Voice of the People
HANDYPERSON SERVICE
Handyperson volunteers carry out small/minor maintenance jobs in older people’s homes in the Stirling, Bridge of Allan, Dunblane, Callander and Clackmannanshire areas. The service is co-ordinated by registered charity Volunteering Matters. There is no charge and donations are gratefully accepted. Volunteers welcome. For details during the current climate call 01259 928088.
COUNCIL ON DISABILITY STIRLING
The office in Cameronian Street regrets having to close its doors for an indeterminate period due to the outbreak of the coronavirus. Staff do not know how long they will be unable to see clients on a face to face basis. However, there will be someone in regularly to check the telephones, mail and emails. Please get in contact should you need assistance and COD will do its best to help you.
ROCKTALK
Stirling’s talking newspaper for the blind is free to visually impaired members of the community. Contact Mike Milne at enquiries@rocktalk.org.uk or 01786 816673.
NEURO CENTRAL
Meetings on first Monday of the month at Stirling County Cricket Club have been cancelled until further notice. See www. neurocentral.co.uk for more details.
ALZHEIMER SCOTLAND
Contact dementia advisor Donna Paterson at dpaterson@alzscot.org, 01786 8311 or 07733 302772.
GOING FORWARD STROKE GROUP
Meetings off until further notice.
TOWN BREAK
The charity group supports people with early to moderate stage dementia to live well. For more information in the current climate, contact 01786 641841 or email admin@townbreakstirling.org.
FRIENDS OF THE SMITH
All talks and events planned for the coming months cancelled or postponed until further notice.
ARGYLL AND SUTHERLAND HIGHLANDERS REGIMENTAL ASSOCIATION (STIRLING BRANCH)
The branch is still accepting membership applications so If you would like to join the branch or would like more details contact the secretary on secretary. aashstirlingbranch@btinternet.com or by contacting the chairman by phone 07940 828 434, or email: james21healy@ outlook.com
PARKINSON’S
All meetings of the Stirling and Clackmannanshire branch have been cancelled until further notice. More details from Jim 01259 762734, Muriel 01360 850357 or National Helpline 0808 800 0303.
FORTH VALLEY FRIENDS OF SCOTTISH OPERA
The Friends have been quiet lately, following the cancellation of both Scottish Opera’s live performances and group meetings. However, the company is keeping busy so take a look at www. scottishopera.org.uk if you want to know what they’ve been doing. The What’s On section lists mini-performances recorded in lockdown as well as access to video recordings of (at present) two previous productions and activities for children. Three of the emerging artists who have provided the performances in that section have also been working on a new short opera called The Narcissistic Fish, composed by composer in residence Sam Bordoli which is now on the website. Forth Valley Friends will have to wait until Scottish Opera is able to produce a schedule for the 2020-21 season before developing a programme of events. Meanwhile, if anyone is interested in getting news from the Forth Valley Friends, whether a member or not, please email the secretary Elise Macrae at macraefernbank@btinternet.com and she will add you to the email list.
STIRLING FIELD AND RCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Following the easing of lockdown the society has resumed its summer programme of visits to outdoor locations. The next outing is on Tuesday, August 11 to see the Cromlix Long Barrow which, at 56m in length, and retaining some evidence of at least two burials, is a good example of this rare type of Neolithic funerary monument. The visit involves a walk of approximately 1km to reach the site, from where it is hoped there will be the reward of fine views to both Stirling and Edinburgh. Please wear stout shoes and clothing to suit the weather. Non-members are welcome to come along; the group will be leaving the Smith Art Gallery and Museum at 6.30pm. Some health precautions have been introduced for outings: Car sharing is suspended; all must provide their own transport. Directions from the Smith to the destination will be given on departure but a printed map and a site description will not be handed out. Social distancing rules between different parties should be observed as usual. On Saturday, August 22 the society’s all-day outing will be to Finlarig Castle and Lawers deserted village, leaving the Smith at 9.30am – more details next week.
BRIDGE OF ALLAN AND DUNBLANE ROTARY CLUB
The Rotary Young Leaders Award (RYLA) is one of Rotary’s flagship programmes for young people from local communities. Bridge of Allan and Dunblane Rotary Club has long been a supporter of RYLA so President David Chisholm was delighted to introduce the speaker for the evening, Fiona Campbell from the Rotary Club of Ellon, herself an enthusiastic advocate of the benefits of RYLA. Fiona reminded members that RYLA events are for young people about to start their working lives or entering further or higher education, who have shown leadership potential but may be lacking in self-confidence. Working in teams for a week, they face challenging situations, some physical, some practical, designed to develop leadership and team building skills, and to increase their personal confidence. Each day one member of the team is appointed as leader. The activities can include kayaking, gorge walking, mountain biking and rock-climbing, together with problem-solving tasks and practical group leadership exercises. The young people have talks each morning by role models who encourage them to look positively at their skills and abilities, and to consider how best to utilise these in their future work and involvement in the community. Home comforts may at times be lacking: they may get cold and wet, but the challenges of the week develop resilience, and there is also a lot of fun to be had, with time to make new friends and to share in games, barbecues and other informal activities. Fiona is particularly well-placed to be an advocate of RYLA. As a sixth-former, she wasn’t, she suggested, exactly shy, indeed, she had a degree of bravado; but, behind that apparent confidence, she was in need of confirmation of her capabilities. Having been selected for RYLA, she found the week transformational, building in her the additional confidence she needed. With that encouragement, she progressed into a successful business career, and also represented Scotland in cricket. In light of her prowess in both fields, she was invited to return to RYLA to act as a motivational speaker, a role she has undertaken for nine years.her obvious enthusiasm for the programme led to her being invited to act as a course mentor, looking after and supporting teams of girls, a role she has undertaken with obvious enjoyment for six years. Over that time, she has seen the ways in which working together in teams has enabled girls to test themselves, frequently out of their comfort zones; to learn new inter-personal skills; and to function positively within a team when not always acting as the leader. President David thanked Fiona warmly for her talk. More information on the club can be found on the website www. dunblanerotary.org.uk or on Facebook www.facebook.com/dunblanerotary.