News

In addition to their Tuesday “Care with Confidence” sessions, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire Carers Centre is running a another series of sessions on Thursdays throughout February. The Thursday sessions also take place via Zoom, 10:30am – 12pm: “Mindfulness for Lockdown” on Thursday 11th February, “Arthritis Awareness” on Thursday 18th February, and “Introduction to Dance 4 Life” on Thursday 25th February

The Third Sector Economic Resilience and Employment Forum is looking to bring third sector organisations together to share experience, knowledge, and potentially ways of working together to apply to provide commissioned services. The next forum on Wednesday 17th February, 10am – 12pm, will have speakers from Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), Falkirk Council’s Employment and Training Unit (ETU), and Skills Development Scotland.

Age Scotland, in partnership with Eat Well Age Well, has created the new “Eat Well: A guide for older people in Scotland”. The free guide aims to inspire, involve and empower older people to eat well for good health in later life, and provides ideas and practical suggestions which can help people maintain a healthy diet.

Money Advice Scotland’s next FREE Money Works webinar, “Saving and Savings Accounts”, takes place on Thursday 25th February, 10am – 11am via Zoom. This webinar focuses on different ways to save and discuss the range of savings accounts available, recognising how difficult it can be to save, especially during a pandemic.

“Don’t Mask Your Feelings” is a new suicide prevention video encouraging people to talk about their mental health and how they are feeling. Part of North Lanarkshire Council’s “Let’s Talk” campaign, the video covers the pressures people might feel to hide their true feelings, especially during the pandemic.

As part of Children’s Mental Health Week (which runs until Sunday 7th February this year), our team at CVS Falkirk has put together a list of resources and information available for people in the local area, focused on the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people, and ways to help with learning at home.

In January, February and March, Volunteer Scotland is holding regular, short online training courses on all aspects of their Disclosure Services, aiming to provide information the various aspects of the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme that attendees may need for their role in their voluntary organisation. These sessions are free for voluntary organisations; however there are charges for non-attendance of booked sessions.

The Falkirk School Holiday Food Fund has reopened for applications for the February 2021 school holidays. The fund has been set up to support local community groups tackling food insecurity in Falkirk communities, working to feed children, young people and their families during school holidays. Groups can apply for up to £250. Applicants must be constituted; partnerships involving unconstituted community organisations can apply, but the lead partner must be constituted.

This year, Scottish Government will start delivering the first of the new Scottish disability benefits. Scottish Government is keen to give everyone the opportunity to talk directly to the people who are designing these new benefits. Throughout February and March, they will be hosting a series of online events, where interested organisations and members of the public can hear about important aspects of the new disability benefits.