celebration Falkirk Foundation's donations to respitality

Respitality Donor Spotlight: Falkirk Foundation

Celebrating 4 Years of Support from Falkirk Foundation!

Falkirk Foundation have been supporting unpaid carers in Falkirk and Clackmannanshire to take a break for the past 4 years.

Through their generous donation of football tickets for home matches, they provided over 3000 tickets across 73 matches, allowing carers to take a break and enjoy some time out supporting their local team! These fantastic break opportunities make a huge difference – thank you for your support!

Who is Falkirk Foundation?

Falkirk Foundation is the official charity and community partner of Falkirk Football Club. Using the power of football, the charity helps people living in the Forth Valley area improve their quality of life. It delivers programmes that support mental health, physical wellbeing, education, employability, and community inclusion for people of all ages. The Foundation works with schools, community groups, and local partners to help people build confidence, develop skills, stay active, and reduce social isolation.

How did carers benefit?

β€œThank you, Falkirk Foundation, our community is lucky to have you”

Carers described the football matches as a valuable break from the pressures of their caring role, giving them the opportunity to relax, enjoy themselves, and focus on something positive. The experience provided quality time with family members, helping people reconnect and create shared memories together. Many reported improved wellbeing, feeling refreshed, uplifted, and better able to cope with their caring responsibilities afterwards. Attending the matches also reduced feelings of isolation by enabling carers to be part of a wider community experience.

Read the full case study here.

Are you a local business?

Learn more about the Respitality initiative and how you can get involved here.

Are you a carer?

To find out more, please contact our Short Breaks team on 01324 611510 (Option 1) or email shortbreaks@centralcarers.co.uk

invitation to session to gain practical tips for navigating hospital stays for your child

Parent Carers: Partnering with Healthcare Professionals

Supporting Your Child in Hospital

Gain the knowledge, confidence, and tools to advocate for your child and work collaboratively with healthcare teams.

Join us for an informative and supportive session with Margaret Ruddy, Lecturer in Nursing and Allied Health, University of Stirling, exploring how parent carers can work in partnership with healthcare professionals when their child is hospitalised.

Whether your child is a newborn, school-aged child, or a teenager, this session will provide practical guidance to help you feel more confident and empowered during hospital stays and healthcare appointments.

Topics we’ll cover:
✅ Recognising your own expertise as a parent carer
✅ Working in partnership with healthcare professionals
✅ Advocating for yourself and your child
✅ Practical tips and considerations when your child is in hospital
✅ Understanding your role in decision-making and care planning

We also want to hear from you. There will be an opportunity to share your experiences and discuss:
β€’ What has worked well for you?
β€’ What challenges have you faced?
β€’ What would you like professionals to better understand?
Your feedback will help shape future support and resources for parent carers.

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 Zoom
For more information or to register as a carer with the Carers Centre first, please email 📧 daynafaulds@centralcarers.co.uk.
invitation to a training session about stress management and self-care strategies

Managing Stress and Looking After Yourself

Building resilience through stress management and self-care

Gain valuable insights and learn effective techniques

We are delighted to welcome Gwenne McIntosh, Head of Health Sciences, NHS Lothian, who will share valuable insights into stress management and self-care. This is a fantastic opportunity to learn from an experienced healthcare professional and leave feeling equipped with useful tools to help you look after yourself and manage life’s challenges more effectively.

Details:

🙋For unpaid carers in the Falkirk district, who are registered with the Carers Centre
📅 Thursday 27 August
⏰ From 10.30 pm to 12.30 pm
📍 Carers Centre, 1a Bank Street or Zoom
For more information or to register as a carer with the Carers Centre first, please email 📧 daynafaulds@centralcarers.co.uk.
invitation to help with transitions drop in cafe taking place in May

August 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 Maguire (formerly known as Douglas), Transitions Coordinator for Falkirk Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP), is hosting monthly ‘Drop-in CafΓ©s’ 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.Β 

✅ 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 6 August
🕒 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.Β 

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:

  • 17 September
  • 15 October
  • 12 November
  • 10 December
invitation to burnout session

Understanding and Managing Burnout

Recognising and Preventing Burnout

Join us for a practical session on spotting the signs of burnout, protecting your wellbeing, and sustaining your caring role.

Many carers experience burnout at some point, and recognising it early can make a real difference to your wellbeing and the support you provide. Join us at the Carers Centre for an informative and supportive session with Emma Butchard-MacDonald, Senior Principal Clinical Psychologist from NHS Forth Valley.

Emma will explore:
β€’ How to recognise the signs of burnout in yourself
β€’ How burnout can also affect the person you care for
β€’ Practical tips and strategies to manage and prevent burnout
β€’ Ways to look after your own emotional and mental wellbeing

This session is designed to help you feel more confident in spotting the early warning signs and give you tools to support both yourself and your caring role.

Details:

🙋For unpaid carers in the Falkirk district, who are registered with the Carers Centre
📅 Monday 17 August
⏰ From 10.30 am to 12.30 pm
📍 Carers Centre, 1a Bank Street or Zoom
For more information or to register as a carer with the Carers Centre first, please email 📧 daynafaulds@centralcarers.co.uk.
invitation to carer essentials session on 1st July

July Carer Essentials

Falkirk Carers, you’re invited!

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

You’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
You’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 1 July
⏰ From 12.30 pm to 1.30 pm
📍 Carers Centre or Zoom
📝 Register here
For more information or to enquire about future sessions, please email 📧daynafaulds@centralcarers.co.uk
celebrating the Hippodrome cinema

Respitality Donor Spotlight: The Hippodrome in Bo’ness

Celebrating 3 Years of Support from The Hippodrome!

The Hippodrome in Bo’ness has been part of the Respitality initiative for 3 fantastic years, donating free tickets to the Centre, allowing carers to take a break from their caring role and recharge.

Their continued support makes a real difference, and we would like to express our gratitude by celebrating them this month.

Who is The Hippodrome?

The Hippodrome in Bo’ness, winner of the Best Cinema Experience in Scotland 2019, is Scotland’s oldest surviving purpose-built cinema. With many original features preserved, stepping into the Hippodrome is like taking a step back in time. Carers enjoyed this charming, classic setting, as well as the opportunity to take time out from their day-to-day routine to relax and enjoy the fantastic selection of films.

How did carers benefit?

Carers who visited The Hippdrome through Respitality found the atmosphere great and the staff welcoming.

For some carers, the cost of outings can be challenging as one carer shared “We struggle to make ends meet and a trip to the cinema is a real treat.” Thanks to the generosity of The Hippodrome Cinema, we can offer free tickets to local carers and their families for film screenings. Many carers appreciated this opportunity to have a break from their caring role, and spend some time with family in a great atmosphere.Β 

Read the full case study here.

Are you a local business?

Learn more about the Respitality initiative and how you can get involved here.

Are you a carer?

To find out more, please contact our Short Breaks team on 01324 611510 (Option 1) or email shortbreaks@centralcarers.co.uk

invitation to help with transitions drop in cafe taking place in May

July 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 Maguire (formerly known as Douglas), Transitions Coordinator for Falkirk Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP), is hosting monthly ‘Drop-in CafΓ©s’ 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.Β 

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

Details:

📅 Thursday 16 July
🕒 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.Β 

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:

  • 6 August
  • 17 September
  • 15 October
  • 12 November
  • 10 December
invitation to talk about sensory and communication needs of children with ASN

ASN – Sensory and Communication Needs Overview

Join us for an engaging session!

Gain practical insights into the sensory and communication needs of children with ASN.

We will welcome Alice Grant from Falkirk Council’s Children’s Services. Although Alice specialises in supporting children with additional support needs, the insights she’ll 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:

  • sensory needs
  • distressed behaviours
  • regulation & stimming
  • model of child engagement

Details:

Please note this is a repeat session that was held on Wednesday 27 May.
🙋For unpaid carers in the Falkirk district and Clackmannanshire, who are registered with the Carers Centre
📅 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
For more information or to enquire about future sessions, please email 📧 daynafaulds@centralcarers.co.uk
invitation to literacy support training in the Centre

Training: Literacy Support

Want a bit of help with reading and writing?

Work at your own pace in a relaxed and supportive space.

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.Β 

You don’t need any qualifications to join – just comeΒ  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).Β 

Details:

🙋For unpaid carers in the Falkirk district and Clackmannanshire, who are registered with the Carers Centre
📅 Friday 5 June
⏰ From 11 am to 1 pm
📍 In person only at the Carers Centre, 1a Bank StreetΒ 
📝 Register here

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.