, we will be raising awareness and encouraging communities to take practical and meaningful steps to create positive change.
We will also be celebrating carers with our Carers Week Programme, which will be released very soon. Watch this space!ย
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
📅 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:
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 โSundowningโ. 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.
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.
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 381280ย donnamulder@centralcarers.co.ukIf you are aย carer in Clackmannanshire, you are welcome to join these Falkirk sessions either over Zoom or, if youโd like to attend in person, travel may be provided. Please reach out to Donna for more information.ย