News

Volunteering Matters’ Action Earth Grants programme is now open for Autumn/Winter 2022 applications, with 150 grants of up to £250 available. This year, the grants (funded by NatureScot) focus on helping restore and protect green spaces to deliver a “nature-rich” future for all. Awards are made on a first-come basis and projects must complete by January 2023.

ASH Scotland’s next round of small grants are now open for applications. Grants available to support community organisations to improve people’s health and wellbeing, by addressing smoking. The deadline for the next round of applications is Monday 28th November.

Falkirk and Clackmannanshire Carers Centre’s next Professionals Information Afternoon takes place this coming Wednesday 16th November, 2pm – 4:30pm. The event is a hybrid event, taking place via Zoom and in-person at the Carers Centre, 1A Bank Street, Falkirk, FK1 1NB. Attendees can attend as they prefer, but should advise when booking their place.

The next meeting of the Health and Wellbeing Forum will take place on Wednesday 7th December, 10am – 12pm, via Zoom. During the meeting, attendees will hear from Kevin Duffy from the Money and Pensions Service (MAPS), who will give a presentation on Financial Wellbeing, and meet the new Falkirk Integration Joint Board (IJB) Third Sector representatives.

NHS Forth Valley’s FREE Step on Stress sessions are returning to in-person meetings, in addition to their online opportunities. The sessions are open to anyone over 16 years old, with the next Falkirk sessions starting on Monday 16th January, 10:30am at Forth Valley Sensory Centre, Redbrae Road, Camelon, FK1 4DD.

As part of their community work, Strathcarron Hospice is holding a Parenting Apart workshop, facilitated by Family Mediation Scotland, on Friday 9th December, 10:30am – 1:30pm at the Hospice, Randolph Hill, Denny, FK6 5HJ. The group workshop is aimed at separated and divorced parents who have children, and will cover strategies to help reduce conflict, and answer some of the difficult questions asked by their children. Booking is essential, and laces must be booked no later than Monday 5th December.

Forth Valley Sensory Centre will hold its annual Winter Fayre on Friday 2nd December, 11am – 2pm at the Centre, Redbrae Road, Camelon, FK1 4DD. There will be stalls featuring homemade crafts, baking, and other festive treats and gifts, along with activities for children, bauble decorating, a Christmas Wishing Tree, and the Sensory Singers Choir from 12:30pm.

Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol & Drugs (SFAD) is holding their first in-person Annual General Meeting (AGM) since 2019, on Saturday 19th November, 9:30am – 1pm at the Stirling Court Hotel. Tea and coffee will be available, and the AGM business will be followed by an interactive workshop sharing a family member’s story of living drug and alcohol use. There will then be an informal lunch and catch-up from 1pm.

The December School Holiday Food and Childcare Programme fund is now open, with funding of up to £2,000 available. The fund aims to support local organisations delivering activities and food to children and young people from low-income families during the December school holiday. The deadline for applications is Friday 25th November.

As part of its latest Community Choices programme, Falkirk Council has organised free information sessions to help local people and community groups learn more about how Community Choices works, including the steps needed to submit ideas. The next sessions will take place across Falkirk District, and online, on the following dates next week: Monday 7th November, at 6:30pm: Bonnybridge Library; Wednesday 9th November, 6:30pm: Falkirk Library; Thursday 10th November, 6pm: Slamannan Library; Friday 11th November, 10am: online.