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 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 IGHLANDERS REGIMENTAL ASSOCIATION
The Stirling 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
Scottish Opera is restarting live performances this month.
Not at full-scale or in their usual theatres but live performances, nonetheless. Composer Jonathan Dove has created an abridged version of Puccini’s La Bohème, to be performed outdoors at the Production Studios in Glasgow.
Pop-up opera tours with mini versions of The Gondoliers and Don Giovanni and of a new piece, The Song of the Clyde, written by Karen Maciver and Allan Dunn.
Back online, Scottish Opera’s contribution to this year’s Lammermuir Festival is Janáček’s haunting The Diary of One who Disappeared, sung in Czech by Nicky Spence (with contributions from others, and subtitled in English).
More information on all of these is available from www.scottishopera.org. uk/what-s-on/. If you’d like to get updates by email from the Forth Valley Friends, whether you’re a member or not, please contact Elise Macrae at macraefernbank@ btinternet.com.
THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION SCOTLAND
The RBLS Stirling Branch will hold a meeting at 7.30pm tonight (Wednesday) in the Kilted Kangaroo, Upper Craigs, Stirling. Spaces are limited to eight members (four committee).
Members wishing to attend should contact the secretary John Bell. For any more info please contact James on 01786 609770.
CETNRAL ARTS ASSOCIATION
Members of Central Arts Association, an entirely voluntary and non-profit making association, are delighted to announce that they have raised the grand total of £10,000 for Strathcarron Hospice and Macmillan Cancer Support.
This amount is split equally between the two charities and has been raised from the commission charged on the sale of the paintings on display in the exhibition in Blossoms Coffee Shop/bistro at Torwood Garden Centre in Larbert.
While such a big sum would usually be a good reason for a celebration, given the circumstances of Covid-19, the association will have to settle for offering a huge thank you to all customers for supporting the fund raising efforts by buying paintings.
The framed paintings and also framed Giclee prints are mainly in traditional style, including local scenes, scenes of the River Forth at sunrise and sunset, Scottish beach scenes, floral, wildlife, seascapes and landscapes plus several framed photographs of birds and flowers.
Approximately every two weeks several new paintings are hung and several are withdrawn. If you haven’t yet seen the exhibition or would like another look, it can be viewed Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm and from 10am to 5pm on Sundays.admission free, access for disabled and wheelchairs. Due to Covid-19, please respect other customers at tables next to the display, keep social distancing and ask a member of staff if you would like help with any of the paintings.
The committee is grateful to the Stevenson family, the owners of Torwood Garden Centre, for allowing Central Arts members to display their paintings for sale in their beautiful Blossoms Coffee Shop/bistro and also to them for donating their full commission charged on the sale of each painting to these two charities.
It is wonderful that a whopping total of £10,000 has now been raised to allow these charities to continue their incredible work during what we know are very difficult times for charities everywhere.