News
FAMILIES living with dementia in Dunblane can benefit from a programme of community activities thanks to a funding boost.
From Stirling News website
The Dunblane Development Trust has been given £20,000 from the Life Changes Trust. It will work alongside a range of other organisations and businesses as part of the Dementia Friendly Dunblane Initiative. The money will help to develop the services and activities that have already been established, along with creating new ones based on what people with dementia say would be most meaningful to them. This will include the continued expansion of dementia friendly activities such as inter-generational engagement with local schools, music memory activities with charity Playlist for Life, encouraging local businesses to become dementia friendly and developing Dunblane as a dementia friendly community.
Barbara Allan, chairperson of Dunblane Development Trust, said: “We are very excited to receive this grant which will allow us to continue our work with the range of local organisations who have already committed to being part of Dementia Friendly Dunblane. "This will allow us to reach more people living with dementia and their families and make a real difference to their lives.” Anna Buchanan, director of the Life Changes Trust dementia programme, said: “This project is aiming to be truly community based and community led. "The Dunblane Development Trust are encouraging everyone in the local area to get involved in making the community one which is not only safe for people with dementia, but inclusive, empowering and stimulating. "The aim of this funding is to bring awareness about dementia across Dunblane and give people with dementia and carers opportunities that help them thrive rather than just survive.”
The project will also support and develop the Braeport Memory Cafe, working hand in hand with local volunteers and businesses to reach even more families affected by dementia. The café will be developed in consultation with people with dementia and their carers, so that the programme of events reflects their wishes and interests, including special and seasonal events. Dunblane Development Trust will also work with residents of the local residential home to provide opportunities to join in community activities, such as meeting friends at the memory cafe, attending lunch club at the Dunblane Centre, taking part in outdoor activities or attending church. Another phase of the project will focus on creating dementia friendly sports facilities such as tennis, golf and bowling clubs, and community groups such as Church Guilds and the Dunblane Centre Senior Citizens Club.
In addition to their normal opening hours of 1.30am - 4.30pm Mon to Sat, Dunblane Museum will also be open on Sundays throughout July & August from 2.00 - 4.00pm.
July exhibition is all about local people & celebrities including Hercules the Bear.
Find out more about the museum on their website : http://dunblanemuseum.org.uk/
We thought there were 6 defibrillators in Dunblane - but NO there are 14
Do you know of any others? If so, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Another Tilly Tearoom is Scotland’s Most Wanted Café
THE branch-out venture of a Tillicoultry café has last week scooped an accolade. Another Tilly Tearoom, in nearby Dunblane, won in the central region at the Scottish Café Awards before going on the clinch the Customer’s Most Wanted Café in Scotland for 2018. The original Clacks Tilly Tearoom also made the finals in the Most Welcoming Café category and staff from both ventures, under boss Nora Gilfillan, enjoyed a glitzy awards ceremony at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Glasgow. They even got a shout-out from Judy Murray on social media with Nora, who was delighted and surprised, adding: “Customers are loyal to both cafés and we would like to thank everybody who nominated us for these awards. “It means a lot that our customers took the time to do that and it is our friendly customers who make the tearooms so nice to work in.” The Dunblane tearoom opened in 2015, following in the footsteps of the business in the Hillfoots. Staff work closely together and across the two venues with the same menu and decorative theme – they are all about creating a friendly, welcoming and caring atmosphere, serving delicious food and brews with a smile.
From the Stirling Observer 27 June 2018
The Press Release from Holmehill Ltd
The community group that has been protecting Dunblane’s Holmehill from development for more than a decade was told on Thursday 7 June that Holmehill has a new owner – a local charity that is intent on maintaining and improving the area.
David Prescott, Chair of Holmehill Community Buyout said - ‘Over the last 13 years, the group has sought to secure this lovely green space for public access and has successfully opposed several planning applications to build over Holmehill. We are overjoyed that a newly established local charity has bought Holmehill, expressly for the benefit of the community. This is an exciting new phase for Holmehill and for all of Dunblane and we look forward to working with the new owners, who have committed themselves to involving the community in the future of Holmehill. They plan to start consulting on their plans in the next few months’.
Note for editors:
The Holmehill Community Buyout Group was formed in 2004 to buy Holmehill using the, then new, Land Reform legislation. In 2005, they took Scottish Ministers to court in a landmark case to assert our right to pursue community ownership of the land. Since then the group has contributed to work aimed at improving land reform legislation.
In 2005 Holmehill was acquired by local developer, Allanwater Developments, who produced a plan to build up to 50 houses. In response, the local community came together to resist this and to campaign for the retention of - what is seen locally as - an important green space in the heart of the Cathedral city.
Subsequent planning applications and appeals by Allanwater Developments were all refused and Holmehill has continued to be designated at Public Green Space in the Local Development Plans.
Contacts
David Prescott (Chair) This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 07944 680648
Volunteer Befrienders needed
Could you spare a couple of hours a week as a volunteer befriender?
We are looking for volunteer befrienders to build relationships with people living with the early stages of dementia in the Stirlingshire area. We match befrienders with people who have similar interests so they can be encouraged to pursue loved hobbies or supported so they can build the confidence they need to take up new hobbies. This might be visiting a garden centre, having a walk or even just having a coffee and chat in the person’s home for two hours per week (full training, ongoing support and expenses paid).
If you are interested, please contact Gisele at Town Break on (01786) 476797 or by email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Town Break is a Registered Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation SCO20526
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Now five fruit trees are damaged in Laigh Hills orchard
Article by Robert Fairnie from the Stirling Observer 9 May 2018
Article by Robert Fairnie from the Stirling Observer 18 April 2018
Two fruit trees have been stolen from a community orchard in Dunblane. Police are investigating after a Black Oliver cherry and a Sweet Prune damson were dug up and taken away by crooks last week. Those responsible would have had to cart the trees, complete with stake and protective netting, out of the park without being detected. A Clydeside apple tree was also pulled up and thrown over a nearby fence but has since been recovered and replanted. All three were introduced to the Laigh Hills by volunteers over a weekend in December as a community orchard, comprising 300 fruit trees in total, was created.
The £5000 project, which was led by the Friends of the Laigh Hills, was made possible thanks to the hard work of the community and funding from the Tesco Bags of Help grant scheme. Police visited the orchard after last week’s theft and they want anyone with information to come forward.
Alan Booth, of Dunblane Community Council, said: “That somebody would do this is disappointing for all those who gave up their time to help plant the trees. “We would urge users of the Laigh Hills to join Friends of the Laigh Hills group and notify us if they see anything unusual – be that things going wrong that need attention or new sightings of plants or animals that they want to share. “The good news is that the vast majority of the 300 trees we planted in December are now thriving.” The community orchard is thought to be one of the biggest of its kind in the area with a vast collection of trees planted to produce fruit in years to come. The trees came from a specialist fruit tree nursery near Perth and include Clydeside, Scot’s Bridget, Stirling Castle, Lemon Queen, Green Chisel, Gordon Castle and Black Oliver.
Mr Booth added: “The orchard will be a great asset, encouraging wildlife as well as producing fruit for all to enjoy. “It forms part of our plans to make the Laigh Hills a better place for people and wildlife.
“We are keen to add names to the Friends of the Laigh Hills group to take this forward, so anyone who is interested in getting involved, or just telling someone if they see something going wrong, please get in touch withy This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..” Members of the group are also hoping to embark on a project to plant wildflowers in the area in coming weeks too. Anyone with information on the fruit tree theft is encouraged to contact police on 101.