Falkirk and Clackmannanshire carers to receive Falkirk FC home tickets thanks to the Support our Bairns initiative

Following an incredibly difficult two years and amidst the ongoing cost of living crisis, The Falkirk Foundation teamed up with Falkirk Football Club to give those that are struggling the opportunity to come to games this season for free through the Support our Bairns initiative.

Thanks to the generosity of the Falkirk fanbase, carers in Falkirk and Clackmannanshire and their families will have the opportunity to attend Falkirk games at The Falkirk Stadium this season. 50 tickets will be made available to Falkirk & Clackmannanshire Carers Centre, who will distribute them through their Respitality programme, ahead of every home game to give the carers and cared for in our community a chance to experience a match day and support their team without having to worry about the cost as well as the opportunity to have a break.

Falkirk Football Club matched what was raised, doubling the number of tickets and thus doubling the impact of the project and with gift aid added at no additional cost to fans, we were able to reach more of our community.

There is still an opportunity to be part of this as we are still raising funds for this initiative and if anyone would like to donate they can do so here: Donate with PayPal Giving Fund

Thank you to everyone who kindly donated to this worthwhile cause.

Derek Allison, CEO of Falkirk Foundation, said:

“The Falkirk Foundation would like to thank Falkirk FC and all the supporters who donated to the initiative to make football at The Falkirk Stadium more accessible to those that might not be able to afford the day out. As a result of the funds raised we have partnered with the Falkirk & Clackmannanshire Carers Centre to provide their service users with some respite and the opportunity to come to the Falkirk Stadium and experience all the thrills of being at a game. Many carers may find it difficult to cover the costs of attending a football match and this initiative may ease that concern and allow them to enjoy a family day out.”

Ami McKnight, Carer Support Worker (Short Breaks) at Falkirk & Clackmannanshire Carers Centre, added:

“Although caring for someone can be tough, stressful, and mentally and physically tiring, it can be rewarding too, often involving a great deal of pride and commitment. For many carers, however, the opportunity to have a break from their routine is vital to enable them to keep themselves well and have time out from their caring role.

“Falkirk & Clackmannanshire Carers Centre recognises the benefits of having a short vital break to carers and is incredibly grateful to the Falkirk FC Foundation and Falkirk FC for their donation of match-day tickets to our Respitality programme. Not only will carers be able to support their local team and do something they may not normally be able to afford, we will also be able to offer the carers the gift of making memories.”

Jamie Swinney, CEO of Falkirk Football Club, said of the initiative:

“Firstly I would like to thank every Falkirk supporter who kindly donated to the Support our Bairns initiative. I want our football club and Foundation to act as an anchor for our local community, to provide support, assistance and a source of pride to people. The current cost of living crisis is making it more and more difficult for people to spend money on hobbies as people have less disposable income. This is particularly true for the most disadvantaged people in our community, so I am delighted we are able to jointly deliver this project with the support of the Foundation and Ami and her team. We look forward to welcoming many different families throughout the season with the thanks to the generosity of the Falkirk support.”

Summer 2022 newsletter now available!

The summer 2022 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 recevied a copy of the newsletter, you can download the digital version by clicking below.

In this latest edition:

      • We’re sharing the story of Stewart, a carer in Clackmannashire, and his carer support journey
      • We have updates from our Young Carers Project
      • Information about our monthly Professionals Afternoon
      • and much more!

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.

 

Come and work with us!

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 roles of:

        • Carer Support Worker x2 (28 hours)
        • Office Administrator (25 hours)

Applications for these posts close on Friday 20 May 2022.

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

Website feedback survey

We know that our website is one of the main ways that you interact with us, and we’re now looking for some feedback on it – what you like, what you don’t like, what’s missing, and more.

It should only take a few minutes to complete the survey, and your feedback really is vital to help us make sure that our website is the best resource it can be!

You can complete the survey using this link: form.jotform.com/CentralCarers/website-feedback-survey-2022.

 


Easter Weekend and Support Services

The Carers Centre will be closed from Friday 15 April 2022 until Monday 18 April 2022 (inclusive), re-opening on Tuesday 19 April 2022.  Details of local support and emergency services are available below:

Health & Social Care Training

Do you want to represent your community and inform how health and social care is delivered in Falkirk?

We are looking for carers and people who use health and social care services to become representatives and join a range of groups to help ensure that lived experience is central to planning and decision making.

Falkirk Health and Social Care Partnership have teamed up with key organisations to deliver free training so you have everything you need to take part, feel supported and share your ideas, and together we can design services that reflect your needs.

What can I expect from the training?

  1. Once training is completed, individuals will feel empowered.
  2. The training will be easily digestible and relevant to the individual’s area.
  3. The training will develop on new and existing skills of the individual.
  4. Individuals will have the ability to represent their own views while remaining objective and able to speak on other people’s behalf.
  5. Individuals will improve their conversation/decision-making skills.
  6. Those who participate will be involved in follow-up discussion to help frame future training sessions.
  7. Individuals will feel motivated to carry on engagement and make a positive difference in their area.

Who is this training suitable for?

  • People with lived experience of health and social care.
  • People with an interest in health and social care.
  • People who want to join a supportive community.
  • People who are willing to share their ideas and experience to create positive change.
  • People who are willing to take on an advocacy role and represent their wider community.
  • People who want to make a difference to improve health and social care in their communities.

When will the training be delivered?

  • Wednesday 27 April, 10.30am – 1pm
  • Wednesday 4 May, 10.30am – 1pm
  • Wednesday 11 May, 10.30am – 1pm

Each session will include a 15-minute break. You will also have opportunities to ask questions and to get involved in discussions.

How do I sign up?

Registration is now open so click the link here to book your space.

What is the training like?

When we delivered this training for carer representatives in March 2021, they found the training informative and enjoyable. They told us:

  • “Really interesting course.”
  • “Good to hear about how things work in social work, it seems complex.”
  • “I hadn’t seen myself as a carer but now see myself as an advocate to other carers.”
  • “Course has good content and timings were good.”
  • “I learned a lot – found the negotiation part really interesting.”
  • “Gave me confidence to speak out.”

Do I have to become a representative if I sign up to the training?

There is no commitment to join as a carer or service user representative when you sign up for the training sessions. This training is your opportunity to learn how you can make a meaningful contribution to the Falkirk Health and Social Care Partnership, as well as meet other people just like you.

If you decide to become a representative, then ongoing support will be provided so you can get the most out of your experience.

Do I need any special skills or qualifications?

You don’t need any prior qualifications or skills. We will cover everything you need to know in the training.

I want to get involved. How do I sign up again?

Complete the registration form by clicking the link here. We know you have opinions about health and social care, so this is your opportunity to shape how we deliver our services. Further information will be provided in due course.

If you have any questions, email HSCPComms@falkirk.gov.uk.

We hope to see you at the training.

Development Worker – Young Adults

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 role of:

    • Development Worker – Young Adults (35 hours)

Applications close on Monday 25 April 2022.

You can find out more about the roles and how to apply at our VACANCIES page!

 

 

We’re Hiring!

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 roles of:

    • Office Administrator (35 hours)
    • Support Worker – Young Adult Carers (35 hours)

Applications close on Monday 14 March 2022 and Friday 18 March 2022, respectively.

You can find out more about the roles and how to apply at our VACANCIES page!

 

 

Festive Opening Hours and Support Services

The Carers Centre will be closed from Monday 27 December 2021 until Tuesday 4 January 2022 (inclusive), re-opening on Wednesday 5 January 2022.  Details of local support and emergency services are available below:

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 2022.

We’re hiring!

We are currently looking to fill the role of:

    • Admin Worker (35 hours)

Applications close on Monday 10 January 2022.

You can find out more about the roles and how to apply at our VACANCIES page!