News

Scottish Government has launched their new consultation on the Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodivergence (LDAN) Bill, which seeks people’s views on proposals to better protect, respect and champion the rights of people with learning disabilities, autistic and neurodivergent people. The deadline for responses is Sunday 21st April.

Police Scotland’s “Our Big Youth Conversation” is open to responses from young people across Scotland, aged 11 – 25 years old, until Sunday 31st March. “Our Big Youth Conversation” aims to give young people in all of Scotland’s communities to tell Police Scotland about what they think works well in policing, and what needs to be changed.

The Scottish Poverty and Inequality Research Unit (SPIRU) launched the Tackling Poverty Locally Directory, an online resource which is free for all to access and aims to be the “go-to place” to learn about local actions taken to tackle poverty locally in Scotland, providing a range of case studies from across the country.

Scottish Government’s consultation on the proposed Care Leaver Payment closes on Friday 26th January, meaning local people, groups and organisations still have time to submit their responses. The consultation is open to people with experience of care, who are a kinship or foster carer, work with young people in care, support people with care experience, or have a particular interest in this subject.

SEStran and Falkirk Council are working with Arup to develop proposals for active travel (walking, wheeling and cycling) routes, from Falkirk to Larbert, and Falkirk to Polmont. They are keen to hear from the local communities and stakeholders within Falkirk District about these proposals. The deadline for responses is Friday 26th January.

Our Third Sector Forums and Networks are back for 2024! The next forums taking place are: Community Leadership Network, Wednesday 17th January; Falkirk’s Third Sector Employability Forum, Wednesday 24th January; Forth Valley Social Enterprise Network (FVSEN), Thursday 25th January; Connecting Volunteering Forum, Wednesday 7th February, with Adam Piggot and his “Get Your Message Across” workshop.

NHS Forth Valley is promoting Dry January 2024, a campaign delivered by Alcohol Change UK where people sign up to abstain from alcohol for the month of January.

The new rules for Best Start Foods, delivered by Social Security Scotland, will come into effect from Monday 26th February. These are designed to remove any income thresholds for qualifying benefits and allow more people to access Best Start Foods. Social Security Scotland has also organised a series of free information events for groups and organisations supporting people and families are Best Start Foods.

Self Directed Support (SDS) Forth Valley’s current programme of Learning and Development Sessions runs until the end of February, with sessions including SDS Pathway & Carers Pathway, Outcomes & Support Planning Workshop, and Employment Law for Personal Assistant (PA) Employers. All sessions are free, but booking is essential due to limited spaces.

Carron Connections, in partnership with Royal Voluntary Service (RVS) Forth Valley’s “First Time for Everything” Project, is holding an Afternoon Tea Dance on Tuesday 23rd January, 11am – 1:30pm at Bainsford Community Hall, David’s Loan, Bainsford, FK2 7NS.