FSVC Volunteer & Fundraising Newsletter
Summer – Autumn 2025 Edition
Hello, everyone. We are here with our second joint volunteer and fundraising update for summer and autumn 2025. This combined format was well received last time, so we’ve decided to keep it going. We are proud of our accomplishments over recent months and have exciting plans in store for the future. Without further ado – let’s dive straight in.
Volunteering Update
Volunteering has gone from strength to strength this year. Currently, including our student placements and volunteers who are being onboarded, we have a whopping 75 volunteers! For an organisation with only 16 staff, this is pretty remarkable. Our volunteers support us with gardening, cooking, knitting, IT, driving, and everything in between.
In 2024, our volunteer team contributed 4029 hours of their time. Between 1st January and 30th September 2025, volunteers have already donated 4541 hours. We are incredibly grateful for the continued commitment shown by our amazing volunteers and for the levels of interest from new and prospective volunteers. We will confirm 2025’s hours donated total in our next Volunteering and Fundraising Newsletter.
In monetary terms, and using the 2025 real living wage, volunteer hours so far this year equate to £61,076. We know that in addition to time, our volunteers contribute laughter, warmth and compassion which cannot be measured in monetary terms. We hope these figures help to illustrate the enormous impact and value provided by Volunteers who give their time to Forth Valley Sensory Centre and its community.
We offer each and every volunteer our sincere thanks.
Upcoming Events
Our next big event is our Winter Fayre on Friday the 28th of November, 11am until 2pm. As always, we are looking for volunteers to support and any donations you may be able to give. You are of course invited to attend as a guest, if you prefer to browse the craft stalls, buy some Christmas goodies and listen to our amazing Sensory Singers performance. To tempt you, volunteers on the day are entitled to free soup made by our wonderful cook, David Black.
Our annual Volunteer Christmas Celebration will take place on Friday the 19th of December this year, from 12pm until 2pm. Everyone who has volunteered with us during 2025 is invited. You can expect fun games, friendship and lots of nibbles. If you would like to attend, please let Hannah know in advance. We really hope you can make it along and look forward to welcoming you.
Fundraising Update
As always, our fundraising efforts have been keeping us on our toes here at FVSC. Since our last update we have hosted several fundraisers including Welcome Desk competitions and grant funding applications. We would like to share an update to keep all our wonderful centre users, volunteers, staff and supporters in the loop.
All grant applications are important, and successful grants make up around 65% of the funds needed to keep our Centre running. Let’s take a look at our fundraising efforts from the last 6 months in a bit more detail.
Youth and Philanthropy Initiative (YPI) – Dollar Academy
As some may already know, the Youth and Philanthropy Initiative is delivered in High Schools across Scotland. It gives pupils an opportunity to showcase a local charity and the work they do in the young people’s community. It builds young people’s skills in public speaking, presenting, collating information and collaboration. We usually work with several schools throughout the year, meeting with groups of students who have chosen to support FVSC.
Earlier this year we welcomed a team of pupils from Dollar Academy who had heard about the Centre and the work we do. They not only wanted to learn more, but they wanted to win their school’s YPI initiative and secure us a £3000 donation. These young people visited the Centre and met with our staff, Centre users and volunteers. They formed a very good understanding of the work FVSC does, and how we support our Centre users.
The team was shortlisted into the final and won the £3000 in June. We were delighted to be able to use this funding to support several of our ongoing activities including purchasing new items for our Kitchen and Sensory gardens. We were also able to cover costs associated with running groups and classes e.g. our History Group and Stirling Group outings over the summer.
It is initiatives like this one that not only support FVSC financially, but spread the word about the services we deliver. Funding like this also supports our efforts to increase sensory awareness within our community and make it more accessible as a result. Massive congratulations and thanks to the YPI team from Dollar Academy for their support and hard work.
Climate Engagement Fund – SustainAble for All
In August of this year, we were notified that our application to the Scottish Government Climate Engagement Fund (CEF) was successful, meaning we could launch our SustainAble for All project.
We are delivering this project alongside partnership Forth Environment Link. Jenn Pow, former NHS FV Audiologist, has joined our Team temporarily to lead on the project and help it succeed. SustainAble for All will enable the creation of accessible maps of Falkirk, Stirling and Clacks, which highlight accessible and climate-friendly activities, businesses, and places of interest. Advice about how to improve accessibility is being provided to businesses and community members are being encouraged to play their part in protecting the environment. If you would like to get involved and support us with any aspect of the project we would be delighted to hear from you. Please speak to Jenn for more information.
Videos from our project launch event can be found on our:
- Youtube channel: @FVSensoryCentre
- Facebook page: @FVSensoryCentre
- LinkedIn page: Forth Valley Sensory Centre.
where you’ll also find updates on our upcoming events and recent success stories.
Volunteer Interview
We caught up with Jean who has been volunteering with us for two years. Jean leads our fabulous gardening volunteer team as our head gardener. Here, she tells us a bit about herself and how she came to volunteer with the Centre.
✨ Tell us a bit about yourself, where you are from, some of the things you have done in your life, where you live and who you live with.
I am a “Falkirk Bairn”. I was born and brought up in Falkirk. I have lived in the district all my life and lived for the past thirty years in Camelon. I live with my husband Dougie, and Skye, our granddaughter, who we have been kinship carers for the past thirteen years
I have been blessed with a good education, although I didn’t appreciate it at the time. I was taught by enthusiastic teachers who loved their subjects. At Woodlands High School, a love of learning, questioning and ethical thinking was instilled in me, as they steered me through O Levels and Highers.
I have worked since I was fifteen and my first job was a Saturday job as a waitress in a cafe. After leaving school, I worked as a dental assistant, a bank clerk, and I had various positions in retail, pubs and, supermarkets while my children were small. After they reached school age, I wanted a more rewarding career than counting money and doing accounts and I decided to train as a nurse at Forth Valley Nursing College. I worked in Outpatients in Falkirk Royal and Forth Valley Royal hospitals in the Maxillofacial Department. I also worked at the Strathcarron hospice for a few years. I have made so many friends over the years. I formally retired in 2017.
✨ How did you come to start volunteering at the FVSC?
Alongside my working life, a voluntary one started to develop too through my love of the natural world and everything that inhabits it. Initially, it began through my children’s activities, playgroups, etc., but I loved it so much, I just had to carry it on.
I’m an active member of “Friends of the Earth, Falkirk” and have been for some years. I also enjoy working on my allotment and with Friends of Dollar Park and Forth Environment Link.
Around two years ago, I eventually ended up at FVSC with Forth Environment Link’s ”garden buddy” scheme, to assist in the re-establishment of the gardens at FVSC. I enjoyed the challenge so much, that I have been here ever since. The therapeutic benefits of gardening are well known. I really enjoy working with the team. They’re a very diverse and talented bunch and I have made some good friends.
✨ What does your role involve?
I support a team of fellow volunteers in the garden to grow fresh fruit and veg for the cafe and to make a safe, relaxing, and beautiful space for people to visit and enjoy. I am at the Centre around 3 days a week. I also help at events if they have a garden stall there.
✨ Can you see the difference your help makes to Centre users?
The FVSC would feel a lot different if it was located on a busy High Street and not have the relaxed green space surrounding it. I, and my fellow volunteers enjoy the physical, psychological, and social aspects of working together in the garden.
I am sure my fellow volunteers glow with pride, when someone comments on the improvement to the gardens. I certainly do, when their hard work is appreciated. I love seeing all the different people relaxing and enjoying the garden. It makes it all worth it.
✨ Describe FVSC in three words.
I would say welcoming, inclusive, and diverse. All sorts of people come to the Centre and it’s all the better for it.
Garden Party
Our annual charity Garden Party took place in late July and saw a range of local businesses and organisations attending the Centre to host stalls and showcase their fantastic products.
Our Sensory Garden was filled with interactive fun-fair style games, including the return of Sponge Splat, our mini golf course (with some added extras) and a brand-new game, Footbowls! The games brought an extra level of fun to the event and as always, our staff, volunteers and Centre users all got involved and took to the stocks for a soaking in Sponge Splat! Special thanks to our Handyman, John Sommerville, and son, Kyle, for making these games from scratch and ensuring they are accessible for all our attendees!
We raised a whopping £1114.96 on the day making it one of our best years yet! This truly wouldn’t be possible without the help and support from our volunteers who made decorations and crafts, helped set up the event worked so hard on the day. They once again excelled themselves by helping our attendees, manning stalls and showcasing the Centre in the best possible light.
Family Fun Day
Our Family Fun Day took place in August and was the first event of its kind hosted by FVSC. The event was organised with Deaf people and families in mind and helped us create some amazing links with local organisations and charities!
We welcomed Guide Dogs puppy trainers and trainee Guide Dogs to show off their good doggo skills and provide some much-needed cuddles to everyone at the event.
Kraftarma also came along on the day to provide face painting and temporary tattoos, free of charge for attendees. We had lots of happy mini Spider-Men and Pikachus on the day as well as some very colourful staff.
Although this was a free, awareness raising event, organised to bring a bit of fun to local families, we managed to raise £211.40 for the Centre. Thank you to everyone who donated prizes and gave up their time to support the day.
Pamper Day
Pamper Day was another first for the Centre and was an absolutely fantastic afternoon!
This event took place in September and was designed to explore which services our Centre Users would like included in our soon-to-be launched Sensory Salon. We worked closely with local charities and businesses to ensure they were aware of how to support those with a sight loss and provided communication supports and a BSL interpreter on the day.
It was an afternoon full of glamour with attendees taking part in free treatments such as hair styling and trims, one-to-one make-up tutorials, nail painting, toenail cutting, foot massages, reiki sessions, tarot reading and more!
The event was so well received we have already started planning similar events in future. An event specially designed for Deaf Centre users and an equivalent aimed at men are both in the works for next year.
We raised a total of £435 on the day through ticket sales and our pamper raffle. Not only that, but this event really brought our FVSC community together and gave everyone a chance to enjoy the afternoon and connect with one another.
Fundraisers
5k a Day in May
Some of you may have already heard of this fundraising initiative but this year FVSC took part in the 5K-a-Day-in-May fundraiser. A total of 17 staff members, volunteers, Centre users and partners taking part by:
– Walking
– Cycling
– Jogging
– Running
All participants picked an activity to complete for 5K or 3.1miles a day!
Although it was a long month for some of our participants, this fundraiser was a huge success and raised over £3000 for our Centre with a combined total of 2790km (1734 miles) covered between all participants over the month. This is the equivalent of walking from Falkirk to North Africa.
Thank you to everyone who took part in this fundraiser and supported FVSC. Special thanks to Windsor Park School teachers for getting involved and supporting our cause.
Abbie Anderson – Edinburgh Marathon
Our long-serving supporter and fundraiser, Abbie Anderson took part in the Edinburgh Marathon earlier this year to raise funds for FVSC!
Abbie has raised thousands of pounds for the Centre over the past few years as her nephew attends the FV NHS Audiology services and has strong ties with FVSC. Some of you may also remember Abbie’s mum, Sandra as the previous Slimming World lead here at the Centre on a Wednesday evening.
In the past, Abbie has abseiled off the Forth Road Bridge as well as running several marathons to raise funds for us! This time her Edinburgh Marathon raised a total of £160, an amazing achievement and an appreciated boost to our fundraising goals.
Fundraisers Needed
If you would like to do something special as well as raising some funds for a good cause, we are always here to help either facilitate or promote and can assist with anything needed. Not all sponsorships need to be for something so sporty, feel free to get in touch if you would like to try anything from bungee jumping to baking sponsorships! All donations are a huge help to us and enable the Centre to run to the best of its ability.
In-Kind Donations
At FVSC we are very aware of the cost of living crisis felt across the country and in our local community. Although this has contributed to a dip in our monetary donations, there has been a huge rise in the amount of ‘in-kind’ donations we receive.
In-kind donations are items donated to the Centre instead of money and include things such as, hamper donations, bottles, funfair games, accessible picnic benches and much more.
In total this year, we have so far raised £3988 of our £5000 target.
Corporate Volunteering
Corporate volunteering is an initiative that allows businesses to give to charities by donating their time to do odd jobs or support ongoing work.
In the past we have welcomed businesses such as Scottish Power and EE and this year we were joined by Certas Energy over 2 days to help us with some painting around the Centre and getting our gardens ready for the hot weather. We were also joined by our local Asda Community champions who have supported several events at the Centre this year.
Similar to the volunteer hours, if we multiply the time spent at the Centre by the current Real Living Wage, our corporate volunteers have donated £914.70 worth of their time to the Centre.
Volunteers Needed
Sensory Awareness
We continue to work with local organisations to increase their awareness of sensory loss through training and site visits. In doing so, we offer advice and guidance about how organisations can improve accessibility for blind and partially sighted people and people who are deaf or have hearing loss.
FVSC Youth and Family worker, Melissa, together with volunteers and staff members, has been hard at work delivering sensory awareness workshops for schoolchildren from p4 to s2 in schools across Forth Valley. These interactive sessions invite young people to experience, explore and understand what sensory loss can mean for people. By using feely boxes, BSL fingerspelling cards, lipreading games, simspecs and open discussions, the sessions give children real insight into the everyday challenges people face, discover practical support tools and resources, and learn how small adaptations can make a big difference. By building confidence, empathy, and awareness, the workshops empower young people to create more inclusive, understanding, and respectful communities.
Volunteer Drivers needed…
We are calling out for volunteer drivers either for the minibus or using their own vehicle to transport people to and from Centre activities. Minibus training will be provided free of charge. A mileage rate is paid for drivers using their own vehicles. Driving roles can be weekly or flexible and ad-hoc to fit with other driver commitments. If you or anyone you know may be interested in driving for us, please let Hannah know.
Thank you very much for reading our second volunteering and fundraising newsletter. We’d love to hear your thoughts and opinions. Stay tuned for our next update in Winter – Spring 2026. Until then, keep on keeping on.
Three cheers for our volunteers!
✨Thank you✨