Sensory charity’s Winter Fayre raises more than £2,500 to help those with sight and hearing loss
Forth Valley Sensory Centre logo.
A sensory charity has raised more than £2,500 to go towards supporting people with visual and hearing impairments at its annual Winter Fayre.
Forth Valley Sensory Centre (FVSC) organised the event in Falkirk last week to celebrate its work and links with the community, as well as raise vital funds and thank volunteers. There was a special performance from the Sensory Singers, a choir made up of people either suffering from sight loss themselves or whose loved one are blind or visually impaired. The choir stole the show singing festive classics and even got the audience involved in a few of their renditions.
Sensory Singers choir standing in rows singing.
Stalls selling handmade crafts, plants and hand-knitted items were set up at the centre, which supports people who are deaf or blind or have sight and hearing loss in Falkirk, Stirling and Clackmannanshire. Centre staff got into the Christmas spirit by dressing up in festive fancy dress, including elves and Mrs Claus, and tickets were sold for a tombola and raffle with hamper prizes available that were donated by local businesses and organisations. There were information stalls as well as stalls selling delicious home baking and knitted crafts, created by centre users.
Four people behind a tomobola with various prizes on tables including chocolates, toiletries and games.
FVSC has supported people with sensory loss and their families who live in central Scotland, including Stirling and Clackmannanshire, for more than 15 years. It acts as a community hub, offering support, advice, practical help, and wellbeing activities.
The centre has around 20,000 visitors every year and is funded by a mix of grant income, donations and room hire charges. The charity was awarded £200,000 for three years from the National Lottery Community Fund to tackle isolation and loneliness caused by sensory loss, and these new services are starting to take shape in community venues and hubs throughout the area to increase access and availability. Its overall objective is to help people who have sensory loss to live as independently as possible, through wellbeing activities, groups, and classes, including access to IT and tech support, cookery classes, visits and excursions, and sign and lip-reading classes. It also offers volunteering opportunities to help boost the skills and confidence of participants.
Peter from Stirling is one of the people who came along. He comes to the centre every week, is a keen volunteer and particularly enjoys the art group.
Peter from Stirling“Thank you to the centre for organising the fayre, it was absolutely brilliant and I loved being there.”
Jacquie Winning MBE, Forth Valley Sensory Centre chief executive“Our Winter Fayre was a huge success, and we are delighted that so many people came along to support us and celebrate the festive season with us. It was a wonderful day where lots of fun was had and really brought together the community. We would like to extend a big thank you to our lovely FVSC volunteers, everyone who donated to the bake sale, the local businesses who supported our raffle so generously and, of course, to everyone who came out on the day. All the money raised will support thousands of people throughout the Forth Valley area, helping them live independent lives doing the things they love.”
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