Summer 2024 newsletter now available!

The summer 2024 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 received a copy of the newsletter, you can download the digital version by clicking below.

In this latest edition:

        • Excellence for Carers Award 🏆
        • Become a Board Member 📌
        • Forth Valley Carers Card update 💳

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.

 

Independant Living Fund update

We are delighted to announce that the Independent Living Fund (ILF) has fully re-opened to new applicants.

Applications to the re-opened fund should be submitted by local authority social work departments on behalf of disabled people in Scotland. ILF have issued guidance and information to all local authorities to assist them with this process.

When submitting an application, the local authority will need to make sure that a potential recipient meets the following Access Principles:

  • The person lives in Scotland.
  • They are aged 16 years or over at the time of application.
  • They access Self-Directed Support.
  • They receive a net weekly budget of at least £800 per week.

All submitted applications will be assessed by ILF Scotland. The maximum award that ILF Scotland is able to pay is £330 per week. Any funding awarded by ILF Scotland will be additional and complementary to the statutory funding provided by a person’s Local Authority.

If you meet the access principles outlined above and would like to consider applying to the fund, you should contact your local authority. You can see the contact details for your local authority on a dedicated website page.

Find out more at ILF’s website.

Easter Weekend and Support Services

The Carers Centre will be closed from Friday 29 March 2024 until Monday 1 April 2024 (inclusive), re-opening on Tuesday 2 April 2024.  Details of local support and emergency services are available below:

Young Carers Action Day!

It’s Young Carers Action Day!

Young Carers Action Day (YCAD) raises awareness about young carers (YCs) and young adult carers (YACs), the challenges they face and the support they need. This year’s theme is Fair Futures for Young Carers which will be focussing on why caring should not be a barrier to learning, earning or being able to get on in life – but for many, it is.

Being a young carer shouldn’t be a barrier to a young person’s dreams. It should be a stepping stone to a brighter future. Together, let’s create a future where young carers can dream without limits.

You can find more information and resources on YCAD at Carers.org/YCAD or get involved on social media using the hashtag #YoungCarersActionDay

Creative Breaks Grants Update – January 2024

We regret that, due to limited funding for Creative Breaks grants, the 2023/24 Fund is now closed to new applications.  We will continue to process applications that have already been submitted.

We hope to re-open the Fund to new applications for the 2024/25 financial year in March 2024, and further information will be available on our website nearer the time.

Due to the increasing demand for Creative Breaks grants, there will be some changes to the eligibility criteria for this funding in 2024/25.  Unfortunately, this will include limiting the grants to carers who have not received a Creative Breaks grant within the previous 24 months.  Other eligibility criteria will apply and full details will be available when the fund re-opens.

Festive Opening Hours and Support Services

The Carers Centre will be closed from 1 pm on Friday 22 December 2023 until Tuesday 2 January 2024 (inclusive), re-opening on Wednesday 3 January 2024.  Details of local support and emergency services are available below:

  • If you need an urgent Social Work service outwith normal office hours, you can contact:
  • For information about local health services which are available during the festive period, such as GPs and Pharmacies, please visit NHS Forth Valley – Know Who To Turn To When You Are Ill.
  • There is a Minor Injuries Unit is for anyone living in NHS Forth Valley. Contact NHS 24 on 111, day or night before attending the Minor Injuries Unit, or visit Minor Injuries Unit.
  • For an A-Z of health services over the festive period, you can go to NHS Forth Valley – A-Z of Winter Services.
  • Our friends at CVS Falkirk have also put together a Wellness in Winter page on their website with lots of useful information and links – CVS Falkirk – Wellness in Winter.
  • Whatever you’re going through, Samaritan’s will face it with you. They’re there for you 24 hours a day, 365 days a year – call for FREE on 116 123.

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 2024.

Winter 2023 newsletter now available!

The winter 2023 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 received a copy of the newsletter, you can download the digital version by clicking below.

In this latest edition:

        • We bid a fond farewell to one of our longest serving members of staff 👋
        • We have information about our Christmas Lunches and ‘5 Days of Christmas’ Prize Draw 🎄
        • 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.

 

Creative Breaks Grants Update – September 2023

All the funding made available to the Carers Centre from the Short Breaks Fund has now been allocated. New applications cannot be accepted at this time. We are working to secure further funding and hope to be able to reopen applications for Creative Breaks grants in December 2023. Please keep an eye on our website for further updates.

If you would like to discuss your caring role, or find out about what other short breaks opportunities are currently available, please call us on 01324 611510, and select either option 1 for Falkirk, option 2 for Clackmannanshire, or option 3 for Young Carers and Young Adult Carers.

Falkirk FC and the Carers Centre sign new deal!

The Carers Centre has once again teamed up with The Falkirk Foundation and 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 the 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.

Interested in receiving matchday tickets for the 2023/24 season? Then sign-up here, or click the button below:

And if you’d like to hear what other carers had to say about receiving matchday tickets during the 2022/23 season, you can read our feedback report for last season here!

 

Falkirk Carers Strategy 2023 – 2026

Falkirk Health and Social Care Partnership have now published the updated 2023 – 2026 version of the Falkirk Carers Strategy.

The Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 became law on 1 April 2018 and places duties on Falkirk Health and Social Care Partnership and Falkirk Council to support unpaid carers in their caring role. These duties include preparing a carers strategy with particular focus on the local area. This local strategy supports the delivery of the National Carers Strategy, is reviewed every three years, and is for all Adult Carers and Young Carers in Falkirk.

You can access the Carers Strategy and other relevant documents by visiting: falkirkhscp.org/publications/#carers