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 currently suspended.
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 cancelled until further notice.
ARGYLL AND SUTHERLAND HIGHLANDERS 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 Stirling and Clackmannanshire branch meetings have been cancelled until further notice. More details from Jim 01259 762734, Muriel 01360 850357 or National Helpline 0808 800 0303.
THE ARTS SOCIETY STIRLING AND FORTH VALLEY
Anyone who would like to join the Stirling and Forth Valley Arts Society please contact the Membership Secretary by e-mail on artssocsfvmembership@ gmail.com.
STIRLING CITY CHOIR
The choir has resumed rehearsals, using Zoom, on Tuesdays at 7.30pm. Current choir members who wish to participate should check their email for details. Any potential new members should contact the choir through the website www.stirlingcitychoir.org. uk The choir will be concentrating on Vivaldi’s Gloria at the start of the session. It is hoped that physical rehearsals will resume in St Columba’s Church Hall when government guidelines permit.
POPPY SCOTLAND
Because of the Covid-19 virus in the country at the moment, there will be no Poppy Scotland collection in the Thistle Centre or Marches this year, there will however, be an outside collection in Murray Place from November 2-7. Collections are also taking place from tomorrow (Saturday) to Wednesday, November 11 at Morrison’s, Springkerse and from October 26-November 7 at Tesco, Wallace Street, Stirling.
ROTARY CLUB OF STIRLING
World Polio Day on October 24 is especially significant this year as Africa is now for the first time free of wild polio virus, leaving only Afghanistan and Pakistan to be cleared. Since 1988, cases of Polio worldwide have fallen by 99.9 per cent, from 350,000 in 125 countries to just 33 cases in two countries in 2018. Because of the efforts of Rotary and its partners, nearly 19 million people who would have been paralysed are walking, and more than one and a half million are alive who would otherwise have died. Rotary International has been involved in Polio vaccination since 1979 in the Philippines, joining WHO and Bill and Melinda Gates when the global Polio Eradication Initiative was founded in 1988. Rotary was particularly well placed to contribute as it has funds and a worldwide network of clubs, each with its own local knowledge. Since 1985 Rotary has also run Polio Plus, which in addition to vaccination covers provision of other important services, such as clean water, clinics and food. In the West we tend to think of Polio as a disease of the third world, forgetting that in the 1950s, before the Sabin vaccine was available, Polio was widespread in the summer months in the UK and the USA. Polio may kill but of equal significance leave many with permanent paralysis, especially significant in the Third World for a large part of the population for whom paralysis means being unable to earn a living. Control of Polio has been one of the most important recent advances in health care, but as with other infectious diseases requires ongoing regular immunisation worldwide to maintain its suppression.
The Global Polio Eradication Initiative continues. Failure to continue could result in as many as 200,000 new cases worldwide within a decade.
FORTH VALLEY RIENDS OF SCOTTISH OPERA
At this time of year Scottish Opera would normally be touring smaller venues with four singers and a pianist performing extracts from a number of operas. This year is different, of course, but Opera Highlights is still happening. A live performance has been filmed and will be presented online from 6pm on Sunday, October 25. There’s a storyline about the joys and pains of performing in the current environment and the music ranges from Mozart to Gilbert and Sullivan. To find out more, go to www. scottishopera.org.uk/shows/operahighlights-autumn-2020/ and 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.
BRIDGE OF ALLAN AND DUNBLANE ROTARY CLUB
At Thursday’s meeting, members were very interested to hear from Julie-anne Griffith about the work of Equi-power, a charity established to support learning, health and enjoyment in people of all abilities by means of developing their relationships with horses. The charity currently offers horse riding, equestrian vaulting and equine-facilitated learning from a temporary base between Falkirk and Stirling. However, its longer-term aim is to serve Central Scotland, and it is currently working with Stirling Council to develop a new base that will offer a permanent home for the charity. Equipower was set up in 2015 in the wake of the loss by Riding for the Disabled (RDA) locally of its long-term facility. Recognition of the success of RDA over many years, led to a decision to create an organisation that would continue the work of the RDA, but would extend the range and scope of its activities to cover a broader community of need. In due course, this has emerged with the inclusion of Forth Valley Disability Sport, British Equestrian Vaulting, and Clubsport Stirling. In the context of its wider range of activity, Julie-anne instanced the work of a particular project, the Venture Trust on the Hoof. This project uses the development of a person’s relationship with horses to promote a variety of positive behavioural objectives. In one instance, she described how the relationship with horses had developed young people’s confidence and had helped to support them in making the transition from care to independent living. In another case, a young girl lacking verbal communication skills was encouraged to start talking to a horse. From this beginning she had become, as Julie-anne described it, “a chatterbox”. Overall, those who have enjoyed a relationship with horses in the various contexts offered by Equi-power have shown greater confidence, improved communication skills, and a greater ability to build new relationships. Inevitably, the emergence of the coronavirus pandemic has had a detrimental effect on the numbers that can be catered for, and has involved extra requirements to ensure the safety of all concerned. But, Julie-anne explained that, looking to the future, Equi-power is working to achieve its objective of the development of a purpose-built centre. This will provide facilities for children and adults with support needs who can benefit from the experience of engaging with horses. In this context, they are optimistic of progressing the current, detailed discussions with Stirling Council about the acquisition of the site at Kildean. Thanking Julie-anne for her talk, President David Chisholm offered his and the club’s best wishes for success in the development of Equi-power’s new facility. More information on the club’s programme and activities can be found on the website - www.dunblanerotary. org.uk or on Facebook - www.facebook. com/dunblanerotary.