Please note: this page will be updated regularly with additional resources and guidance as they become available.
As Scotland’s COVID-19 restrictions move to beyond Level 0, our team at CVS Falkirk has revised our main resource page with new and updated guidance, resources, and the continued amazing efforts by our local communities to support each other, in order to make them as widely available as possible.
(Image caption: a blue banner reading “Coronavirus (COVID-19) Community Responses, Guidance and Resources” in white text; click the banner for the main COVID-19 page.)
Everyone should still remain cautious and act carefully, following government advice and any changes to restrictions. Some protective measures will stay in place, including masks and face coverings indoors and on public transport, by law (with exemptions in place), and the collection of contact details as part of Test and Protect. People are also advised to continue to clean their hands and surfaces regularly.
You can also check out our Organisation Directory, which provides details of groups and organisations working across Falkirk, many of them involved in COVID-19 support.
A full list of resources and local responses is available in the table below:
Scottish Government has confirmed that, on Monday 9th August, all of Scotland will move beyond Level 0 of COVID-19 restrictions, as planned.
However, some protective measures will stay in place, including masks and face coverings indoors and on public transport, by law (with exemptions in place), and the collection of contact details as part of Test and Protect. People are also advised to continue to clean their hands and surfaces regularly.
The legal requirement for physical distancing and limits on gatherings will be removed the same day, when all venues across Scotland are able to reopen. Additionally, adults identified as close contacts of someone testing positive for COVID-19 will no longer be automatically required to self-isolate for 10 days; anyone who is double-vaccinated with at least 2 weeks passed since their second dose, and who has no symptoms will be able to end self-isolation if they return a negative PCR test.
Other baseline measures will remain in place:
- Scottish Government will continue to use travel restrictions, as and when necessary, to restrict the spread of outbreaks and protect against the risk of importation of new variants
- people should continue home working where possible
- Scottish Government recognise that some staff will start to return to offices, in line with staff wellbeing discussions and business need. They will encourage employers to consider a hybrid model of home and office working (or “blended working”) for the longer term
- for a limited period, a gateway process will be kept in place, through which organisers of outdoors events of more than 5000 and indoor events of more than 2000 will have to apply for permission
- this will allow Scottish Government and local authorities to be assured of the arrangements in place to reduce risk
- Scottish Government will continue to issue appropriate guidance to assist individuals and businesses to reduce the risk of transmission as much as possible
For further information, including how these changes affect children and young people, please view the full web article.
The free app from NHS Scotland’s Test and Protect is now available to download through the Test and Protect website, and via the App Store and Google Play. This is in addition to the QR code sign-in measures many businesses and venues have in place across Scotland.
The free Protect Scotland App has been designed to help keep Scotland safe from COVID-19. As we see the rate of infection increase, it’s important that we all download and use the Protect Scotland app. The more of us using the app, the better it will be.
For further information, please view the full web article.
With the situation regarding the COVID-19 pandemic still so uncertain, and the pressures of the past year – including the end of the furlough scheme, the ongoing “energy crisis”, the cut to Universal Credit, and the impacts of winter storms like Arwen and Barra – we’ve brought back our Wellness in Winter campaign for 2021/22.
We want to focus on people’s health and wellbeing throughout the winter – everything from physical health (including flu and COVID-19 vaccinations and how they are being rolled out) and mental health, to how to keep spirits up during the festive period (and beyond, into January), and financial worries.
We hope you find this page useful, and that you stay safe and well this winter, and beyond; the full list is available on our new dedicated page.
Self- Registering Online
People in Scotland can register for their COVID-19 vaccination online if they:
- are 16 years old or over
- have not already had their first COVID-19 vaccination
- are registered with a GP surgery in Scotland
Eligible people in Shetland, Orkney and the Western Isles will be contacted by their health board.
If anyone eligible for the self-registration system (or who should have already received their vaccine) doesn’t have access to the internet or a smartphone, they can still register for SMS and email updates by calling the national COVID-19 Vaccination Helpline: 0800 030 8013.
(Please note: if you are 12 years old or over and are a household contact of a person who has had an immunosuppression letter, you should call the helpline number above.)
To register, please visit the NHS Scotland self-registration page.
Alternatively, for further information, visit the NHS Inform Scotland website.
Second Vaccines Available for All Eligible Adults in Scotland
Second doses of the COVID-19 vaccines are now available for all eligible people over 18 years old in Scotland.
Vaccination clinics will remain open and anyone who has not yet received their vaccination, for whatever reason, is reminded that it is never too late to get vaccinated and is urged to go to a local drop-in clinic, or book a convenient appointment via NHS Inform.
For further information, please view the full web article.
Vaccine Drop-In Clinics
All mainland NHS Boards are currently running drop-in vaccination clinics, including NHS Forth Valley.
The Falkirk clinic runs 4pm – 7pm on Monday – Friday, and 8:30am – 7pm on Saturday and Sunday, from Units 1 and 2 at Falkirk Community Hospital (the old Falkirk Royal Infirmary), Westburn Avenue, Falkirk, FK1 5QE (directions linked for your convenience, via Google Maps).
If you are under 18 years old, you should ensure the clinic offers the Pfizer vaccine before attending. Please note that AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines are available at all clinics in Forth Valley, but the Moderna vaccine is currently only available at a number of clinics in NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, NHS Lothian and NHS Grampian. People can attend vaccination clinics in other NHS board areas if this is more convenient.
Vaccination Status Confirmation
As many venues and holiday destinations begin to request confirmation of COVID-19 vaccination status, people in Forth Valley can now access their vaccination status and request a printed copy online via NHS Inform (linked for your convenience), or by contacting the COVID-19 Status Helpline by phone: 0808 196 8565.
The helpline is open every day from 10am – 6pm.
Please do not contact your GP Practice. If you have lost or forgotten your username or password, you can create new ones by selecting the “recover username” or “forgotten your password” options.
If you have never received a unique username, you can sign up for one by using the “recover username” option, and entering your name using CAPITAL LETTERS.
Please note, it is your responsibility to check what the requirements are to enter the country you are travelling to. It is also your responsibility to check what the requirements are to return to Scotland from your country of travel. Further information on travel requirements is available via the Scottish Government and UK Government websites.
Accessible Vaccine Information
NHS Inform has a range of accessible information available on COVID-19 vaccines, including:
- general advice leaflets
- audio advice leaflets
- British Sign Language (BSL) video translations
- leaflets translated into over 30 other languages (including Arabic, Dari, Farsi, Gaelic, Pashto, Latvian, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Yoruba amongst others)
- Easy Read versions
- large print versions
Further Information
Vaccines are the best protection against COVID-19, and NHS Scotland strongly recommends you get the vaccine when offered it.
For further information on COVID-19 vaccines, please visit any of the pages listed below, or watch the video from NHS Scotland and Scottish Government.
- NHS Inform (including information on the different types of vaccines in use, information for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding, what to expect from your appointment, and accessib;e information (linked above)
- NHS Inform page on vaccines and health conditions
- World Health Organization (WHO) (including their “Vaccines Explained” series)
Following the move to beyond Level 0, Scottish Government has released the Chief Medical Officer’s letter to everyone on the highest risk list from COVID-19 (previously the shielding list).
The letter is available to view or download as a pdf from the CVS Falkirk website.
They recognise that many people on this list will be worried about the move beyond level 0, and the likely impact of feeling isolated for long periods of time on people’s mental health. As a result, the letter includes a leaflet written with people at highest risk in mind, with advice on coping with anxiety, stress and feeling down.
The letter also provides further information on vaccines, including on their effectiveness in the highest risk group in Scotland, and the COVID-19 booster programme, along with supermarket priority slots, returning to work and vaccines for young people with health conditions.
For further information (including extra materials), please view the full web article.
Vaccines for Children and Young People with Specific Conditions
Invitations for vaccines are now going out to young people aged 12 – 17 years old with specific health conditions that make them more vulnerable to COVID-19, with first doses expected to be offered to this group by the end of August.
According to NHS Inform, The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has advised that young people aged 12 – 15 years old at an increased risk of COVID-19 should be offered the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.
This includes children and young people with:
- severe neuro-disabilities
- Down’s syndrome
- underlying conditions resulting in immunosuppression
- diagnosis of a learning or intellectual disability
The JCVI also recommends that those aged 12 – 15 years old who live with someone who is immunosuppressed (even if they don’t have any health conditions themselves) should also be offered the vaccine.
If your child or young person is eligible, you will be contacted by NHS Scotland with your child’s vaccination appointment details. Some children under specialist care will be contacted directly by their healthcare professional and others will receive a vaccination invitation letter. (Local health boards aim to vaccinate those who cannot attend a clinic in their own home or a care setting; these health boards will contact the parents or carers of these children directly to organise this.)
For further information, please visit the NHS Inform page.
The School Experience of Young People Pre and During COVID-19
includem has launched their new research report into the school experience in Scotland during the COVID-19 pandemic.
After speaking with 111 young people across the country, the report calls for:
- schools to be underpinned by a children’s rights perspective, to ensure that children and young people can have their voices heard
- increased provision of whole family support to “bridge the gap” between home and school
- the expansion of restorative practices to both build positive relationships and help young people feel they can put mistakes behind them
For further information, including key findings and how to access the report, please view the full web article.
NHS24 has announced a change in hours for their COVID-19 Special Helplines.
The non-symptomatic COVID-19 Special Helpline, and NHS Inform’s general health information line, will operate 8am – 8pm each day from Monday 9th August.
This is in response to reduced calls from the public to these numbers after 8pm. The lines previously closed at 10pm.
Both lines are still available 7 days a week by calling:
- non-symptomatic COVID-19 Special Helpline: 0800 028 2816
- general health information line: 0800 22 44 88
For further information on the helplines, please contact NHS24 by email: NHS24.EngagementTeam@nhs24.scot.nhs.uk
A range of funding support and resources specifically designed to minimise the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic can be found on the designated page, including:
- Third Sector Funding Sources (January 2022)
Our team has pulled together a list of all the funding and grant opportunities currently available to the third sector across the Falkirk Council area; the list can be viewed or downloaded as a pdf document (linked for your convenience).
Funding available includes grants from Forth Environment Link, NHS Forth Valley, Falkirk Health and Social Care Partnership, and Tesco Community Grants.
Please share these details with anyone and anywhere you think people may need it.
- Free Funding Portal
The free CVS Falkirk Funding Portal is available via our website to help third sector groups and organisations of all sizes with their funding searches.
The portal is powered by Grantsonline, the UK’s most comprehensive and up to date UK grant funding information service. Once registered, users will be able to search for a range of different funding opportunities, across local and national organisations.
The regular Funding Insight bulletin is also available for portal users, produced by Grantsonline.
To access the portal, or for further information, please visit the CVS Falkirk website.
Alternatively, or further information on the portal or funding support in general, contact CVS Falkirk by email: info@cvsfalkirk.org.uk
- NHS Forth Valley COVID-19 Response Grants Scheme 2021-22
The NHS Forth Valley Health Promotion Service has relaunched its COVID–19 Response Grants Scheme for 2021-22.
Applications for up to £500 will be considered from organisations and groups across Forth Valley which support and connect communities to respond to COVID-19. Applications must cover one or all of the following points:
- delivering a range of health and wellbeing activities
- piloting new ideas and initiatives, or adapting previous activities
- supporting the development and training
- purchasing equipment
Applications from diverse communities and grass-root organisations, especially those that aim to deliver new and innovative COVID-19 responsive activities, are particularly welcomed.
For further information, including how to apply, please view the full web article.
- Volunteer Expenses Fund 2021-22
The Volunteer Expenses Fund 2021-22 has been set up to support community groups and voluntary organisations operating in Falkirk and District whose volunteers provide support during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Travel expenses will be reimbursed directly to volunteers in order to reduce organisational time and resource. Travel expenses should be claimed weekly, and paid monthly in arrears for the period of Thursday 1st July 2021, until Monday 31st January 2022 (at which time the end date may be reviewed in line with Scottish Government guidance relating to COVID-19).
Applications can currently be made at any time up until Monday 31st January 2022.
To apply, or for further information, please contact our team by email: info@volunteerfalkirk.org.uk
Our team and partners have been in touch with community food providers throughout the Falkirk area, and pulled all their contact information into a simple 2 page document, which can be viewed or downloaded as a pdf document (linked for your convenience).
You can also get in touch with specific groups in your area via their contact details on our local directory, which is organised alphabetically by group name.
Please share these details with anyone and anywhere you think people may need it.
During the pandemic, we have shared health updates from our partners at Scottish Government and NHS Scotland, and from advocacy groups across Scotland for those with specific health conditions.
We have now created a single page for this information, along with resources and guidance, including:
- vaccines
- guidance on face coverings
- translated vaccine guidance
- vaccine advice for pregnant people
For further information, please view the dedicated Health Guidance and Resources During COVID-19 page.
As part of our efforts to help everyone stay safe during this ever-changing time, we have created a page to gather information on the mental health support available in Falkirk. By bringing together as much information as possible into one place, we hope we can help those who need it.
The page includes a list of contacts, groups, resources and services designed specifically to help, with details on:
- our own list of local mental health services, for anyone who needs it
- ClearYourHead.scot
- Andy’s Man Club
- See Me Scotland
Please remember: daily life has changed for all of us, and it can feel worrying, lonely and uncertain. It’s okay to not feel yourself, and it’s natural to feel nervous as things open up again and our lives start to get busier. If you feel you need help, please reach out.
For further information, please visit the dedicated page for Mental Health Support During COVID-19.
We’ve created a page specifically featuring support available for carers in Falkirk during COVID-19, including vaccination updates and dates of information sessions.
To view the full list, please visit the dedicated Support for Carers During COVID-19 page.
Unpaid carers (including young carers and young adult carers) who are looking for support can contact the Falkirk and Clackmannanshire Carers Centre:
- by phone: Falkirk – 01324 611510; Clackmannanshire: 01259 226839
- by email: centre@centralcarers.co.uk
- online
- via Twitter or Facebook
If you or any member of your family need to isolate due to exposure to COVID-19, or have been advised to shield, there is support in place in Falkirk:
- Support for People helpline (Falkirk Council)
- open Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm by phone: 0808 100 3161
- the team assists those who are most vulnerable in society as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, including those who need help to access food, medicines/prescriptions and other essential services. This will be prioritised for those who have no other way to access these
- Self-Isolation Support Team (Falkirk Council)
- working alongside the existing Support for People helpline to provide support to those who need to self-isolate, with daily updates from Public Health Scotland’s Test and Protect, of people within the Falkirk Council area who have either tested positive for COVID-19, or been identified as a close contact of a positive test
- the team contact people on the list, by phone, to check they have support in place to allow them to self-isolate correctly and to check if they are eligible for the £500 self-isolation support grant
We know that money worries or pressures add to the concerns of individuals and families, including isolation and the impact seen on mental health and physical health.
In order to help people in Falkirk, and help local groups and services support the people they are engaging with, we have pulled together some information and resources available to help maximise income for individuals and families, especially during COVID-19, including sources of financial assistance and debt counselling.
This new page includes information that families and individuals can access themselves as well as stakeholder and partner resources.
To read the full list, please visit the new Maximising Income page.
Our team here at CVS Falkirk has put together a short and simple guide to using Zoom, for meetings with ourselves and anyone else, and for personal use like keeping in touch with families and friends.
We appreciate that a lot of organisations already use Zoom, however, we know this is not always the case. We want to ensure everyone has access to our meetings, and the ability to keep in touch with people, as much as possible during these times, and decided to create this guide as a way of helping that.
To view or download the guide as a pdf document, please visit the CVS Falkirk website.
- Scottish Government main COVID-19 page
- NHS Inform main COVID-19 page
- Public Health Scotland main page
- WHO main COVID-19 page and dashboard
(Our original COVID-19 page has been archived and is still available to view, in the interests of transparency and providing information to our communities.)