News

1st Step Bikes now have a mobile bike workshop set up in the Maddiston area, where people impacted by addiction or other health challenges can take part in a bike refurbishment training course. Participants attend the course for 3 hours each week, refurbish a donated bike with help and leave the course with the bike they have refurbished, free of charge, as well as the skills to maintain it. The 1st Step Bikes team would like to hear from service providers and individuals who are interested in the project, both for referrals and to discuss other opportunities within this new project.

Carers Week 2021 takes place Monday 7th June – Sunday 13th June, with a theme of “Make Caring Visible and Valued”. Falkirk and Clackmannanshire Carers Centre has organised a week full of online events and activities to celebrate carers of all ages and their efforts – the majority of these will take place via Zoom, and support is available for anyone unfamiliar with Zoom.

The Eden Project’s annual “The Big Lunch” takes place next Saturday 5th June – Sunday 6th June. The event is a chance for people in communities across the UK to get together with others in their local area, to celebrate existing community connections and make new ones.

Falkirk Council has opened public voting for the first stage of its Community Choices. Community Choices is Falkirk Council’s participatory budgeting initiative, with over £3 million of funding available over two years for local people, groups and organisations to bring about the changes that can make a difference to their community. Members of the public can then vote for the projects they think will make the most difference. Public voting is now open for the Small Grants projects, and will close on Friday 18th June.

Volunteer Scotland, Scottish Government and other partners will hold their online event, “Volunteering For All Expo: The Road to Recovery” on Thursday 10th June, 10am – 11:30am. The Expo will examine the impact of COVID-19 on volunteering in Scotland, the issues we face now, and the solutions to support us on our “Road to Recovery”.

The deadline is approaching to apply to become a volunteer Board member for Victim Support Scotland, with applications closing at 11:59pm on Monday 31st May. Board members help work towards their vision of ensuring that all people affected by crime are treated with dignity and respect, and are at the heart of justice in Scotland. In return, Board members have the opportunity to increase their knowledge of the justice system in Scotland.

Summer of Activities for Children and Young People is now open for applications.  Grants of up to £10,000 available to deliver holiday activities and experiences, integrating food and wider family support where needed, and targeted at children and young people particularly adversely affected by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The deadline for applications is 11am on Monday 31st May.

Applications are now open for the UK Community Renewal Fund (UKCRF), which is being administered locally by Falkirk Council. Funding of £500,000 – £3 million is available to private, public, third sector and community organisations, to support revenue projects that will deliver opportunities to trial new approaches and innovative ideas, and invest in skills, community and place, local business, and support people into employment before the end of March 2022. The deadline for all applications is 12pm on Friday 28th May.

Falkirk Council has confirmed that public voting for the first stage of its Community Choices initiative will open on Monday 24th May. Community Choices is Falkirk Council’s participatory budgeting initiative, with over £3 million of funding available over two years for local people, groups and organisations to bring about the changes that can make a difference to their community. Members of the public can then vote for the projects they think will make the most difference.