Voice of the People
BRIDGE OF ALLAN AND DUNBLANE ROTARY CLUB
President David Chisholm welcomed Sue Hope to a Zoom meeting of the club. Sue has been working in the charity sector for some 30 years. She spoke movingly about her work with the Freedom From Fistula project (www.freedomfromfistula. org.uk) which provides help for women and girls in Africa who are injured in childbirth and left suffering from obstetric fistula – a condition that leaves them incontinent, abandoned by their families, and condemned to a life of shame, isolation and despair. In Malawi there is only one doctor for 23,000 patients; in Sierra Leone one per 15,000. This compares with Scotland where a doctor typically has fewer than 300 patients. Sue explained that Dame Ann Gloag DBE, a former nurse and co-founder of the Stagecoach transport company, founded Freedom From Fistula in 2008. It operates in Sierra Leone, Malawi and Madagascar and provides free surgeries; offers free and accessible maternity care; funds children’s outpatient clinics; and gives training for nurses, midwives and doctors. Since 2008, the charity has supported more than 170,000 women and children. Sue’s role for many years has predominantly been looking after the interaction with Rotary Clubs across Scotland and beyond who offer invaluable support to the charity. She thanked the Bridge of Allan and Dunblane Club in obtaining a Rotary Global Grant to fund the further professional training of a Malawian midwife at the University of Stirling, who was then able to pass on her expertise to nurses and midwives in Malawi. Other Rotary Clubs across the world have also given invaluable support. The support of Rotary involvement with Freedom From Fistula’s biggest project, the Aberdeen Women’s Centre in Sierra Leone, is a perfect fit for Rotary’s Maternal and Child Health Area of Focus. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the centre has managed to continue to offer medical support for the community. In addition, it also provides important educational opportunities including basic literacy and numeracy, health education and training, and family planning. President David thanked Sue for giving members an insight into the circumstances endured by many women in Africa. He was pleased the club had been able to give support to help improve these women’s prospects and wished Sue and the project well in their work. More information at www. dunblanerotary.org.uk or at www. facebook.com/dunblanerotary.
STIRLING AND DISTRICT FLORAL ART CLUB
The committee thank members and friends who attend their monthly meetings for great support in 2019-20. We enjoyed a varied and interesting programme and superb Christmas open evening in November. The Spring session had to be stopped at very short notice in April due to the Covid-19 pandemic and government instructions to lockdown. After careful discussion we have had to take the hard decision to cancel our Autumn meetings and the November Christmas open evening, which is normally our largest demonstration, fundraiser and social evening attracting over 150 people. We are taking into consideration the government advice about large gathering and the availability of the hall as well as the high cost of running the event and the scarcity of flowers. Both at UK level and Scottish level there have been numerous cancelled shows, exams and meetings. It is an uncertain period for floral art clubs but we want to assure you our club is not closed, just ‘paused.’ Our wonderful programme secretary, Mrs Monique Hainsworth, has been working hard to plan a varied and diverse range of demonstrators to enjoy in the year 2021-22 when we have some very talented demonstrators booked. If the government allow us to meet in the Spring we hope the club will resume our cancelled session on Tuesday, March 18 2021 at 2pm with the brief formal AGM at 2pm followed by a demonstration. This will be confirmed to members and visitors nearer the date.
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 are suspended 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 are similarly 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. Anyone interested in getting news from the Forth Valley Friends, email the secretary Elise Macrae at macraefernbank@btinternet.com.