Forth Valley & Lomond CLLD

Anyone looking to recruit staff might like to take a stall at the refugee career fair on 18th June in Stirling. Organised by Forth Valley Welcome it will no doubt have a good turnout!

Forth Valley Food and Drink

📢 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐠𝐞𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠! 📢

Are you an employer, training provider, social enterprise, or volunteering organisation based in Stirling, Clackmannanshire, or Falkirk?

Or do you know someone who might be interested? Please help us spread the word!

We’re delighted to announce our second 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐠𝐞𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐫 in Stirling!

This is a great opportunity to celebrate Refugee Week in Scotland (15–21 June 2026) and:

✅ Promote organisations and vacancies
✅ Connect with motivated people from refugee backgrounds
✅ Support inclusive recruitment and community engagement

📅Thursday, 18 June 2026
🕚 11:00 am – 1:30 pm
📍 Stirling Baptist Church

The event is organised by Forth Valley Welcome with support from Scottish Refugee Council, Edinburgh Napier University, and the Stirling & Clackmannanshire's Employer Engagement Forum.

🔗 To book a stall, please register here: https://forms.office.com/e/24enp2mghZ

Let’s help build a stronger, more welcoming Forth Valley together 💚💙

📣📣 FVL CLLD is now open for applications to our 2026-27 programme.
This year the emphasis is on revenue grant funding, although some small scale capital grants are also available.
☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️
Projects need to be community led and deliver to one or more of our strategic priorities
- sustainable economic actions
- resilient and smart communities
- climate actions and clmate emergency
- partnership working
- addressing inequalities and social inclusion
📋✅
All projects must complete by March 2027 and must take place in the rural Forth Valley and Loch Lomond area
💰💷
Grants available:
Up to £30,000 for revenue
Up to £15,000 for capital
To apply, submit your Expression of Interest through www.fvl.org.uk before 03/05/26 with deadline for full applications 10/05/26

Forth Valley Leader :: Home CLLD gives local communities the power to tackle their own, local challenges. By building knowledge and skills, supporting new ideas and encouraging co-operation, CLLD helps to create viable and resilient communities.

⏳ SRITC's April Café

Don't forget to register for our April Virtual Café & Chat, where the theme will be Transport in the Community.

Our guest speaker, John Carr, Director at the Association of Transport Co-ordinating Officers (ATCO), will share case studies highlighting rural, community-led groups that have overcome significant challenges to develop successful and sustainable local transport services.

We will also hear from Mick Eyre, Development Officer of the Tighnabruaich District Development Trust, who will share an update on the community’s recent acquisition of the local petrol station. This case offers valuable insight into how community ownership of key assets can help sustain essential services.

24 April
10:00am-11:30am (GMT)
Online
➡️ Register: www.ruralmobility.scot/events/events-2/sritc-virtual-cafe/apr-2026-sritc-virtual-cafe-byoc

And don't forget to BYOC (bring your own cake)!

📣 If knowing a little more about Stirling’s lesser known heritage would be useful for your business or community group then you should attend this workshop with Murray Cook on Wednesday 1 April at Cowanes Hospital in Stirling

RSPB Events Come along to one of our events to enjoy quality time in the natural world and see conservation in action. Nature is in crisis. Together we can save it.

Super celebration event last night organised by the FVL YLAG to celebrate this year’s Youth Impact Fund projects. £19k was awarded to 15 projects and we were hearing about the tremendous achievements of each of them. Hats off to all the speakers, no mean feat to an audience of over 60 people . Great event, well organised and fabulously delivered - congratulations
More details (and better photos) to follow.

These sessions are being run by the Rebel Business School and are free to attend - and you don't have to be based in Callander either.
Event: How to Start a Business for Free at Callander
Date: Wednesday March 3rd, 2026
Time: 10 a.m. to 12 pm
Location: Callander Youth Project Trust (CYP)
Registration Link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1982967756941?aff=oddtdtcreator

If you could offer an internship to a young rural person starting out on their career, please get in touch. We pay 10 days of their time but you host and mentor them through a project for you.

We've loved working with our Forth Valley Youth Local Action Group interns! They supported us with our SustainAble for All project with Forth Valley Sensory Centre by interviewing our local climate action projects and discussing sight and hearing loss accessibility in environmentally friendly settings.

With thanks to the Net Zero Scotland Climate Hubs Program and Forth Valley & Lomond CLLD.

Read more about our brilliant interns via the new blog up on our website:

https://felscotland.org/news-and-events/turning-passion-into-action-internships-with-fel-scotland/

🧐 Did you know that the Scottish Government are currently consulting on their Climate Change Plan for Scotland?

⛈️ We think it’s such an important topic for the FVL area that the LAG and Youth LAG held a joint Climate Conversation yesterday - which will become our consultation response - hosted by and led by Michaela, one of our fabulous YLAG members.

🚌 Our session focused on the transport element of the Climate Change Plan - which is a huge issue for our area.

❓If your group would be interested in a Climate Conversation FEL Scotland can host this for you too - just get in touch!

Looking to support local businesses for Christmas ?
Forth Valley Food and Drink has a comprehensive directory of local food and drink businesses who can provide you with inspiration!

FLAVOURS OF FORTH VALLEY: A FOOD LOVER'S CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE - Forth Valley Food & Drink Network Explore the best Forth Valley has to offer with these flavour filled festive food and drink ideas. Whether you’re gifting, feasting or celebrating, our guide has everything to make the season merry and bright.