The third annual Gathering Hope conference, organised by Suicide Prevention Scotland, will take place on Thursday 29 January 2026, 10am – 4pm, at the Barracks Conference Centre, Forthside Way, Stirling, FK8 1QZ.
News
Creative Workshops with Pause and Breathe
Pause and Breathe CIC has received funding from the Kelvin Valley and Falkirk Community Led Local Development (CLLD) Fund to hold a series of creative workshops, making a variety of different items for their outside space. Themes of the workshops include recycling (and upcycling), reducing waste and promoting circular economy principles. The next workshops take place on Friday 9 January 2026, 12:30pm – 2:30pm, and Friday 16 January 2026, 12:30pm – 2:30pm.
Flu Vaccine Drop-in Clinics for Health and Social Care Workers
As Public Health Scotland is showing an increase in hospital admissions in Scotland, reflecting an earlier and unusually high level of flu activity, Falkirk Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) and NHS Forth Valley have highlighted that all health and frontline social care workers are eligible for a flu vaccine this winter, along with the drop-in vaccination clinics available.
Vacancy: Dial-a-Journey Shopmobility Worker
Dial-a-Journey is recruiting a Shopmobility Worker for its Falkirk base. The position is part-time at 18 hours per week (normally 10am – 4pm on a 2 week rota), with a permanent contract, and a wage of £12.60 per hour, rising to £13.45 in April 2026.
“Creating a Nation of Volunteers” Year One Update
In 2024, at their 40th anniversary Annual General Meeting (AGM), Volunteer Scotland launched its 5 year strategy – “creating a nation of volunteers strengthening Scotland’s communities”. Since then, the team has been working to put this strategy into action, and has provided a Year One update on the latest progress and planning from their strategic activities.
PVG Scheme Membership Updates
Regulations laid in Scottish Parliament confirm that the 5 year Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme membership will come into force on Wednesday 1 April 2026. From this point, people who join the PVG scheme will automatically be part of the 5 year scheme membership. Every 5 years, renewal will be required.
Canine Partners 2026 Virtual Open Days
Canine Partners is holding a number of virtual Open Days in 2026 for people in Scotland, taking place on Monday 23 February 2026, 12:30pm – 2pm, Saturday 27 June 2026, 10am – 11:30am, and Thursday 19 November 2026, 6:30pm – 8pm.
CFSLA Lottery Fund
The Clackmannanshire, Falkirk, and Stirlingshire Local Authorities (CFSLA) Lottery Fund offers grants of up to £600 to support charity and community groups within these areas. Funding is aimed at grassroots organisations providing clear community benefit, with a preference for groups with an annual turnover under £25,000. The next decision meeting takes place on Monday 2 March 2026, with applications due by the preceding Wednesday 25 February 2026.
Adamson Trust Grants for Holidays and Respite Breaks
The Adamson Trust provides financial assistance for the cost of holidays or respite breaks for disabled children with physical, mental, or emotional disabilities. The next deadline for applications is Wednesday 31 December 2025, for decisions at the February 2026 meeting.
Amazon Literary Partnership 2026 Grants Programme
The Amazon Literary Partnership (ALP) has opened applications for its 2026 Grants Programme, supporting non-profit literary organisations across the UK. The programme aims to empower writers to create, publish, learn and experiment, with a strong focus on amplifying diverse voices and delivering lasting impact.
