Centre Report August 2026

Introduction 

As we move beyond the halfway point of our 20th anniversary year, we continue to celebrate this special milestone while looking ahead to a number of exciting events still to come.

Earlier this year, we introduced our Tree of Life, inviting Centre Users, volunteers, visitors and staff to purchase a clay heart from our Welcome Desk for just £1. Each heart can be personalised with a word or message that reflects what the Centre means to them, before being displayed in our Sensory Garden.

Thanks to your wonderful support, the garden is now looking bright and colourful, filled with heartfelt messages-and to date, we have raised £50 and counting.

If you haven’t taken part yet, why not pop along to the Welcome Desk, collect your heart, and help us spread the love.

Yarn bombing 

As part of our 20th anniversary celebrations, our colourful yarn bombing project took place in Falkirk town centre and was a great success. Huge thanks to the Centre’s knit and natter group who came together to create vibrant displays, transforming the town centre into a bright and eye-catching celebration of creativity and community spirit. It was fantastic to see so many people getting involved, and the town looked wonderfully colourful throughout the event.

Wallace Monument 

In addition, the Wallace Monument will be lit up in the Centre’s purple and blue on 8th October, helping to raise awareness of the support available for people with sensory loss across Forth Valley.

A celebration event will also take place on the same day at the Stirling Court Hotel, marking this special milestone and bringing people together to recognise the Centre’s 20th anniversary.

Big Birthday Bash 

This year, our annual Garden Party is being transformed into a special anniversary celebration for all.

Taking place on Thursday, 6th August from 11am – 2pm, the event will welcome a range of local businesses and organisations. There will be over 10 stalls offering crafts, plants, sweet treats and more, alongside representatives from organisations including NDCS, Guide Dogs, HSCP Sensory Services and CAB.

Our Sensory Garden will be turned into a funfair for the day, featuring traditional games such as:

• Sponge Splat (with votes being taken at the Welcome Desk!)

• Footbowls

• Mini Golf

We are also introducing a brand-new game this year – Saloon Shootout. So bring along your cowboy hat and test your aim!

Our volunteer handymen, John and Kyle, have been working hard to create a themed photo opportunity, so be sure to stop by and capture the moment.

Adding to the atmosphere, our Ukulele Group will be performing at 12:30pm, bringing music and energy to the celebration.

Summer Raffle 

Our Summer Raffle is now underway, and we’ve been incredibly fortunate to receive generous donations from local businesses.

With over 10 fantastic prizes available and tickets costing just £1 per strip, there are some great opportunities to win. Prizes include:

• Family Pass to Edinburgh Zoo

• Family Pass to Briarlands Farm

• £20 voucher for Mango Restaurant

• £10 voucher for Tea House

• World’s Best Whisky Tour at Rosebank Distillery

• Family tour of The Kelpies

• £10 voucher for Cake Box (Falkirk)

• BBQ Hamper

• Drinks Hamper

• Teddy and chocolate

Tickets are available from our Welcome Desk and will also be sold at the Big Birthday Bash.

The draw will take place on Friday, 7th August – you have to be in it to win it!

Funding Bids 

At FVSC, we continue to submit funding applications to ensure our services and activities evolve to meet the needs of our Centre Users.

One of our recent successes includes funding from Music for All, allowing us to develop a new Ukulele Group aimed at supporting young people to get out, learn an instrument and improve wellbeing. We are delighted to be receiving 20 ukuleles to bring this project to life.

We have also secured funding from the Alliance Self-Management Fund to develop support for individuals living with Tinnitus. Due to increasing demand and limited existing services, this project will introduce user-led support groups.

We will soon be hosting open days to gather feedback and shape how this service is delivered, ensuring it meets the needs of those who wish to access it.

If you would like to find out more about our funding successes or upcoming activities, please visit our Facebook page: @FVSensoryCentre.

Eden Project Volunteer Day

Melissa and garden volunteer Cameron attended the Eden Project Volunteer Day, where they enjoyed a selection of refreshments while connecting with other organisations. The event provided a great opportunity for networking, sharing ideas, and celebrating the contributions of volunteers.

Centre Activities and Groups

Arts and Crafts Group

The Arts and Crafts group has welcomed three new participants and four new Volunteers and we’ve enjoyed a wonderfully arty summer so far in the Sensory Garden.

Chris worked on a solo project using watercolours and canvas paper, capturing the garden colours, shapes and flowers that inspired him, whilst Peter used clay to create a self-portrait of an artist at work in an environment where he feels safe. Val, our Art Tutor, has been conjuring up new ideas for installations each month. In July, with the help of Jean and the garden volunteers, the group worked collaboratively on a willow and weave project, culminating in a beautiful installation entitled “Fishing Through the Rushes.”

Men’s Sensory Group

Members of the Men’s Sensory Group recently enjoyed a fantastic visit to the National Museum of Flight at East Fortune, where they explored Scotland’s rich aviation history. Highlights included stepping aboard Scotland’s only Concorde, discovering a fascinating collection of historic aircraft and learning about the airfield’s important role during both World Wars. It was an enjoyable and informative day out, with plenty to do and something of interest for everyone.  Kyle, a member of the group, was the nominated photographer for the day and captured some breathtaking pictures.

Bellfield Bunch – Stirling

In July, the group took a step back into History with a wonderful talk and sensory tour from Islay and Clare from The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Museum, who are both based at Stirling Castle.  It turned out, one of the group’s attendees’ sons served in the military and there was a photograph of him displayed in the museum.

Afterwards they enjoyed a lovely ice cream on the cobbles at Stirling Castle, whilst basking in the sunshine (fighting off the seagulls, trying to eat their cones)!

Group Updates

A few of the Centre’s groups and tutors are enjoying their summer break and getting ready for a busy autumn.

The Choir will return in August and will be busy rehearsing for several upcoming performances across the Forth Valley area, including visits to Falkirk Blind Club and Forth Valley Royal Hospital.  The Choir will be proudly wearing their new scarves and ties, recently funded by the CFSLA lottery.

The Book Club is looking forward to welcoming Author Jon Attenborough in a few short months. We are also excited to share that plans are underway for a new junior book club, BookBug, which will be delivered in collaboration with Forth Valley Libraries and NDCS – National Deaf Children’s Society.

Our Braille and Lip-Reading classes will also be welcoming several new students, and we look forward to supporting them as they begin their learning journeys at Forth Valley Sensory Centre.

Projects and Programme Delivery

Tinnitus – Tactics and Techniques is an innovative self-management program, recently funded by The Alliance.  A project developed and designed to empower individuals living with Tinnitus. Tinnitus, defined as the perception of sound in the head or ears without an external source, affects 1 in 7 people. Additionally, 40% of those diagnosed experience sound sensitivity, for which there is no cure, meaning self-management is the only prescribed option. Tinnitus can often lead to anxiety, stress, frustration, social isolation and mental health decline.

Forth Valley Sensory Centre’s 12-month project will be delivered through a series of structured 10-week courses. Weekly sessions will combine education, practical coping strategies and peer support. Key milestones will include:

Week 1: Registration and baseline questionnaire – The Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI).

Weeks 2–3: Education on Tinnitus types and autonomic responses (fight or flight).

Week 4: Stress management techniques.

Week 5: Diet and nutrition.

Weeks 6–8: Goal setting and introduction to therapies such as CBT, mindfulness and sound therapy.

Final weeks: Evaluation and transition to an internal existing Centre group and/or peer support group.  The program will offer measurable improvements in wellbeing and equip participants with lifelong coping strategies that will help to embed self-management techniques for the long-term management of their Tinnitus.

 

Canal Adventures with Go Forth and Clyde and FEL Scotland

Forth Valley Sensory Centre are delighted to embark on their fantastic partnership with Go Forth, Scottish Canals, and FEL Scotland this summer.

Together, Go Forth are offering 10 free trips aboard the Jaggy Thistle canal boat, giving participants of the Forth Valley Sensory Centre groups and classes the chance to relax, connect with others, and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Forth & Clyde Canal.

As part of the experience, participants can also make use of FEL Scotland’s accessible bikes to and from the canal boat enjoying a leisurely pedal along the same path as the boat, or for the more adventurous, there’s a more demanding cycle route.  The combination of accessible boating and cycling helps ensure that everyone, regardless of ability, can take part in the fun and inclusive activities.

These trips offer a new summer programme, bringing people together from different groups, supporting wellbeing and encouraging more people to discover the many accessible opportunities available along Forth Valley’s local canals.

Clacks Cook and Connect:

The Clacks Cook and Connect project has gone from strength to strength over the past few months, with Caroline, Melissa and a number of our fantastic volunteers delivering a wide range of community events across Clackmannanshire. Working in partnership with local organisations, the project has combined healthy eating activities with sensory loss awareness. The sessions have reached families, young people and community groups in fun, accessible and engaging ways.

Sessions have been delivered with groups including Mum’s the Word, Sauchie Active 8, Sauchie Resource Centre, The Gate, CDT’s Summer Programme, the Cochrane Hall Summer Event and Street Soccer Alloa. Participants explored sight and hearing loss through hands-on activities such as simulation glasses, British Sign Language fingerspelling, Braille, tactile crafts, sensory games and sighted guiding exercises. Many sessions also included visits from Guide Dog puppy raisers, helping to increase understanding of the important role guide dog’s play.

Healthy eating remained a key focus throughout the project, with participants enjoying activities such as making healthy pizzas, decorating pancakes and rice cakes, and receiving healthy snack packs to take home.

The project has created valuable opportunities for people to share their own experiences of sensory loss, learn about the support available through Forth Valley Sensory Centre, and build confidence in supporting others. One particularly positive outcome saw a parent identified during a community session go on to arrange a visit to the Centre to take part in further activities and access additional support.

Overall, the project has successfully increased awareness of sensory loss while promoting healthy lifestyles, strengthening community partnerships and engaging people of all ages through inclusive, interactive activities.

The Clacks Cook and Connect project continues to grow, with sessions being delivered throughout the summer and many more already booked across Clackmannanshire. We look forward to building on the success of the project, reaching even more people, strengthening community partnerships, and continuing to promote healthy lifestyles alongside greater awareness and understanding of sensory loss.

Further outreach support

Rowan and Melissa supported a community project to repaint Clackmannan Town Hall, helping to refresh and enhance the local space. This was a great opportunity to extend our work beyond the immediate area and strengthen connections across the Forth Valley. We are always keen to collaborate more widely, and this project provided an ideal way to get involved and contribute to the wider community.

Sensory Awareness Workshops

Demand for our Sensory Awareness Workshops continued to grow between April and June, with staff and volunteers delivering sessions to over 130 pupils across Victoria Primary School, Clackmannan Primary School, Antonine Primary School and St Mungo’s High School.

During this period, Rowan and Melissa also attended the annual STEM @ The Helix event, where businesses and organisations engage with S1 pupils to showcase their work and inspire future career interests. Throughout the day, they delivered interactive sensory awareness sessions to different school groups, giving pupils the opportunity to explore different eye conditions using Sim Specs, learn the basics of British Sign Language (BSL), and take part in sensory box activities that encouraged them to rely on their other senses.

An exciting new partnership was also established with Street Soccer Stenhousemuir, where Melissa delivered a sensory awareness session for participants. The session prompted engaging discussions about sight and hearing loss, with attendees sharing their own experiences while learning more about sensory loss and the support available through FVSC. Following the success of the session, Street Soccer has invited FVSC back to deliver a dedicated series of workshops focused on accessible sports.

Sighted Guide Training

Some of the Forth Valley Sensory Centre staff and volunteers recently took part in Sighted Guide training delivered by Guide Dogs. The first session took place on 22nd July, with a second session scheduled for 19th August.

The training was extremely well received, with all participants reporting that they thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The session provided valuable practical guidance and hands-on experience, helping attendees to build confidence in supporting people with visual impairments. Thanks to the good weather, some of the practical activities were held outdoors, including guiding individuals up and down flights of steps and assisting with getting into and out of vehicles.

As a gesture of appreciation, FVSC staff will be delivering an online Deaf Awareness session for Guide Dogs.

Overall, the training has been a very positive experience and will enhance the support that staff and volunteers can provide within the Centre and the wider community.

 Youth Engagement

Our Dungeons & Dragons group has remained a popular and engaging activity, with participants coming together for two more sessions filled with exciting adventures and collaborative quests. Through imaginative storytelling and shared problem-solving, the group has continued to develop teamwork, communication skills and confidence, while providing a welcoming space for participants to build friendships and connect with others.

Building on these themes, we also hosted a creative workshop where participants designed and sculpted their own Dungeons & Dragons characters from clay. The session encouraged imagination and self-expression, giving everyone the opportunity to bring their unique characters to life while sharing ideas and connecting with others.

As interest in the group continues to grow, we have been exploring new venues to enhance the experience. We recently visited The Arena in Falkirk, which offers a dedicated, tavern-themed space designed specifically for immersive Dungeons & Dragons sessions. We are delighted to have secured bookings for the group to visit in the coming months, providing an exciting new setting for future adventures.

You can still contribute to our D&D group by clicking on the following link FVSC Adventures for All: Help Fund Our Accessible D&D Group

Windsor Park School Visit

On 17th June, students from Windsor Park School joined David and Caroline for a fun and engaging session at the Centre. The group made “pizza flags” to celebrate the countries taking part in the Commonwealth Games, as well as shortbread to mark the games being held in Scotland. The day also included a visit from Drew at FEL Scotland, who brought along accessible bikes for the students to try. Everyone had a fantastic time at the local park, enjoying the opportunity to get active and experience the bikes in a supportive and inclusive environment.

 Sensory Awareness Training Opportunities

Rowan and Melissa welcomed the Oasis Wellbeing group to the Centre after the group expressed an interest in learning more, following a talk on accessible communication for people with hearing loss. Emma also kindly joined the session to provide an overview of the role of the Council’s sensory services team, offering valuable context and insight for attendees.

Laura and Melissa delivered a sensory awareness training session for a group of parents from Clacks Works. The session provided participants with a greater understanding of sight and hearing loss, combining practical information with Laura’s lived experience to highlight the challenges and barriers faced by people with sensory loss. Participants also took part in sighted guiding exercises, giving them the opportunity to develop practical skills and experience guiding one another in a safe and supportive environment.

Jenn and Laura, supported by Jayne and Melissa delivered two online sensory awareness training sessions in June for SUSE (Scottish Union of Supported Employment), with a further session scheduled for 20th August.

At Alloa Campus, Melissa and Laura delivered a sensory awareness training session for a group of nursing students, focusing on building knowledge, confidence, and practical understanding of how to support individuals with sensory loss in healthcare settings.

Sandy and Melissa joined Fiona and Campbell to deliver sensory awareness sessions for staff across several Citizens Advice Bureau offices. The training focused on increasing confidence in supporting people with sensory loss and promoting greater awareness of the services available through FVSC.

Interest in our sensory awareness training continues to grow, with several additional sessions already confirmed for the coming months. Upcoming training will be delivered to Home-Start Clackmannanshire and the Kit-Tea Café in Falkirk, enabling us to continue raising awareness of sensory loss and supporting organisations to provide more inclusive and accessible services.

Living Well with Sight Loss

The Centre continues to deliver its Living Well with Sight Loss course, led by Sight Loss Ambassador, Laura Cluxton, supporting individuals to build confidence, maintain independence and access the right support following sight loss.

The course provides practical advice and guidance across a range of topics, including benefits, staying independent, helpful technology, eye health, and maintaining hobbies and interests. It offers a supportive space for participants to share experiences and learn strategies to navigate daily life with sight loss.

The next course will take place on 11th and 18th August. We are delighted that participants will be joined by the Macular Society, who will share further information about their work and available support. In addition, a research student from the University of Edinburgh will attend as part of her PhD, which explores how systems of care (both structural and social) can better recognise and respond to adults’ experiences of hearing and/or vision change.

Courses are planned once a quarter, with a further 2026 course scheduled for:

10th and 17th November

Feedback from participants continues to be extremely positive, highlighting the value of the course in improving confidence, knowledge and overall wellbeing.

 Centre Attendance Figures

Groups

May 556, June 476, July 556

Sensory Room

May 140, June 152, July 162

Clinics

May 153, June 115, July 94

Café

May 822, June 744, July 550

Staffing Update

We are pleased to share that in June Sandy was appointed as the new CEO and will take up the post on 1st September. Jayne has been appointed as Operations Manager. Recruitment for additional team vacancies will take place in due course.

Summary

The period from May to July has been an exciting time at the Centre, with continued progress in our anniversary celebrations and strong engagement from Centre Users, partners and the wider community.

Initiatives such as the Tree of Life and different trips and projects have highlighted the creativity, kindness and involvement of those connected to the Centre, while preparations for the Big Birthday Bash and Summer Raffle are bringing further opportunities for community participation.

Our successful funding bids are enabling us to expand services and introduce new opportunities, particularly in music and health support.

As we continue through this special anniversary year, we remain committed to supporting our Centre Users, strengthening partnerships and creating inclusive opportunities for all.

Jacquie Winning MBE
CEO, Forth Valley Sensory Centre