invitation to a training session about financial well-being on 8th April from 12.30pm

Introduction to Financial Well-being

Learn about strategies that can help improve your finances.

Join us as we welcome Rebecca Ketterer-Young, Senior Financial Well-being Officer, from Money Advice Scotland.

Rebecca will be hosting an interactive virtual financial well-being session. Time will be given for Q&A. This course examines the essential elements of financial well-being and explores the challenges and barriers that prevent many individuals from achieving it.

Topics include:

  • The lasting impact of the cost-of-living crisis
  • Digital Exclusion, poverty, and domestic abuse.
  • Practical strategies to overcome barriers and enhance financial well-being.

The session will provide you with valuable insights into the link between financial well-being and overall well-being.

🙋For unpaid carers in the Falkirk district and Clackmannanshire who are registered with the Carers Centre. As an adult carer, you can register here.
📅 Wednesday 8 April
⏰ From 12.30 pm to 1.30 pm
📍 This session is fully remote and will take place on Zoom. If you are unable to access Zoom for any reason, you are welcome to join us in the Centreโ€™s activities room, where youโ€™ll be able to watch the training on our screen with other carers.
📝 Register here for the training by 6 pm on Monday 6 April
For more information or to enquire about future sessions, please email 📧 daynafaulds@centralcarers.co.uk
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 12โ€“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 drop in cafes providing help with transitions for parents and carers of children aged 14-25 with ASN from the Falkirk area

Drop-in Cafe: Help with Transitions

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 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.

✅ Ask questions about support available
✅ Learn how young people are supported in their transitions beyond school

Details:

📅 Thursday 2 April
🕒 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:

  • 7 May
  • 4 June
  • 16 July
  • 6 August
  • 17 September
  • 15 October
  • 12 November
  • 10 December
invitation to session on 25th March by NHS24 about their services, lady holding a phone

Take Some Breathing Space Information Session

Learn about Breathing Space and other mental health services available to you.

Join us as we welcome Lisa-Jane Dock from NHS24.

Breathing Space is a free, confidential phone line and webchat service for anyone aged 16+ in Scotland who is experiencing low mood, anxiety, depression, or emotional distress. It provides a safe and supportive listening service, information, and signposting to further help.

Lisa-Jane will provide a practical, accessible overview, she will:

  • Introduce the suite of mental health services provided at NHS 24
  • Explain the purpose of their phone and webchat services
  • Identify who can use the service, and when it may be of use
  • Provide insight into other mental health support services available to you

Details:

🙋For unpaid carers in the Falkirk district and Clackmannanshire
📅 Wednesday 25 March
⏰ From 12.30 pm to 1.30 pm
📍 Carers Centre, 1a Bank Street or Zoom
📝 Register here by 6 pm on Monday 23 March
For more information or to enquire about future sessions, please email 📧 daynafaulds@centralcarers.co.uk
invitation to autims and neurodiversity training on 24th march, showing a man and a child playing

Training: Autism and Neurodiversity Overview

Join us as we welcome Richard Ibbotson from The Autism Network to the Centre.

With a long background in development and management of autism services, he has led teams to deliver successful supports across all ages, levels of needs and situations.

Aims of the training:

  • Increase understanding of autism and neurodiversity
  • Understand the impact of sensory experiences and differences
  • Challenge some common myths and misconceptions
  • Consider the language used around autism and neurodiversity
  • Understand the diagnosis and its impact
  • Learn about how a neurodiverse brain might work differently
  • Consider the โ€˜Autism advantageโ€™
  • To use this learning to understand โ€˜complex needsโ€™ and challenging behaviours
  • Consider access to future support, including advocacy

The emphasis throughout will be onย practical understanding rather than prescriptive solutions, recognising that small changes can make meaningful differences.

Details:

🙋For unpaid carers in the Falkirk district and Clackmannanshire
📅 Tuesday 24 March
⏰ From 10.30 pm to 12.30 pm
📍 Carers Centre, 1a Bank Street or Zoom
📝 Register here by 11 pm on Sunday 22 March
For more information or to enquire about future sessions, please email 📧 daynafaulds@centralcarers.co.uk
invitation to training about understanding drug & alcohol use

Training: Understanding Drug and Alcohol use

Transform Forth Valley will be joining us for an informative and supportive session.

It is designed for carers of someone affected by drug or alcohol use; whether currently or in the past. Those interested in learning more as a preventative approach are also welcome to join.

Norry and Steph from Transform Forth Valley will cover:

  • Understanding what addiction is
  • Identifying and talking about paraphernalia
  • How addiction really impacts the lives of individuals and families
  • Naloxone awareness

We will also discuss how to best support someone experiencing addiction, what services and supports are available locally (both within adult and childrenโ€™s services) across Forth Valley.

Details:

🙋For unpaid carers in the Falkirk district and Clackmannanshire
📅 Wednesday 18 March
⏰ From 12.30 pm to 2 pm
📍 Carers Centre, 1a Bank Street or Zoom
📝 Register here by 6 pm on Monday 16 March
For more information or to enquire about future sessions, please email 📧 daynafaulds@centralcarers.co.uk
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.ย 

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!ย 

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 carersโ€™ involvement in the hospital discharge process, and much more.

Please register by 1 pm on Tuesday 10 March; however,ย 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 Councilโ€™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 thatโ€™s helping with everyday tasks, supporting children with homework, gaining skills for work, or simply feeling more confident.

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

Youโ€™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

Carer Essential session is on 4th March from 12.30 to 2 pm

March Carer Essentials

Carer Essentials are back, and you are invited!

This session is designed to inform and empower unpaid carers in Falkirk & Clackmannanshire so that they can care with confidence.

Youโ€™ll learn about:

  • Your rights as an unpaid carer
  • What we do at the Centre and how we can help
  • What other local services and support are available
  • What an Adult Carer Support Plan (ACSP) is and how you can benefit from it
Youโ€™ll also get to meet our teams and have the opportunity to ask your questions!

Ideal for those who:

  • are new to caring for a relative or friend
  • have registered with the Carers Centre in the last 6 months
  • or just would like a refresher of what we do and how we can help

Details:

📅 Wednesday 4 March
⏰ From 12.30 pm to 2 pm
📍 Carers Centre or Zoom
📝 Register here
For more information or to enquire about future sessions, please email 📧daynafaulds@centralcarers.co.uk