Carers Connection - September 2026
See our September bulletin for updates on:
- Carer Employment Rights Consultation
- Carer Benefits Event
- Alloa Walking Group
- Young Carers Festival
…and more
Carers Connection - August 2026
See our August bulletin for updates on:
- Free Stirling Albion tickets
- State of Caring survey 2026
- Time to Live grants
- Exclusive Wellbeing offer
…and more
Carers Connection - July 2026
See our July bulletin for updates on:
- New Clackmannanshire services
- State of Caring survey 2026
- Tools for building emotional resilience
- What’s On
…and more
We’re expanding into Clackmannanshire
We’re really pleased to share that from 1st July we’ll be supporting carers in Clackmannanshire as well as Stirling, and building on the strong connections between our two areas.
As part of this, you’ll see a small change in our name. We are now Stirling & Clackmannanshire Carers. While the name is new, our focus stays the same: making sure unpaid carers feel recognised, supported and able to look after their own wellbeing.
Our priority is to make this transition as smooth as possible and to make sure carers know where to turn for support. We’re looking forward to getting out into communities, meeting carers and listening to what will make the biggest difference.
What’s changing
Support for carers in Clackmannanshire is now being delivered slightly differently, following a decision by the Health & Social Care Partnership to align services across both council areas.
- We are now responsible for all statutory carer support services in Clackmannanshire
- This includes things like:
- Adult Carer Support Plans
- Young Carer Statements
- One-to-one support
If you are a carer in Clackmannanshire, this means you can now come to us for these services. We’re also here to answer any questions you might have about about your support going forwards.
Working alongside Falkirk & Clackmannanshire Carers Centre
We know that many carers in Clackmannanshire already have relationships with Falkirk & Clackmannanshire Carers Centre (F&CCC). They will continue to deliver some services for now while existing funding arrangements run their course, including:
- Young Adult Carer support (17-25)
- Local carer groups
- Creative Breaks grants
We are working closely together to make sure everything feels joined up and that there is minimal disruption.
What this means for you
If you are already registered with F&CCC:
- You will be contacted directly with more information
- You can decide whether you are happy for your details to be shared with us
- You can also contact us yourself at any time
If you are a carer in Clackmannanshire but not currently receiving support:
- You can now get in touch with us directly
- We’re here to help you understand what support is available
Looking ahead
More than 6,000 people in Clackmannanshire identified as unpaid carers in the last Census, and we know every caring role is different.
Over the coming months:
- Our team will be spending time in Clackmannanshire
- We’ll be meeting carers and listening to what matters most
- We’ll use this to shape and develop support locally
Get in touch
If you have any questions or would like to speak to us:
- Email: info@stirlingcarers.org.uk
- Call: 01786 447003
We’re here to help, whether you’re already receiving support or just starting to explore what’s available.
Carers Week 2026
Unpaid Carers from across Stirling came together in early June to mark National Carers Week, with a busy programme of events organised by Stirling Carers Centre.
More than 150 local Carers, aged from seven to over 90, took part in activities designed to support wellbeing, share information and reduce isolation. Events included wellbeing workshops, group activities, information sessions and days out, all recognising the vital role unpaid Carers play in their families and communities.
A key event during the week was an information day at Bannockburn and Eastern Villages Community Hub, where Stirling Carers Centre welcomed Professor Aisha Holloway, Chief Nursing Officer for Scotland. Professor Holloway met directly with local Carers to hear about their experiences and priorities, and spoke with a wide range of partner organisations offering support to Carers across the area.
The event also provided an opportunity for Carers to find out more about support available, with organisations including Action in Mind, Reachout with Arts in Mind, Town Break Dementia Support, Self Directed Support Forth Valley, Alzheimer Scotland, Reengage, and Clackmannanshire and Stirling Health and Social Care Partnership in attendance.
Community spirit was on full display at a special Carers Week session of the Stirling Sunshine Singers. Lord Provost Rosemary Fraser joined more than 40 participants, including Young Carers from Fallin, Cambusbarron and Braehead primary schools, Stirling Council staff and members of other local singing groups. The weekly dementia-inclusive singing group in partnership with Stirling Albert Halls brings together people of all ages for uplifting sessions filled with smiles and laughter, demonstrating the power of shared music in supporting wellbeing and inclusion.
Carers Week provides a vital opportunity each year to recognise the invaluable role unpaid Carers play in supporting family members, friends and neighbours. This year’s Carers Week theme, Building Carer Friendly Communities, highlighted the role that local organisations, workplaces and community spaces can play in making life easier for unpaid Carers.
Keri Moore, Chief Executive of Stirling Carers Centre, said:
“It was fantastic to see so many Carers and partner organisations taking part in Carers Week. We were especially grateful to Professor Aisha Holloway and Lord Provost Rosemary Fraser for taking the time to meet with local Carers and listen to their experiences.
“With almost 11,000 people in the Stirling area identifying as unpaid Carers in the 2022 Census, small changes by local organisations and communities could make a real difference to people’s wellbeing.”
Volunteers Week
The first week of June is Volunteers’ Week, a chance to thank our brilliant volunteers who donate hundreds of hours to supporting local Carers. Their time, dedication and generosity make a real difference to our services and we’re so grateful to have them on our team.
This Volunteers’ Week, we’re highlighting Robert, one of our Young Carers volunteers, for his fantastic contribution to Stirling Young Carers Service
Each week, Robert supports Young Carers through groups, trips and holiday activities. He helps create safe, welcoming spaces where young people can relax, build confidence and connect with others who understand them. As a Carer himself, he brings genuine empathy and insight.
Robert is passionate about ensuring Young Carers have the same opportunities as their peers. He often goes above and beyond, linking with local businesses to secure additional activities, resources and treats for the Young Carers.
His kindness and commitment make a lasting difference to Young Carers, families and staff alike. He is a fantastic example of the dedication across our volunteer team.
“Volunteering with Stirling Young Carers has been a fantastic experience, allowing me to work alongside amazing people and support Young Carers as they navigate their lives. When I was a Young Carer I didn’t have access to these services, so I am so happy to be a small part of an amazing service.”
Robert Cairney
Young Carers Volunteer
Carers Connection - June 2026
See our June bulletin for updates on:
- Carers Week 2026
- A new chapter for local Carer services
- Emergency Care Planning
- End-of- Life Caring Conversations
- BBC Caring Matters Week
…and more
A New Chapter for Local Carer Services
We are delighted to share some exciting news! From 1st July, we will begin providing support services for unpaid Carers across Clackmannanshire. To reflect this, we will become Stirling & Clackmannanshire Carers Centre.
What This Means For You
- More joined-up support across Stirling and Clackmannanshire
- Stronger local services shaped around Carers’ needs
- A bigger team ready to listen, advise and support you
These services were previously delivered by Falkirk & Clackmannanshire Carers Centre, and the transition has been made with their full support. We are grateful for the on-going positive partnership we have with them and would like to thank them for all their help with this process.
During The Transition
We know how important reliable, consistent support is. There may be some short-term changes as we move systems and processes. We will work hard to keep disruption to a minimum and our focus will always be on making sure Carers continue to get the help they need.
Looking Ahead
This is an exciting opportunity to grow and improve services for Carers in both Stirling and Clackmannanshire. We are committed to building something that works well for you now and into the future. More updates will be shared soon and information will be added to our website and social media as it becomes available.
If you have any questions, please get in touch and we’ll be happy to answer if we can. We’re looking forward to this next exciting phase for the organisation and for local Carers.
Carers Connection - May 2026
See our May bulletin for updates on:
- Review of the Hustings event
- Time to Live grants reopen
- Communications survey
- ‘Right to a break’ consultation
…and more
Stirling Carers Put Candidates On The Spot
Unpaid Carers from across Stirling came together last week to question prospective Holyrood candidates at a first‑of‑its‑kind local Carers’ Hustings event.
Held on 14th April at the Cowane Centre, the event created space for Carers to speak directly to politicians about the realities of caring and the support they need, both locally and nationally.
Representatives from six political parties took part, with future candidates for the constituency well represented. Those attending included Alyn Smith (SNP), Kainde Manji (Labour), Stephen Kerr (Conservatives) and Rachael Wright (Reform UK), all standing in the upcoming poll on 7 May. They were joined by Andrew Adam (Scottish Greens) and Amanda Clark (Liberal Democrats).
Around 40 unpaid carers and staff attended, contributing to a thoughtful and, at times, challenging discussion. Carers raised a wide range of issues affecting their daily lives, including:
- A lack of transparency and long‑term security in funding for third‑sector Carer organisations
- The pressures facing Young Carers, particularly risks to education and mental health
- The difficulty of maintaining work and financial stability while caring
- How the legal ‘Right to a Break’ can be delivered meaningfully at local level
- The financial impact on older Carers when support payments stop at pension age despite ongoing caring responsibilities
One Carer reflected afterwards:
“I enjoyed the debate tonight with all the candidates. It gives you food for thought with all their differing answers. It is hard to judge who will support us.”
Stirling Carers Centre Chief Executive Keri Moore said the event was an important step in ensuring Carers’ voices are heard:
“Carers rarely have the time or space to speak about the realities of their lives, so creating a forum where their experiences were listened to with respect and interest was incredibly valuable.”
She also highlighted the wider context:
“Unpaid carers are being asked to do more than ever, often at considerable personal cost. This is why recognising and properly supporting the third sector is so important.”
The hustings was organised by Operations Manager Carley O’Hare, with support from Stirling Carers Centre staff, and marked a strong example of how local charities can connect Carers directly with decision‑makers.
As the election approaches, the evening served as a reminder that unpaid Carers play a vital role in the wellbeing of families and communities, and that their voices must remain central to policy discussions.
A summary of the evening, full transcript and audio recording are available below.
