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delivering quality services 0845 277 7000 stirling.gov.uk
Focusfor everyone living in the Stirling CounCil area
Fill in our
Communication
Survey
and you could
win £50!
Spring 2010
STIR
LIN
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Election feverpreparing for polling day
Open for business Confidence in
our area’s economy
Spring forward!Our walk leaders
show the way
at St Modan’s
Motivating Mondays...win a year’s free membership for 2
STIR
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Contact usfor access to all Stirling Council services phone the contact centre on:
&0845 277 7000
text: 07717 990 001
8www.stirling.gov.uk
To:
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+
Focus Comments? Questions? Ideas?
tel 01786 443360
email stirlingfocus@stirling.
gov.uk
or write to Stirling focus,
Communications and
Marketing, old viewforth,
Stirling fK8 2et.
&@
HellO
as Stirling focus goes to print we don’t yet know the date for
the general election. however the Council’s elections team has
been preparing for some time behind the scenes to be ready for
the big day. it’s our responsibility to make sure the election runs
as smoothly and efficiently as possible in the Stirling area. the
story on page 19 has information about how to make sure you’re
registered to vote and some reminders about postal votes. there
will be lots more information on our website.
i have the privilege of being returning officer for the Stirling
constituency, and i’m looking forward to visiting polling stations
across the whole of our area to make sure we are delivering the
best possible service for local electors.
elsewhere in this issue there are lots of ideas about things to do
now that spring is – hopefully – finally arriving, a look at how
Stirling is continuing to communicate
business confidence despite the tough
economic circumstances, 1st birthday
celebrations at the very popular Peak at
Stirling’s Sports village, and much
more.
Enjoy Focus.
Bob Jack
Chief executive, Stirling CouncilBoB JackChIeF exeCUTIve
read and recycle
fOcus faCtSStirling focus is published by Stirling Council and delivered by the royal Mail’s Door to Door service. this issue cost approx 21p per copy to print and distribute.
Copyright © Stirling Council 2010. no article or photograph in this magazine may be reproduced without the consent of Stirling Council. Details are correct at the time of going to press.
if you need this information in large print, Braille, audio or in another language please contact 0845 277 7000 and quote reference number 9380.
0845 277 7000
0845 277 7000
0845 277 7000
0845 277 7000
Stirling focus was ‘Highly Commended’ in the Best Customer Magazine category of the Scottish Magazine awards 2009.
SpRING 2010
1Contents
Delicious reasons to Buy local
exhibiting church records in your community
Direct debit: we’ll help you get signed up
Spelling out Stirling’s earth hour message
21
23
30
25
frankie and anna’s recycling advice
6
Regulars2 What’s on
4 competition
29 Your councillors
This spring ten recycling points across the city
centre will give residents new opportunities to
recycle. (seep7.)
cOver pHOtO:
St. Modan’s high School pupils have a ball
trying new activities on Monday afternoons.
See story on page 11.
Let’s communicate
Please fill in our survey and let us know how Stirling Council can communicate better with local people.
15
Feature Stories
5 Walk the Walk
8 Talking about Telecare
10 Revitalising Riverside primary School
12 Hooked on Fishing
14 Business confidence
16 The Gift of Life: organ Donation
19 preparing for the General Election
20 The climate’s Right for change
22 community payback
A year of Peak performance for Michael(see page 30)
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✽2
✽What’sOn✽✽a selection of attractions in the Stirling council area.
For full details visit www.stirling.gov.uk/whatson
alBert HallsBox Office 01786 473544www.stirling.gov.uk/alberthalls
Wed 24 March, 2.30 pm
We’ll Meet again: “Hits from the Blitz” relive the spirit of the forties
with great sing-along tunes.
£12/£10 concession
Sun 28 March,
12 noon – 4pm
stirling Wedding showthe best ideas for your big day.
Catwalk shows at 1.30pm and
3.30pm. £5/£4 in advance
Mon 29 March, 7.30 pm
an evening with derek acorah
Derek is
undoubtedly
the uK’s no.1
Spirit Medium.
experimental/
investigational
- there are no
guaranteed or
certain results,
and the show is for amusement
and entertainment. £17.50
Tue 30 March, 7.30 pm
that’ll Be the daythe uK’s most successful touring rock
‘n’ roll production. Classic gold hits
from the 50’s to the 70’s. £19.50
Wed 31 March, 7.30 pm
solid gold country legendsvoted Best event (British country Music awards) old and new country hits from hank,
Patsy, Willie, tammy, Dolly and Shania,
to name just a few. £16.00
Thur 1 April, 7.30 pm
Magic, a Kind of queen Proudly performing the music of
Queen, now with a bigger line-up and a
massive new sound. £14/£12.50
Thur 8 April, 7.30 pm
Jim davidson – if i ruled the World the King of Comedy is back with his
most outrageous show yet. over 18’s
only. £19.50
Fri 9 April, 7.30 pm
roy Orbison & the Beatles live in concert Barry Steele, one
of the world’s
most respected
roy orbison acts, joins the Complete
Beatles on their joint live concert tour.
£15.00
Saturday 10 April, 7 pm
W3l Wrestling, doors 6.30pm, first Bell 7.00pmW3l heavyweight Champion Mike Musso,
W3l tag team Champions the Disco
Biscuits, england’s David Paris and more
return for this “7 Deadly Sins” tournament.
£12/£10 child/£35 family of four
Sunday 18 April, 7.30 pm
strathcarron singers annual grand gala charity concertin aid of Strathcarron hospice. Concert
Popular music with something for
everybody. all proceeds go directly to
the hospice. £10
Friday 23 April, 7.30 pm
Macfloyd Performing a mix of floyd classics, from
the early material through to more
recent sounds. £14/£12
Friday 30 April, 7.30 pm
Mark Beaumontthe Man who Cycled the World. Mark
shares his adventures through images,
footage and stories from the road.
£12.50
Sunday 9 May, 7.30 pm
stirling OrchestraMusic for a Summer evening. vaughan-
Williams – overture: the Wasps;
glazunov – the Seasons; anaturyan
– trumpet Concerto. £9/£7/£2
accompanied schoolchildren
Friday 14 May, 7.30 pm
an evening of rock n’ roll with showaddywaddy the legendary band deliver rock ‘n’ roll
at its best with a real feel-good factor!
£17.50
Jim Davidson
We’ll Meet again
Mark Beaumont
25-28 March
the Blend roots music festival
✽3
aidan o’rourke
Fri 30 Apr, 8pm
patsy reid – Bridging the gapthe youngest-ever winner of the
prestigious glenfiddich fiddle
Championship, Patsy performs with
Breabach.
Thu 6 May, 8pm
Karen MathiesonCapercaillie’s Karen, with her band,
performs material from her forthcoming
album and more.
Thu 13 May, 8pm
the an tobar sessions aidan O’rourke’s an tobar Band and the dave Milligan triotwo of Scotland’s most exciting and
acclaimed composers and musicians
present a stunning concert.
Thu 20 May, 8pm
Breabachfoot-stomping reels and heart-warming
songs – a household name on the folk
and roots music scene.
Sat 22 May, 8pm
Michael Marra & robert Mcfall’s chambera dozen or so of Marra’s songs, and
instrumental numbers from across the
world.
Thu 3 Jun, 8pm
‘a drunk Man looks at a thistle’a poem by hugh MacDiarmid
performed by the red note ensemble.
Music by Bill Sweeney, conducted by
Jessica Cottis.
a night of wild musical and literary
invention.
Saturday 15 May
stirling provincial ModChildren’s competition starts at 9am,
with ceilidh in the evening. ticket
details to be confirmed.
Wednesday 26 May, 7.30 pm
coronation street’s legendary Jim Mcdonald starring in des dillon’s Blue HenDillon`s dark comedy is the moving
story of two men out of work and out
of patience in the roughest scheme in
Coatbridge. £14/£12
Friday 28 May, 7.30 pm
all Our yesterdays 2 from the days of the Music hall
through the 40’s, 50’s, 60’s to the
beautiful harmonies of the 1970’s.
£12/£10 concession
TolbooTh Box Office 01786 27 4000
www.stirling.gov.uk/tolbooth
Thu 8 Apr, 8pm
fiddlers’ Bidfour of Shetland’s
most dynamic
fiddlers, a rhythm
section, and one
of Scotland’s
finest clarsach
players.
Fri 16 Apr, 8pm
salsa celticaSensational synthesis of Scottish and
irish traditional music with a taste of
salsa.
Thu 22 Apr, 8pm
led Biba young east london 5-piece combining
the passion of a rock outfit with the
ability of trained jazz musicians.
stirling sMitH art gallery and MuseuMDumbarton road, Stirling,
fK8 2rQ to book call 01786 471 917
www.smithartgallery.demon.co.uk
Sun 21 March, 3 pm
changing the World for tomorrowKirstie gray talks on the work of the
girlguiding movement.
Mon 24 March, 7 pm
friends of the smith agM, followed by a talk by Collections
Manager Michael Mcginnes on his
favourite Stirling Smith objects.
admission free.
Sat 27 March, 11 am – 3 pm
valuation dayhave your antiques valued by experts
from Bonhams and help raise funds
for the friends of the Smith. £5 for
three items.
27 March – 30 May
art and Mental Health an exhibition from artspace. (gallery 1).
Monday 29 March, 7.30 pm
carol stobbie – scottish storytellinga friends of the Smith lecture. £3
(includes tea/coffee)
8 May – 19 September
Building scotlanda travelling exhibition from historic
Scotland on Scotland’s traditional
building materials.
8 May – 19 September
a collection of potsCeramics from the Stirling Smith
collection.
5 June – 14 September
galway in stirlingPhotographs by June talbot of the
residents of Dominick Street, galway.
at the same time, the Men of
Bannockburn exhibit is on show in
galway Museum.
SpRING 2010
leb Bib
✽
4
✽ ST
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FO
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S ✽What’sOn✽✽a selection of attractions in the Stirling council area.
For full details visit www.stirling.gov.uk/whatson
Sunday 18 April, 10 am – 3 pm
go forth and clean uphelp spring clean the fisheries down
on the forth. Wellies and clothes for
painting, please!
Friday 14 May, 8.30 pm start
Meet a newt night, plean country parkfree for the whole family. Search for
newts and water creatures. you’ll need
a torch, wellies and a pond net if you
have one. Places limited – booking
essential.
Saturday 22 May, 1.30 – 4.00 pm
Battle for the Bluebells, Balquhidderock WoodCelebrate Scottish Biodiversity Week by
helping remove the himalayan Balsam
that’s threatening the native bluebells.
free, but advanced booking essential.
active stirlingfootball daft?enjoy learning and playing
the beautiful game at venues
including forthbank, Bridge of
alan, Cambusbarron, Dunblane
and Balfron.
Mini Kickersthis Sfa/ active Stirling
programme for 3 to 4 year olds
aims to help develop a child’s
ability to perform basic
movements, and
there are things to
learn about sharing,
teamwork, rules and
behaviour.
soccer centresgiving 5 - 12
year olds the
chance to
practice passing,
control, dribbling
and shooting.
then use your
new skills in
games at every
session.
Midnight leagues & street footballyoung people keen for more football
can take part in the Sfa/active Stirling
Midnight leagues and Street football
programme, as well as all kinds of
sporting opportunities in primary and
high schools.
for information please contact
graeme henderson on hendersongr@
activestirling.org.uk or 01786 432323.
fancy becoming a coach yourself? if
you are over 16 or are involved in a
football club and are interested in club
development, please contact Scott
Kinross on [email protected].
uk or 01786 432323.
cOuntrysideBooking is essential for most events.
Phone 01786 442971 during office hours (Mon to fri, 9am – 5pm). if you have booked a place and can’t make it, please call to cancel so your place can be given to someone else.
Children are welcome for all our events, but must be supervised by an adult at all times.
Sat 10 April, 10 am – 3pm
Killearn Biodiversity action daytackle the worst of the paths in Killearn
glen. fun activities for children.
WALKING IS WONDeRFUL: RaIJa aND TRIcIa LEaD THE WaY
to celebrate the Peak’s anniversary,
active Stirling are giving away
a year’s free active living Silver
Membership. to enter, just answer
this question:
When did the peak first open?
the draw will take place on 12 april.
answer:
name:
address:
tel no:
Send your answer to: the Peak Competition, Communications and Marketing, old viewforth, Stirling fK8 2et or email [email protected] See www.stirling.gov.uk/stirlingfocus for competition rules.
Win membership of for 2 for a year!
Worth over £800!
in StirlingStirling CounCil’S Cultural
Strategy WaS launCheD
earlier thiS SPring.
it sets out how we are encouraging
everyone to enjoy life in Stirling.
there will be all kinds of events
this year to celebrate Stirling’s rich
cultural life – historical walks, music,
art, drama, exhibitions, talks and
lots more.
Come along, get involved,
and be inspired! Find out
more at www.stirling.gov.uk/
enjoyinglifeinstirling
Enjoying life
SpRING 2010
Hi raija and Tricia. Can you explain
what your job is?
We organise walks throughout
Stirling, encouraging people to start
walking regularly in their local area.
Can walking really make a
difference to someone’s life?
it can completely change your life.
Walking at any pace is proven to
benefit your health. the more you
walk, the better you feel. having
the support of a group to walk with
is great, too.
Does it matter if you haven’t been
doing exercise before?
our walks are aimed at people who
have not been physically active for a
while and are looking for a starting
point. they are beginner walks,
intended for people to enjoy a bit of
fresh air with others.
What do you enjoy about your job and
what are the challenges?
Meeting people and hearing how the
walking groups have changed their
lives is inspiring. Sometimes it’s a
challenge to encourage people to
come on their first walk with us, as
it’s never easy to try something new.
however, once somebody joins a walk,
they usually return as it’s such a great
experience.
Active Stirling, as part of the Stirling Walking network partnership, is creating new short walks in communities throughout Stirling. they are also supporting any groups who would like tostart their own walks in their community, and can provide training for volunteer walk leaders.
if longer walks are more your thing, the Walk forward programme could be for you. Walk forward’s community-based walks start at 10.30 am every second tuesday, and are for fitter walkers who can walk for 2 hours (approx. 8- 10KM) at a good pace. Walks cost £2, and you need to pre-register if you are new to the group (please contact tricia for more details).
Before starting Walk forward you’ll need a Walking Card. Cards cost £20 and entitle you to ten walks, which can be taken any time during your 12 months. Walking Cards are available from:• Wolfcraig 3rd floor, Wolfcraig, 1 Dumbarton road, Stirling, fK8 2lQ tel: 01786 432323forthbank, Springkerse, Stirling,
fK7 7uJ. tel 01786 448308
The long or the short
of it - you chooseWALKING IS WONDeRFUL:
RaIJa aND TRIcIa LEaD THE WaY
five MinuteS With raiJa Darley anD triCia CuMMing, Part tiMe WalK
Co-orDinatorS, aCtive Stirling
put a in your step!spring
For more information about any of
the walks, starting walks within
your organisation or becoming
a volunteer walk leader, please
contact:
tricia Cumming on 01786 432323
07717544773 email cummingp@
activestirling.org.uk
or raija Darley on 01786 432323,
07818 580 028 email darleyr@
activestirling.org.uk
for details of all walks visit www.
activestirling.org.uk/walk_about_
stirling.htm pace is good for you
stepping out: Walking at any
RapLocH FamILIES JoIN IN
5
6
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New Waste Lorries
Delivering recycling
advice on your doorstepthree new side-loading waste collection lorries
are taking to Stirling area streets to begin
replacing the existing ageing fleet which is
coming to the end of its economic life. another
four new lorries are planned soon.
the new vehicles work by loading the bins at
the side of the lorry rather than the front or
rear. as the waste container becomes full it will
be exchanged for a new one at set points along
the route, so the collection team won’t have
to return to the waste transfer station outside
Stirling to empty.
the system will reduce transport costs and help
further improve recycling and waste collection
services.
grey or BroWn Bin WeeK?the pull-out-and-keep 2010 recycling and waste
calendar included in the last edition of focus is
a handy reminder of whether it’s a grey bin or
brown bin week.
if you didn’t receive a calendar or have mislaid
it, extra copies are available. Please let us know
if you would like an urban or rural version. (if
you’re not sure which route your home is on,
just enter your postcode at www.stirling.gov.uk/
my/bins or give us a ring on 0845 277 7000 to
check.) or download and print off a calendar
at www.stirling.gov.uk/focus
the calendars are available on
reCyCling our houSeholD WaSte to
Prevent it Being Sent to lanDfill iS
eSSential to ProteCt the environMent - anD
We neeD to Do More of it.
Stirling Council is currently recycling and composting 45% of our waste, and, as we continue to strive towards a Zero Waste Scotland, we’re working with local people to meet our next target: 50% recycling and composting by 2011.
recycling Promotions officers anna Pajaczkowska and frankie McCallum are encouraging everyone to recycle as much as possible using the blue box and food waste caddy kerbside recycling service.
anna explains,“ our job is to promote the recycling service and we will frequently be visiting areas where we have identified poor participation. usually it only takes a chat on the doorstep to find out what the difficulty has been and put it right.
“there are, unfortunately, a few households where people show a lack of interest in the system and claim that they don’t have time to recycle or can’t be bothered. But the consequences of not recycling are both financial and environmental, and affect the Stirling area’s recycling rate for all of us.
“there is legislation - the environmental Protection act
the stirling council website.
oNE oF THE NEW FLEET IN acTIoN
BETT
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7
receiving more info soon.
city centre residents will be
Delivering recycling
advice on your doorstep
Food waste collections
are coming to Stirling’s
rural areas.
SpRING 2010
City Centre reCyClingthis spring ten recycling ‘bring’ points will
be available at central locations offering city
centre residents new opportunities to recycle.
the sites have been arranged in clusters to
cover city centre properties:
• Municipal Buildings (for King Street, Baker Street, Spittal Street and Bank
Street)
• Baker Street gardens (for King Street, Baker Street, Spittal Street and Bank
Street)
• Spittal Street (for King Street, Baker Street, Spittal Street and Bank
Street)
• Dalgleish Court Car Park (for King Street, Baker Street, Spittal Street and Bank
Street)
• Municipal Court, Barnton Street (for Barnton Street, Viewfield Street and Viewfield
Place)• Maxwell Place (for Barnton Street, Viewfield Street and Viewfield
Place)
• the thistles, Murray Place (for Murray Place, Port Street and King Street)
• Cameronian Street (for Cameronian Street, Upper Craigs, Wellgreen
Place, Port Street)
• Wellgreen nCP (for Port Street, Upper Craigs and Wellgreen Place)
• Corner of upper Bridge Street and Queen Street
(for Queen Street and Tannery Lane).
These points can be used
to recycle: green and
brown glass • clear glass
• food and drinks cans • paper • plastic bottles
(squashed) • drink
cartons, for example
tetra Pak
THAnK YOU FOr rECYCLing. THESE
MATEriALS gO in YOUr BLUE BOx:
• paper • glass • cans and aerosols • plastic bottles (squashed) • plastic carrier bags • clean foil • clean textiles and shoes • tetra Pak food and drink cartons • household batteries • small electrical appliances • food waste –
(inside your food caddy) IN THE NEIGHBouRHooD: HaNDY NEW
REcYcLING poINTS FoR cITY cENTRE RESIDENTS
FRANKIe AND ANNA: “WE’RE HERE To HELp SoRT ouT aNY REcYcLING pRoBLEmS”
1990 – that allows councils to issue fixed penalties and summary convictions if local people do not recycle. We hope it won’t go that far, and that with our help everyone will recycle as much as possible. after our first visit we’ll come back again later on to make sure everything’s going oK.”
“We do send out letters and there’s lots of information on the Council’s website,” says frankie, “but it’s good to get out and meet our customers and be able to answer their questions personally.”
rural fooD WaSte ColleCtionS anna and frankie are also distributing food waste caddies as the weekly food waste collection service is rolled out to Stirling’s rural areas. around 24,000 urban households were eligible to receive a caddy by the end of last year, and all rural households should have access to the service this year.
the caddies have a lockable lid to prevent any spills, and are put out with the blue box every week for collection.
www.stirling.gov.uk/waste
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“if something happens a
telecare user can be
in touch with us immediately.”
WorKing in PartnerShiPthe Stirling telecare Partnership
involves a range of people from
nhS forth valley, Stirling Council, the
fire Service and others. it oversees
the progress and development of
telecare services in the Stirling area.
the Partnership is currently piloting
the use of very specialist equipment
with people with dementia, learning
disabilities and other long-term
conditions.
our customer
Service advisers are
trained to deal with all
kinds of situations.
REaSSuRaNcE aND SuppoRT FoR vuLNERaBLE pEopLE
telecare uses communication
technology to give health
and social support to people
with disabilities and long-term
conditions so they can live as
independently and safely as
possible in their own homes.
the community alarm system
(known as the Mobile
emergency Care Service or
MeCS) is one example of
telecare. it includes a pendant
or wrist button which, when
pressed, sends an alert to the
Council’s Contact Centre. Similar
equipment can sense risks
like smoke, gas and falls, and
automatically alert the Contact
Centre team.
“if you’re a telecare user one
of our Customer Service advisers can
talk to you via a MeCS unit installed
in your home,” says Customer Service
Development Manager alan Whisker.
“if something’s happened we can be
in touch immediately. We hold written
details (taken in advance) of the
most appropriate person to respond
to different types of alert. this might
be a MeCS responder, a nominated
keyholder, a gP or the emergency
services.
“our Customer Service advisers are
trained to deal with all kinds of
situations, and are always ready for calls,
24 hours a day, 365 days per year.”
telecare technology may not be
suitable for everyone, so it’s very
important that a community care
assessment is carried out to make
sure that people can access the most
appropriate technology and service for
them. you can ask for an assessment
by contacting Stirling Council’s Social
Care Services on 01786 471177.
Talking about Telecare
fOcus faCtSStirling is the first council in Scotland
to upgrade to the latest call
monitoring and management system.
the new technology will be able
to handle a much wider range of
equipment in people’s homes, and in
future it will also be able to respond
to devices that people carry with
them outside.
BETT
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SpRING 2010
9
in this 450th anniversary year of the
Scottish reformation, Stirling Council
archives are celebrating their links
with the Church of Scotland and the
variety and richness of church records
by creating a brand new series of
exhibitions.
“together we have researched the
range of records held - everything
from 400 year old kirk session
discipline books to accounts and
marriage and baptism registers,”
archivist Pam Mcnicol told focus.
“Whether you are interested in the
history of your church or your own
family history, church records hold
a wealth of fascinating detail. the
records give us a vivid picture of life
in years gone by - petty thefts
from church funds, the church
tower at St ninians being blown
up in the Jacobite rebellion, and
even disapproving reports of saucy
goings-ons between young people
The records give
a vivid picture of local
life in years gone by. The
exhibitions this spring and
summer will tell lots of
great stories.
of the parish!”
audrey Birrell, Session Clerk of
gargunnock Parish Church, who has
been part of the project, adds; “With
poor relief, baptism, marriage and
education historically all coming
under the Church’s remit, the records
of our local churches are in many
ways records of each village or town.
i hope people
will visit the
exhibition
in their
local church
and enjoy
finding out
more.”
Church records a unique window on the past
viSit your loCal eXhiBition
St ninian’s (old)
6 – 7 March
Dunblane Cathedral
13 – 21 March
Logie Kirk (Causewayhead hall)
10 – 12 april
gargunnock parish Church
17 – 22 april
Holy rude
29 May – 13 June
Killin parish Church
19 – 27 June
Aberfoyle parish Church
7 – 14 July
Balquhidder Church
6 – 12 august
Holy Trinity Church
10 – 16 august
Stirling archives holds the Church
of Scotland records courtesy of the
Keeper of the records of Scotland,
through an agreement between the
Church of Scotland and the Keeper.
the records of holy trinity Church
are held by the archives by private
deposit.
visit www.stirling.gov.uk/archivesemail [email protected]
entrance to the archives is free.
archive exhibitions
uNcovERING SToRIES FRom THE paST IN THE cHuRcH REcoRDS aT STIRLING’S cHuRcH oF THE HoLY RuDE.
BRIaN moRRISoN (SESSIoN cLERk, HoLY RuDE) auDREY BIRRELL
(SESSIoN cLERk, GaRGuNNock paRISH cHuRcH, mIcHaEL GEaRY
(aRcHIvES TRaINEE) aND pam mcNIcoL (aRcHIvIST)
Learning for life
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10
RIvERBaNk caFE coLLEaGuES WITH THE HEaLTHY LIvING aWaRD
riverSiDe PriMary SChool iS to Be
Part of a neW SCottiSh governMent-
funDeD SChool BuilDing ProJeCt.
“this is great news for the children and
community of riverside,” says head teacher
eleanor Jess.
“the proposals for upgrading and
developing learning and teaching areas
will help create a 21st century
environment and support and enhance
our Curriculum for excellence work.”
improvements will include the
refurbishment and remodelling of
classrooms, shared spaces and the
autisim provision, as well as various energy
efficiency measures including insulation,
lighting and heating controls. it is proposed
that the work will take two years, at an
estimated cost of £3.6m.
COMMUniTY LEArning
AnD DEVELOpMEnT
Community learning and
development in the areas
surrounding Wallace high School
were recently inspected by her
Majesty’s inspectorate of education
(hMie).
Strengths mentioned include:
• effective local partnership
working
• targeted engagement with
learners with disabilities
• effective community groups and
individuals
• high levels of volunteering.
Areas for development include:
• Better assess and respond to the
learning needs of the community
• More outcome-focussed planning
• Better use of management
information in decision-making.
projects highlighted as good
examples include:
Choices in Care
a training course for young people
considering a career in the care
sector.
Step into Learning
a partnership project working with
people with long-term mental
illness.
Sunlite Café
a voluntarily run and managed
community café.
Quality Action group
a group of adults with learning
disabilities who work to improve
the lives of people with disabilities.
improvements at riverside
and remodelling.
Primary include refurbishment
Revitalising Riverside
NEW mEzzaNINE LEvEL IN RIvERSIDE NuRSERY
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“it’s about doing something
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with no pressure or exams.”
that makes you happy,
football, singing, fitness training,
rugby, drama, spinning, orchestra,
netball, science club … they’re all on
offer at St Modan’s, making the first
day of the week something to look
forward to and enjoy.
“every year, for four blocks of six
weeks, we give the pupils a choice of
activities to choose from for Period 7
on Mondays,” graham Boyce, Principal
School of ambition, tells focus.
“everyone stays until 10 past 4, and
there’s time to try out whatever it is
you’ve always fancied having a go
at. for some children that’s a sport
or musical instrument, for others
drama or singing. it’s all about doing
something that makes you happy, with
no pressure – and no exams.
“there can be quite a mix of age-
groups, so the children make friends
they may not have met otherwise, and
the older ones often help coach the
younger ones.
“teachers are welcome to join in
too. for example, one of our english
teachers has joined the group that’s
learning how to play guitar. i think it
helps the young people and teachers
see a different side of each other.
“We’re keen to build up children’s
confidence and capacities. School isn’t
all about learning subjects – it’s about
growing into active, caring, responsible
citizens. We believe our Monday
afternoons are really helping to make
that happen at St Modan’s.”
Making the most of mondays at St modans!
pEriOD 7 On A MOnDAY. SOUnDS A DrAg? not at St MoDan’S high
SChool, Where MonDay afternoonS are anything But MunDane.
MONDAy MONDAy: THE pRoJEcT HaS SEEN ST moDaN’S pupILS TakE up aLL kINDS oF NEW acTIvITIES.
(LEFT To RIGHT)kaTIE mccaBE (S1), STEvEN macLEoD (S2), maRIa GLENcRoSS (S1), WILLIam DEL vaLLE (S3), RoSS HuNTER (S1) aND HaNNaH mcQuILLIam (S3).
a chance to try out
new things for free
Holiday dates 2010-11
eaSter holiDayfri 2 april 2010 (good friday)Mon 5 april 2010 (easter Monday) tue 6 april - fri 16 april 2010
SuMMer Local holiday Mon 3 May 2010 Staff development tue 4 May 2010last day of term fri 25 June 2010
autuMn Pupils return 17 aug 2010Local holidays and development daysMon 6 Sep 2010 (except Balfron)Mon 27 Sep 2010 (Balfron area)
oCtoBer holiDay Mon 11 - 15 oct 2010
Winter Staff development days Mon 8 & tues 9 nov 2010
ChriStMaS holiDayfri 24 Dec 2010 - thurs 6 Jan 2011
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a CORe PAThS PLAN
Whether you’re the Bee’S KneeS
With a Bait or an aMateur at the
angling, the Stirling area offerS
SoMe great fiShing, anD thiS iS JuSt
the tiMe of year to enJoy it.
Stirling Council owns the fishing rights for
salmon and sea trout on the river forth
between Cambuskenneth and Craigforth,
and on two separate stretches of the teith at
Callander.
“Both have been described as ‘hidden gems’,”
says fisheries officer David Jones, “and we
want to encourage local people and visitors
to enjoy this fantastic fishing in our area by
keeping permit prices affordable.
“the forth and teith allow fly fishing, spinning
and bait fishing, and there are excellent
facilities. for disabled anglers platforms are
erected on the forth at Craigforth and on the
teith at the geisher Pool on the outskirts of
Callander.”
a leaflet with full details and permit prices is
available from Council offices.
HookED on fishing Settlements and communities around the Stirling area are now surrounded and linked
by 221 miles (355 km) of core paths.
“Between 2006 and 2008 the Countryside team
visited communities to talk with local people
about developing a paths network,” explains
access officer Penny Stoddard. “the response
was fantastic, and the result is the newly-
adopted Core Paths Plan, which lists and includes
maps of all the paths.”
the network helps encourage everyone, including
walkers, cyclists, horse riders, canoeists and
people with disabilities, to enjoy and explore the
countryside and urban routes.
“it will also give people more opportunity to
leave the car at home and walk or cycle for short
journeys,” adds Penny.
the Plan, required by the land reform (Scotland)
act 2003, covers the area within the Stirling
Council area but outside the loch lomond and
trossachs national Park.
you can read the Core Paths Plan online at www.
stirling.gov.uk/corepaths a copy is available to
view at Stirling Council’s viewforth headquarters,
and copies are also available for sale. to find out
more please tel 0845 277 7000.
it’s great outdoors this spring! have your
say on plans for open spaces.
SpRING 2010
oN THE TEITH aT caLLaNDER
Consultation coming soon.
fishing first
HookED on fishing
our fishery Service was the first in the uK to promote salmon
conservation by issuing tags to anglers to limit the number of
salmon that can be taken while still providing a full season of
fishing. last year anglers caught over 800 salmon on the Council’s
fisheries, with almost 60% being returned safely to the water.
• the salmon and sea trout season
began on 1 february and finishes
on 31 october.
• the brown trout season begins on
15 March and finishes on 6 october.
• no Sunday fishing is permitted
on the forth and teith.
The Forth and Teith are ‘gems.’
for anyone who loves fishing
kEEN aNGLER SIR IaN BoTHam oFFIcIaLLY opENED THE 2010 SEaSoN oN THE BaNkS oF THE TEITH IN FEBRuaRY.
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Stirling’s open for business
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I’m delighted to
spread the word about
what a great place the
Stirling area is to visit, enjoy
and do business........
.
kEITH EWING, STIRLING BuSINESS amBaSSaDoR, HaS REcENTLY opENED aNoTHER ouTDooR cLoTHING SHop IN THE cITY
and no one illustrates this better
than Stirling retailer Keith ewing, who
recently opened his second shop in
the city’s King Street selling premier
lifestyle fashion brands including
Barbour, White Stuff, Joules and oakley.
“Stirling is the gateway to loch
lomond and the trossachs, Scotland’s
first national Park. our customers
are drawn here by the world-class
cycling, hill-walking, rambling, climbing
and angling that’s right on the city’s
doorstep,” says Keith.
A bright business future for Keith
“With the current financial situation
this isn’t an easy time for anyone. But
i’m delighted to spread the word about
what a great place the Stirling area is
to visit and enjoy – and what a great
place it is to do business.”
Communicating confidence during
tough times is a key strand of the
new economic strategy for the Stirling
area, “open for Business”, which was
launched in november. find out more
at www.stirling.gov.uk
Stirling’S DynaMiC teaM of BuSineSS aMBaSSaDorS are helPing to
CoMMuniCate ConfiDenCe nationally anD internationally aBout the area’S
eConoMy anD all it haS to offer.
We’D love it if you CoulD taKe a CouPle of MinuteS
to tell uS hoW We Can CoMMuniCate With you
Better (anD it CoulD Win yOu £50 in deBenHaMs
vOucHers to SPenD in the thiStleS ShoPPing Centre)
our residents survey tells us focus is your preferred way of hearing from us. But we’re keen to know more about other ways you would like to hear from your Council – and how you prefer to get in touch with us, too. there are all kinds of new ways of communicating - twitter, facebook and SMS text messaging, for example. Please help us shape our communication to suit you. use the space below to give us your comments and ideas.
Thank you very much for taking part. Please send your form
to Communication, old viewforth, Stirling, fK8 2et or email
[email protected]. all entries will be entered in the
prize draw. See website for competition rules. the draw will take
place on 12 april, 2010.
name:
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fOcus faCtS
SpRING 2010
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it’s a challenge facing city and town centres across
the country at the moment: how to keep shopping
streets attractive and dynamic while a sizeable
number of shops lie vacant.
to come up with a solution Stirling’s City Centre
Manager, andy Kennedy, has been trying something
new as part of the work now underway to improve friar
Street and Baker Street.
“We decided to use the friar Street/Baker Street
project to experiment with window displays decorating
empty shop fronts, and to add vibrancy with life-sized
drawings of how the streets will look when the work is
completed,” andy told focus.
“it’s something several cities around the uK have done,
and it’s proved successful in helping make high streets
look as good as they can in the economic downturn.
“We’ve received many positive comments, and now
we’re hoping to have similar displays throughout the
city centre, beginning with King Street, to make sure
Stirling is looking its best in time to welcome local
people and visitors throughout the spring and summer
months.
“in the meantime we’ll
continue to take every
opportunity to encourage new
businesses to flourish here.”
A bright business future for Keith
Stirling’s Business ambassadors have pledged to
spread the word about all Stirling has to offer as
a great place to live, work, study and visit:
• graham’s family Dairy • norbord ltd • Capita
life & Pensions • Ca Models • tradstocks • outside now • united auctions • ogilvie group
ltd • iona Crawford • Scotbeef limited
• aurora hotels & resorts
Help us
address:
tel no:
andy says Watch this space
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Sign up to save a life By Dr Mark Worsley, nHS Forth Valley
over recent years there has been a steady increase in the number of patients on transplant waiting lists. and over the same period the supply of organs available for transplant has diminished slightly, meaning a widening gap between demand and supply.
last year a Department of health working group recommended aiming to increase the supply of available organs by 50% over 5 years. one strand of this is for hospitals to identify all potential donors among their dying patients – ‘making organ donation usual rather than unusual’.
another strand would be to improve rates of consent for donation among the general population. at present 33% of the Scottish population are on the organ Donation register. We know that from dying patients, consent rates of 91% can be achieved among those who were on the register, compared with a consent rate of 56% from the general population.
Clearly, there is potential to improve the supply of donated organs if we can raise awareness and increase the number of forth valley residents who are on the
register.
text Donate 84118 or phone 0300 123 23 23find out about registering atwww.organdonation.nhs.uk
until she was 19 Stirling Council hr Policy Manager
Pamela forsyth had normal vision. But one day
while at university she realised she couldn’t see the
board clearly, and, assuming she needed glasses,
went for an eye test. this indicated that there
was something unusual, and Pamela was referred
to hospital where she was diagnosed with an eye
condition called kerataconis, or conical cornea.
“Kerataconis is a degenerative
disorder of the eye, affecting
about one in every thousand people,”
Pamela’s Storyexplains Pamela. “for some people it can be corrected
with glasses or specially fitted contact lenses. But for
others, like me, a cornea transplant may be needed.
“i had surgery which replaced my own cornea with a
donor cornea. i’m very grateful that someone thought
about being a donor and chose to sign the organ
donation register. My eyesight has been saved because
they did.
“you never know when it might be someone you love
who needs a transplant to save their sight - or their life, so
please think seriously about becoming an organ donor.”
you never know when it
might be someone you love
17
Financial inclusion: fighting fuel poverty
need to brush up work skills?
Call Marianne eik on 01786 432360
aDvIcE oFFIcERS REcEIvE THEIR TRaINING cERTIFIcaTES.
if you feel you could benefit from
workplace training to improve your
skills – whether it, writing, numbers,
english or more specialised skills – the
new aSPire programme may be able
to help.
“aSPire offers to source and fund
tailored training for employees
wishing to improve core skills,
employees struggling with workplace
change, migrant workers and
employees with health issues or
disabilities – free of charge,” says
Project co-ordinator Marianne eik.
“if you are an employer with a
member of staff who needs help,
please get in touch as well.”
the project runs until august 2011
and is funded by Stirling Council and
the european Social fund lowlands
and uplands Scotland Programme
2007.
Contact Marianne eik on 01786
432360 or email [email protected].
uk
A thank you from the Scottish
national Blood Transfusion Service
the Scottish national Blood transfusion
Service (SnBtS) requires 1,000
donations every day. our ability to
meet demand for blood depends on
voluntary blood donations. SnBtS
holds over 1000 blood donating
sessions every year in workplaces and
other venues.
the first donating session in Stirling
took place in 1960 and to date almost
90,000 volunteers have attended.
ASPIRe to reach your potential
fuel poverty happens when people
spend more than 10% of the
household’s available income on
paying gas or electricity bills or
feeding the meter. living in fuel
poverty can seriously affect health
and wellbeing.
Stirling Council’s advice Services
and housing Services have already
helped local people claim over £1m
in benefit entitlement, helping ease
the burden.
further help on tackling fuel
poverty is now available after a
number of officers successfully
completed a City and guilds training
course. for more information tel
advice Services 01786 442460;
email [email protected]
SnBtS visit many surrounding areas
including Callander, Bannockburn,
Killearn, Bridge of allan and
Bonnybridge.
there are also donating sessions
arranged for local schools. St
Modan’s, for example, will have its
second donating session this year.
at workplaces like Stirling Council
we have welcomed over 8,000
volunteers in almost 40 years.
a heartfelt thank you goes to all of
our volunteers and local organisers.
years of giving
maRIaNNE EIk
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Common repair common senseMany homeowners living in
tenements and tower blocks across
Scotland can run into difficulties
when trying to coordinate
and organise repairs between
neighbours, landlords and tenants.
So to help owners understand
their responsibilities and the
law on repairs and maintenance
to tenements, Consumer focus
Scotland has published the second
edition of a guide called Common
repair, Common Sense.
The easy-to-read guide covers key
issues faced by owners, including:
• managing tenements, including
dealing with property managers
and factors
• managing repairs and building
maintenance
• paying for repairs
• dealing with difficulties such as
disagreements or payment
problems
• where to get further advice.
the guide is available online at
www.consumerfocus-scotland.
org.uk or from Consumer focus
Scotland tel 0141 226 5261
email mail@consumerfocus-
scotland.org.uk
Have your say...on local housingWorK haS Begun on a neW loCal houSing Strategy for
the Stirling area that Will taKe uS uP to 2015.
it will look at the housing needs of existing and future
households, and at improving public and private sector housing,
making sure that it is in good repair and energy efficient.
Other issues to be covered include:
• meeting the needs of people who have particular housing
needs, for example people with disabilities and women
fleeing domestic violence
• taking steps to make sure that the Council can meet the
Scottish government’s requirement that by 2012 all homeless
people who are not intentionally homeless will be provided
with permanent accommodation.
Public consultations on the strategy are taking place in april, May
and June.
...on future developmenta Stirling local Development Plan for the next 20 years is being
prepared. the first stage in the process is the publication of a
Main issues report, which will contain one or more alternative
proposals for you to comment on.
Public consultation will take place in May and June, and will
include a local Development Plan roadshow visiting different
communities.
...and on open spacesas a part of our consultations we will be asking communities how
they use and value local open spaces.
Keep an eye on www.stirling.gov.uk/localdevplan, local press,
notices and newsletters for details about the consultations and
how to get involved. You can also comment about your local
parks and greenspaces at www.greenstat.org.uk
read the guide at
www.consumerfocus-scotland.org.uk
Check to make sure you’re on the
electoral register and can vote.
19
are you regiStereD?
a uK Parliamentary election must
be held before 3rd June 2010 and
a snap election is a possibility, so
it’s worth remembering that all
applications to vote by post and to
register to vote must be received by
11 working days before polling day.
it’s important that all eligible
electors check that they are
registered to vote now. if you
know you will want to use a postal
vote please apply now, rather than
waiting for the deadline to arrive.
you can check the latest register of
electors and obtain forms to register
to vote and to apply to vote by post
in your local library. you can also
contact the electoral registration
officer:
telephone 01786 892289
fax 01786 892255
email Stirling@centralscotland-vjb.
gov.uk
PointS aBout PoStal voteS
there are a few key things to
remember if you decide you would
like to vote by postal vote this
election.
• Mark a cross (X) in the box on the
right hand side of the ballot paper
opposite the name of
the candidate you are voting for.
vote for one candidate only.
• Complete the postal voting
statement by signing it and adding
your date of birth. if you don’t
your vote will not be counted.
• if you are not able to sign your
name you can apply to the electoral
registration officer for a waiver
(see contact details above).
• Send the completed ballot paper
and postal voting statement back
to the returning officer as soon
as possible inside the envelopes
provided.
• full instructions will be provided
with your postal vote. if you have
any queries about voting by post,
please don’t hesitate to phone the
returning officer’s helpline number
- 01786 443301 or 442759
Stirling CounCil’S eleCtionS teaM iS reSPonSiBle for
organiSing eleCtion Day in the Stirling area When it CoMeS.
Stirling foCuS Went BehinD the SCeneS to finD out hoW their
WorK iS going
Poll position✗The Council’s Election Team visited Wellgreen
Care Home to give residents advice on how to
complete their postal votes when they arrive.
polling day details and
other election information
will be up on the council’s
website.
for postal vote advice
call 01786 443301
SpRING 2010
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The climate’s right for changeCLiMATE CHAngE HAS COnSTAnTLY BEEn in THE nEWS in rECEnT
MOnTHS, WiTH THE Un COnFErEnCE in COpEnHAgEn, inACCUrACiES
in SOME CLiMATE rESEArCH pApErS, OnE OF THE COLDEST UK WinTErS
On rECOrD AnD FUrTHEr EViDEnCE FrOM ACrOSS THE gLOBE OF A
WArMing pLAnET.
the vast body of climate science still
shows that climate change resulting
from human activities is real and
that it presents a massive challenge
to us all.
Stirling Council aims to meet that
challenge by cutting our energy use
over the coming years - reducing
both emissions of greenhouse
gases and our costs. this will be
monitored through our Carbon
Management Programme, displaying
energy performance certificates in
Council buildings, and, from this april,
participating in the Carbon reduction
Commitment.
We will also be reviewing how best to
deliver our services in response to the
predicted changes in our climate, and
working with partner organisations to
raise awareness of the issues.
More details at www.stirling.gov.uk/
sustainable/climate_change
the Council now has 8 pool bikes for staff to use as an alternative
to driving when making short journeys.
“using the bikes helps cut down on car use and emissions and can save time as there is no need to look for parking at your destination,” says transport Planning officer isla Campbell.
“a new cycle compound has also been provided at the Council’s viewforth hQ to store the pool bikes. it’s available for staff who cycle to work, along with lockers and shower facilities.
improvements are also being made to other council workplaces.”
these measures are all part of the Council’s travel Plan which aims to cut down on car use and encourage more sustainable travel. funding assistance for the travel plan measures has been given by tactran, the tayside and Central Scotland regional transport Partnership.
if you would like more information on sustainable travel in the Stirling area please email
Pool Bikes
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kERRY FRom BaNNockBuRN aT oLD STIRLING BRIDGE - oNE oF THE LaNDmaRkS THaT WILL BE TuRNING oFF THE LIGHTS FoR EaRTH HouR 2010
Switch off your lights
for Earth Hour to show you
care about climate change
Earth Hour 201027th March, 8.30pm
the earth hour campaign aims to unite the
world’s people to demonstrate their concern
about climate change by switching off their
lights for an hour.
as in 2009, Stirling Council will be taking
part, and encouraging others to join us.
find out more at
www.earthhour.wwf.org.uk
Sydney opera house, the Pyramids
and Big Ben have all taken part
Upcoming Dates for your diaryStirling Farmers’ MarketMaxwell Place, Stirling
every second Saturday of the
month, 9 am – 2pm
15 – 23 May Biodiversity Week
www.biodiversityscotland.gov.uk
17 - 21 MayWalk to School Week
www.walktoschool.org.uk
12 – 20 JuneBike Week
www.bikeweek.org.uk
24 July – 1 Augustparks Week
www.loveparksweek.org.uk
SeptemberEuropean Mobility Week
includes Car free Day
(22nd)
www.mobilityweek-europe.
org
novembernational Tree Week, www.
treecouncil.org.uk
in earth hour!
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Criminal Justice
The Environmental Health
Team gives advice to food
businesses as well as residents.
profile
KAReN: THE FouR ‘c’S aRE cRucIaL IN THE kITcHEN.Paying back
“unpaid work
placements in the
community can help
offenders learn new work
skills to improve their
employabilty.”
to communities
CoMMunity ServiCe iS aBout offenDerS “pAYing BACK” CoMMunitieS
for their CriMeS By Doing unPaiD WorK to the Benefit of loCal
PeoPle.
“During the exceptionally bad
weather at the turn of the year
we discussed with the Council
where these efforts should be targeted
to help those in most need,” says helen
grinly, Criminal Justice team leader.
“in just eight days Community Service
teams clocked up 308 hours of snow
and ice clearance work around the
Stirling area. they worked in cemeteries,
clearing paths before internments, and
also cleared the pavements in some
sheltered housing complexes.”
the local scheme has been involved in a
wide range of projects in the past year.
examples include:
• litter picking in the national Park
• painting over graffiti as part of a
new local initiative with the police,
community wardens and others
• working for the Salvation army, the
greenroutes Project, Braendam house
and the Buchlyvie Wildlife Project
• environmental projects suggested by
community councils.
paYBack: aT WoRk oN cEmETERY paTHS
Do you have an idea
for a community clean-up
project to improve your
local area? You can let
us know by filling in a
payback form at
www.stirling.gov.uk/
payback.
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Criminal Justice
to communities
paYBack: aT WoRk oN cEmETERY paTHS
get in tOucHFor more information, or to ask for
our help with a community project,
please contact:
helen grinly or norman gilmour,
Criminal Justice Service,
first floor, Wolfcraig Building,
1 Dumbarton road, Stirling, fK8 2lQ.
tel 01786 463812
the colourful Buy local guide
and map of places to enjoy
fine locally-produced food and
drink in and around the loch
lomond and the trossachs
national Park has been re-printed
for 2009/10 with more
businesses included, such as
Monachyle Mhor in Balquhidder,
where chef Jade van-Der-Spuy
makes a point of serving local
produce.
the map-guide shows where
producers are located and where
Farm shops, farmers market stalls, restaurants and cafes, delicatessens and mail order companies ...
you can sample their goods.
there’s also information on each
outlet, the range of produce,
opening hours, and website and
contact details.
the guide has been reprinted
with support from Stirling Council
and loch lomond & the trossachs
national Park authority.
Copies are available from
Viewforth and Visitor
information Centres across
the area.
Delicious reasons to buy local
cHEF JaDE SERvES LocaL
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Psychologists have found
that the single most
important thing you can do
to stop the symptoms of
anxiety and depression in
children, and also in adults,
is to help people to change
how they think.
the frienDS programme aims to
reduce anxiety and depression in
children between the ages of 4 and 17.
it helps children develop more positive
thinking styles and increases their self-
esteem.
in a project funded by the Scottish
government, Stirling Council has been
running frienDS groups in a number of
primary and secondary schools over the
last 3 years.
it has also trained over 570 teachers,
psychologists, social workers, health
professionals and voluntary agency
staff from all across Scotland to run
these groups in their own places of
work.
Principal educational Psychologist, Jenni
Barr, explained:
“We have also been trialling fun
frienDS, the younger version of
frienDS, in a small number of nurseries
here in Stirling, too.
“fun frienDS involves helping children
between the ages of 4 and 7 recognise
the signs their bodies give them
when they are getting anxious or sad.
learning relaxation techniques helps
them calm their bodies down, change
their unhelpful, pessimistic thoughts
into helpful, optimistic thoughts and,
in conjunction with their parents, to
Friends can helpchildren cope with anxietyBy Jenni Barr, Principal educational Psychologist
it iS eStiMateD that arounD 20% of ChilDren have anXiety
SyMPtoMS that interfere With their Quality of life.
pIcTuRE poSED BY moDELS
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have you thought aBout Paying your CounCil taX By
DireCt DeBit?
25
“70% of local households are doing just that,” says Margaret Campbell, Service Manager. “it’s cost-effective, efficient and couldn’t be simpler to set up. you can choose to pay weekly, fortnightly, four-weekly or monthly. if you opt for monthly, payments can be made over 10 months on 1st or 17th of the month, or over 12 months on 1st, 17th or 28th of the month.”
Direct debit reduces costs for the Council – meaning it reduces costs for council tax payers.
please visit www.stirling.gov.uk and click on Do it Online, phone 01786 443210 or fill in the form included with your council tax bill.
the Council recently changed the date that the first payment of council tax is due from 15 april to 1 april. this brings us into line with most other Scottish councils, and allows 15 more days a year for payment and collection. this change won’t affect people who pay by direct debit.
Direct debitPay by
develop Step Plans to break down big
worries into small, achievable steps.
the programme uses lots of play-
based and fun activities to teach these
concepts.
“We need to consider the best way of
ensuring that the number of children
showing anxiety symptoms does not
continue to rise. frienDS would appear
to offer our children a fun way of doing
this.”
for further information on frienDS
please contact:
Stirling Council educational Psychology
Service 4 Woodside road raploch
Stirling fK8 1rf tel: 01786 442530 or
fax: 01786 442946 or
e-mail: [email protected]
www.frienDSforlifescotland.org
www.pathwayshrc.com.au
the most cost-effective
Fun Friends help
children learn relaxation
techniques and ways to
turn unhelpful thoughts
into helpful, optimistic
ones.
fOcus faCtS
way for the Council to
pIcTuRE poSED BY moDELS
maRGaRET aND TEam caN HELp You SIGN up FoR
DIREcT DEBIT paYmENTS
collect council tax.
there are more details about
the friends and fun friends
programmes, research and training
on the website.
www.friendsforlifescotland.org
Members of Stirling youth voice,
along with our area’s current
Members of the Scottish youth
Parliament (MSyPs) Zoe taylor
and gary airnes, have been
working with local young people
to promote Stirling youth voice,
and the Council’s youth Services
have also signed a partnership
agreement with the initiative.
Could you be a Youth Voice representative or Member?
Youth Voice representatives are
young volunteers aged 14-25
who represent the views of
other young people
and work to create
positive changes for the young people
of Stirling. they are supported by the
youth voice network and youth Services.
as a youth voice representative you’ll
have access to training opportunities,
decision-making structures and other
events where you can be heard.
“We’re hoping to recruit a large
network of youth voice representatives,
so that every school, youth group,
community and loads of other groups
and organisations have appropriate
representation for young people,” says
Zoe taylor MSyP. “it’s a really rewarding
thing to get involved in – and lots of
fun, too.”
Youth Voice Members are young
people from first year of high school
up to the age of 25 who become
part of the youth voice network and
have the opportunity to speak up on
Just turned 18?
Make sure your voice is heard by
voting in the general election.
Stirling youth voiCe enCourageS young PeoPle to have their
Say in loCal, national anD international DeCiSion-MaKing
StruCtureS anD voiCe their vieWS, neeDS anD iSSueS.
Youth Voice
cOntact
26
issues important
to them. “to
become a youth
voice member
all you need to
do is complete a
registration form,”
says gary airnes
MSyP. “then you
can get involved
as much or as
little as you like –
whatever you’re comfortable with.”
Vote vote vote
an election will be held in the week
beginning 22 March to elect a new
Member of Scottish youth Parliament
for Stirling to replace Zoe, who has
come to the end of her term.
“i’ll be mentoring the new MSyP
until June to show him or her the
ropes, and then it’s back to focusing
on my university studies,” says Zoe.
“it’s been a fantastic experience, and
a privilege, and i wish our new MSyP
all the very best.”
Stirling Youth Voice
if you live, work or go to school,
college or university in the Stirling
Council area, are between 12-25
years old, and would like to get
involved, please get in touch.
Zara Kitson, youth Services,
tel 01786 432211 or email
to get in touch with your MSyPs:
Zoe: [email protected]
gary: [email protected]
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27
BET
TER
SERv
IcES
Child Protection
b
Stirling Council wants our
area to be a place where all
children and young people are
safe, enjoy good health, and have
access to a wide range of positive
experiences and opportunities to
achieve their potential.
bbbb
bb
the Safety of our children
is everyone’s responsibility.
if you have any concerns for a child
or young person, seek advice and
support from:
During the day:
Social Work
initial assessment team
01786 471177
Child Protection Co-ordinator
01786 443493
police
01786 456000
Health
Contact your local health centre and
speak to your health visitor or gP.
reporter to the Children’s panel
authority reporter
01786 476400
Out of hours:
emergency Duty team
after 5 pm and at weekends
Social Work
01786 470500 or 0845 277 7000
police
01786 456000
in March her Majesty’s inspectorate
of education returns to Stirling to
inspect services to protect children
as part of a second round of such
inspections throughout Scotland.
the inspectors will be in Stirling
for two separate weeks looking at
case files and other records and
meeting key staff from all the
partner organisations, including
Stirling Council, forth valley nhS,
Central Scotland Police, the Scottish
Children’s reporters administration
and the voluntary and independent
sectors. they will also meet
children and families who have
been in contact with child
protection services here.
How well do we protect children in the Stirling area?
Inspectors will meet children and
families who have been in contact with
child protection services.
if you would like more information
about this inspection, or if you have
any questions about child protection
services in Stirling, please get in
touch with:
anne Salter, lead officer,
Child Protection
Stirling Child Protection Committee
tel 01786 443379
email [email protected]
fOcus faCtSread the latest issue of the Stirling Child Protection Committee newsletter online at stirling.gov.uk/cpcnewsletter.pdf
SpRING 2010
STIR
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28
Learn more about your
councillors on our website
www.stirling.gov.uk/councillors
Dates of meetings are online at
www.stirling.gov.uk/meetings
You can also contact us by phone at 0845 277 7000.
Cllr Tony Ffinch
Cllr paul Owens
labour [email protected]
Cllr Fergus Wood
Ward 1 trossachs and teith
Ward 2 forth and endrick
Cllr Alistair Berrill
Cllr graham Lambie
Cllr Colin O’Brien
Citizen moira
Join our Sounding Board
www.stirling.gov.uk/soundingboard
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Moira grahaM, Chair of the Cornton vale over 21’S PriSon
viSiting CoMMittee, iS JuSt one of SCoreS of Stirling area
CitiZenS Who Serve on CoMMitteeS, foruMS anD PanelS to
helP MaKe a DifferenCe to the liveS of loCal PeoPle.
“it’s a really worthwhile
experience,” says Moira.
“Working with the visiting
Committee lets me make
a contribution as one of a
team, acting on behalf of the
community and dealing with
issues on behalf of some of
the most vulnerable women
in society. it can be difficult,
but i feel privileged to be part
of these families’ lives, and
hopefully to be part of decisions
that will lead to good outcomes
for these young people.”
Stirling Council needs more people to
come forward to serve on panels and
forums, including:
• Social Work Complaints review
Panel
• Parental appeals Panel
• Prison visiting Committee – over
21s
• Safeguarders Panel
• legal representatives for relevant
Persons
• licensing forum
• Stirling area local access forum.
if you’re interested, please contact
Michelle MacDonald, Committee
officer, on 01786 442599 or email
We’re always keen to refresh our citizens’ panel the
Stirling Sounding Board to make sure the voices of
citizens are being heard .
Broomridge
Cambusbarron
Braehead
Cornton
raploch
29
your Councillors
Learn more about your
councillors on our website
www.stirling.gov.uk/councillors
Dates of meetings are online at
www.stirling.gov.uk/meetings
You can also contact us by phone at 0845 277 7000.
Ward 3 Dunblane and Bridge of allan
Cllr Callum Campbell
Cllr Colin Finlay
labour [email protected]
Cllr David goss
Cllr graham Houston
Ward 4 Castle
Cllr John Hendry
Cllr graham reed
Cllr Jim Thomson
Cllr Corrie McChord
labour [email protected]
Cllr Steven paterson
Cllr ian Brown
lib Dem [email protected]
Ward 6 Stirling east
Cllr Margaret Brisley [email protected]
Cllr Alasdair Macpherson [email protected]
Ward 7 Bannockburn (Bannockburn, Cowie, Plean area.)
fintry
STirLing
Ward 5 Stirling West
Cllr neil Benny
Cllr Scott Farmer
Cllr Andrew Simpson
St ninians
Cllr Violet Weir [email protected]
STIR
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stirling.gov.uk/thepeak
S C O T L A N D ’ S H E A R T
S C O T L A N D ’ S H E A R T
S C O T L A N D ’ S H E A R T
S C O T L A N D ’ S H E A R T
30
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Stirling Council, viewforth, Stirling fK8 2et phone: 0845 277 7000email: [email protected] text: 0771 799 0001 web: www.stirling.gov.uk
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a special day filled with family
activities is planned including fun
sessions in the pool, ice discos,
dance classes, obstacle courses and
much , much more.
“it’s hard to believe that this
building has only been open for
12 months,” says centre manager
linda Mann. “right from the start,
we seem to have become a big
part of so many people’s daily,
weekly and monthly routines.
“it’s been lovely to see so much
enjoyment on so many levels.
the Peak is such a rewarding and
inspiring place to work in.” Since
opening, the Peak has attracted
over 600,000 users, with people
and teams of all abilities taking part in
a broad range of sports and activities in
the swimming pool, on the ice rink, on
the climbing wall, in the gym or in the
fitness classes.
the Peak is open 6 am - 10 pm
Monday to fridays, 7 am - 8pm
Saturdays and 8 am - 8 pm Sundays.
“one year on and the
enthusiasm for sport and
physical activity continues to
grow - and it’ll increase even
more as we get closer
to the olympics in 2012 and
the Commonwealth games in
2014,” adds linda.
MiChael anDerSon iS one
of the PeaK’S Many SuCCeSS
StorieS.
Michael, who works for Capita life & Pensions at Craigforth, joined the gym last May in an effort to get fit and lose weight.
“i can’t thank the instructors at the Peak enough for all the motivation and inspiration they have given me,” he says. “With their help, through using the gym and going to a variety of fitness classes, i have reached my target weight. My life has improved so much, and i have never been happier with the
way i am.”
A year on, a life changed
WoRk-ouTS aT THE pEak HavE
maDE a BIG DIFFERENcE FoR
mIcHaEL
Happy 1st Birthday to
the PeaK at Stirling SPortS village CeleBrateS itS firSt BirthDay
on SaturDay 3 aPril
Check out activities and classes at
Enter our competition on page 4 to win a
yEAr’s frEE mEmBErsHip for 2 at
