At CVS Falkirk & District, connection, partnership and opportunity are at the heart of everything we do. Our growing membership is a real source of pride, with 170 members now joined in our commitment to support and strengthen the local third sector. Bringing so many of these organisations together for our first Members Day was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the people, partnerships and shared ambitions that make our sector so valuable – and we are incredibly grateful to everyone who helped make it such a success.

Under the theme From Evidence to Impact, we welcomed Ilaria from Empirica Research Consulting to lead an insightful and reflective training day, exploring how we can evidence experience in new ways to better understand what works, inform future decisions and maximise our impact when reporting. The day created space to share ideas, reflect on practice and build new connections, demonstrating just how much we can achieve when we learn from one another. We look forward to seeing how members allow these insights to shape their future planning and reporting.

Perhaps the most powerful reflection came from the members themselves. When asked to describe Falkirk District’s third sector in three words, responses included, “Amazing, Vibrant, Energetic”; “Valuable, Dedicated, Enthusiastic”; “Flexible, Engaging, Helpful”; “Value, Proud, Honest”. These words captured the passion, adaptability and commitment of organisations working tirelessly to ensure support and opportunities are accessible across our communities.

For Allan McFarlane, Chair of Denny and Bonnybridge Community Shed, the value of bringing organisations together was clear:

“Coming to Members Day, we are hoping to get as much information as will be useful for us going forward. We’re always looking for advice – we go to other Sheds to see what they’re doing but then you’re talking in a small sphere, with CVS there’s so many different organisations to share ideas. That’s what you get from CVS, this unity of all the charities in the area.”

When asked how to describe the Falkirk District third sector in three words, Allan was straight to the point, “do not replace”.

Alongside the training and networking, our lunchtime AGM offered an important opportunity to bring members, community representatives and strategic partners together to reflect on our collective progress. We celebrated achievements aligned with our Strategic Plan 2025-2030, shared the priorities shaping our work in the coming months, and launched our Annual Review 2025-26 publication. Featuring a selection of case studies, the review showcases the remarkable variety of work our team are supporting across the District and the impact local organisations are making through their dedication, creativity and community spirit.

Patrick Kelly of the Long Covid Cuppa Group also reflected on the value of bringing the membership together, highlighting how shared spaces can open doors to new relationships, contacts and opportunities:

“I’ve just arrived in the local third sector really but it’s much more vibrant, energetic and supportive than I would’ve thought. Today I’ve met a couple of people who are going to help us join in with more activities in the community, identify where our members can do fatigue friendly activities, and access resources that people can use to help make their lives better or get over some of the difficulties and challenges they’re experiencing.”

Patrick’s experience reflects exactly what we hoped to achieve: not simply a day of training and formality, but an opportunity to make meaningful connections that translate into practical support, new ideas and greater opportunities for local people.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us for the AGM and Members Day. Your time, participation and continued commitment to our communities are greatly valued.