Forth Valley Sensory Centre

Newsletter – October 2023

Welcome from Jacquie Winning MBE, chief executive of FVSC

Hello and welcome to the latest issue of the Forth Valley Sensory Centre newsletter.
We are always delighted to share our work with MSPs, MPs and councillors and to help any
of your constituents who are experiencing sight or hearing loss.
We support thousands of people with hearing loss and/or sight loss across Forth Valley in
Falkirk, Stirling and Clackmannanshire.
FVSC provides opportunities, events, and support services for those in the deaf community
and people with visual impairments to help build their confidence and allow them to live
more independently, while reducing social isolation.

Catch the latest on the Wee County Hub

Our new Sensory Service is now up and running and providing social activities and classes for
people with sensory loss in Clackmannanshire.
The Wee County Hub is available in various locations across Clackmannanshire and is open
to anyone in the area who has sensory loss and their families.
There are weekly social drop ins, free conversational BSL classes, free Lip-reading classes and
we can also replace hearing aid batteries for NHS users and provide information about local
audiology services.
In August, we held a successful open day and were pleased to welcome local MP John
Nicolson and explain more about what we do and how we can support his constituents.
Following this, we were grateful to see our work recognised at Westminster with an Early
Day Motion.
At the hub open day, there was a youth group pizza making class and games, Boccia with
Scottish Disability Sport, and an art class.
Free community ‘Voices Off’ conversational British Sign Language classes at Alloa Elim
Church Hall. Sessions take place every Wednesday from 6.30pm-7.30pm. Free Lip-reading
classes are available online at various times throughout the week. Those wishing to attend
are asked to register in advance by phoning 01324 590888.
Anyone living in Clackmannanshire who would like more information about the hub should
contact linseystocks@forthvalleysensorycentre.org.

Group spotlight – Sensory Singers Choir

Music boosts our mood and makes us feel good – and the Sensory Singers are here to help
those with hearing and sight impairments find their voice.
Led by choir leader Catriona Lang, the group meet every fortnight and sing a wide range of
musical styles.
Lyrics are provided in different formats for those who need them including large print or
braille.
Married couple Lawson and Chris Eades come along together and love being part of the
group.
Lawson said: “I love singing and enjoy our practices and public performances. It’s good to
meet up with like-minded people at our fortnightly rehearsals, where we have some fun,
laughter and sing our hearts out.
“Singing is good for everyone and always lifts my spirits.
Chris added: “I love being part of the choir as it helps me maintain my mental health and
wellbeing. I like that it’s an experience which Lawson and I can share.”
The group perform regularly and are currently practicing for our Winter Fayre on November
17, where they will perform in addition to Windsor Park School's Signing Choir.
They’ll also perform at Tesco in Camelon on December 4.
The Sensory Singers meet fortnightly on Mondays between 10.30am and noon.

Falkirk councillors visit FVSC in Camelon

We were delighted to welcome several Falkirk councillors – Cllr David Aitchison, Cllr Lorna
Binnie, Cllr Iain Sinclair, Cllr Brian McCabe and Cllr Laura Murtagh – to our centre to see first-
hand how we support people with sight and/or hearing loss in the area.
Centre users Christine Moroney and Maureen Smith spoke about their experiences of living
with blindness and hearing loss and shared how FVSC has helped them.
We also explained our work with our partners RNIB Scotland, RNID, Falkirk Health and Social
Care Partnership Sensory Team and NHS Forth Valley Access Team.

Hospitality staff get sensory awareness training to improve experience of people with
hearing loss
We gave staff at a top hotel in Dunblane specialist training to improve the experiences of
guests with hearing loss.
We delivered the training at the DoubleTree Dunblane Hydro hotel near Stirling.
The one-day course outlined how deafness impacts on people’s daily lives, and the
adjustments that can be made to meet their needs and make them feel more comfortable
during their stay.
It included deaf awareness training and a British Sign Language workshop to enable and
empower staff to support and welcome customers who have sensory loss.
The training sessions are one way that we work to improve the lives and experiences of
people with sight and hearing loss in Forth Valley.
FVSC delivers sensory awareness training to organisations both at the centre or by visiting
businesses.
For more information, please visit www.forthvalleysensorycentre.org/services/sensory-
awareness-training

Get ready for the festive Season with FVSC’s Winter Fayre
Our Winter Fayre is the perfect way to get into the festive spirit.
There will be performances from the Sensory Singers and a sign language sing a long with
children from Windsor Park School.
There will also be a chance to scoop a top prize luxury hamper in our raffle.
Last year, the event raised more than £1,600.
All funds raised will support our work to help people with sensory loss live their lives to the
full.
The fayre takes place on Friday, November 17, from 11am-2pm at our centre in our Falkirk.

Falkirk teachers raise nearly £2,000 for sensory loss charity

A group of teachers from a local school for deaf children have raised almost £2,000 to
support our work by completing the Edinburgh Kiltwalk.
Twelve teachers from Windsor Park School and Sensory Service in Falkirk took on the
gruelling 21-mile ‘Mighty Stride’ last month.
The school and centre work closely together, and teaching staff chose to collect donations
for us.
The money will make a difference to our services by helping us to reach even more local
people affected by sight loss and/or hearing loss and we are very grateful to all at Windsor
Park.
Amanda Walker, Windsor Park School headteacher, said: “Forth Valley Sensory Centre is a
much-valued partner to Windsor Park School and Sensory Service.
“It is hoped that the substantial sum raised will help the centre continue to provide positive
experiences for their wide range of deaf and/or visually impaired service users.”
Separately, a team from FVSC also took part in this year’s Edinburgh Kiltwalk.
The group, which included our chief executive Jacquie Winning and centre cook David Black,
raised more than £700.

New lipreading classes launch to help people with sight loss

We’ve launched a new online lip-reading course to support people with hearing loss.
The ten-week course is run by our experienced tutor Jill Bradshaw.
Jill has been teaching lipreading with us for five years and her classes have been hugely
popular.
The online format means the classes are accessible to everyone, especially people in rural
areas who would struggle to make it to class. It also allows people to fit their classes around
work and family life.
We have a separate Peer Support Group that meets independently from this group without
a tutor.
For more information, contact linseystocks@forthvalleysensorycentre.org

Volunteer spotlight: Peter Arkless

In each edition of our newsletter, we will feature one of our amazing volunteers to find out
more about their role at the Centre and get to know them better.
Peter Arkless started volunteering with FVSC five years ago. His primary role is driving the
minibus to collect people from Stirling and transport them to organised events. Peter also
helps with events at the Centre, and voice records articles from the Falkirk Herald
newspaper to be shared on FVSC’s Facebook page. Here, he explains why he loves
volunteering…

How did you come to start volunteering?

I retired in 2018, and living on my own, decided I wanted to give some of my time to help
people who were not as fortunate as myself. I wanted to give something back to the
community as well as get the enjoyment of being able to meet other folk and help them in
some small way.

Can you see the different it makes to Centre users?

I get great satisfaction from seeing the smiles I put on folks’ faces. I can appreciate the
enjoyment people get from getting out of their house and being in good company.

Describe FVSC in three words?

Professional, Friendly, Approachable.

What do you like to do when you’re not volunteering?

I enjoy walking and do some hillwalking. I also like going to my caravan at Rosneath, listening
to good music and, more recently, playing tennis. I also love going out on my motorbike.

What would you recommend about volunteering with FVSC?

You are working with very friendly, warm, and supportive people who do their utmost to
help in any way. It is a place where you can get fantastic support and discover new things
that can help you personally and improve your own wellbeing.