News

Aspergers Mark 2

9 young people with Asperger’s Syndrome worked together over 13 weeks to create an Education Toolkit for families, carers and educators to learn more about supporting and working with people who have Asperger’s Syndrome.

 If you would like a copy of the Asperger's Mark 2 DVD and toolkit please contact the PLUS office on 01786 450086 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

PLUS Appeal 2013

PLUS is Moving

PLUS will be moving on Tuesday 19th February to Broadleys Road, Springkerse Industrial Estate, Stirling, FK7 7SS. Please click on the link below for further information, and directions on how to find us.

Map of new office space

Our phone number will remain unchanged - 01786 450086. However if you have any difficulties contacting us on this number, please call or text 07775 619 574. This is our usual out of hours contact number, and we will be able to respond to any queries this way.

Many thanks for your patience.

 

 

PLUS' First Annual Don't Come Event

   2013 marks the 25^th anniversary of PLUS and the start of our campaign to raise £25,000. We are kicking off with our first annual “Don’t Come Event� – all of the feel-good charity supporting benefits with none of the hassle!

  Do you ever feel that instead of attending yet another fundraising event, you would rather stay at home, grab a quiet night and help out a really good cause by doing so? Then you should seriously consider (not) attending our “Don't Come Event�. The object of a “Don’t Come Event� is simple – there is no actual event, so don’t come along! All we need is for you to buy a ticket: no need to arrange transport, no need to buy a new outfit, no need to make small talk with anyone. With (no) rumours of a celebrity guest appearance, can you afford to miss out?!

The event invite can be downloaded here, but if you could spare a few minutes to make a ticket donation online here, you would be helping PLUS to provide support and care for another 25 years!

For more information, please get in touch with Teri on 01786 450086 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 

 

 

Were you founded in 1988?? If so... we need YOU!

 PLUS works across the Forth Valley providing children and young adults with disabilities the support they need to get out and have fun with people of their own age. This also gives parents some time to themselves. In 2013, PLUS will be celebrating its 25^th year delivering high quality services in the area.

 As part of our 25^th year celebrations, PLUS is planning 25 events – to raise awareness of our organisation and the positive impact we have on young people and their families. In addition to this we will soon be launching our 25^th Anniversary Fundraising Appeal which will form the foundations for PLUS to begin to realise our ambition of having our own purpose built premises, enabling us to provide support in a more effective and efficient way. Susan Rodger, Chief Executive Officer at PLUS said ‘2013 offers PLUS so many exciting opportunities, and it would be great to be able to share our celebrations across our community’.

To help us along the way, we are looking to set up a partnership with local businesses who will be able to support us in celebrating our achievements to date, and implementing our plans for the future. Support could be provided in a variety of ways – for example through workplace giving, volunteers time, financial support, taking part in fundraising activities, sharing professional skills and knowledge, running a fundraising event, joining our fundraising committee, provide raffle prizes… the list is endless!

One of PLUS’s core values is that everyone has a right to play, leisure and social opportunities - with an understanding that disabilities are no barrier to fun. If you agree, please get in touch with Susan on 01786 450086, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Support Lauren Bremner's Children in Need Rickshaw Challenge

After a lengthy recruitment and interview process, Stirling girl Lauren Bremner has been chosen to tackle a gruelling challenge as part of the BBC’s annual Children in Need fundraiser.

At the age of 11, Lauren was knocked down by a car. She spent six months in hospital and was left with brain damage, a broken hip, broken right leg and fractured left arm. However, determination throughout a number of years has seen her re-learn how to breathe, eat, walk and talk.

And now the 18-year-old is one of six people who have been chosen to help complete a rickshaw ride to raise money for Children in Need.

The group embarked on the arduous journey on Friday 9th November from Llandudno on Anglesey and are aiming to cover 411 miles in eight days, arriving at BBC’s Television Centre for The One Show’s Children in Need special on November 16th.

Team Rickshaw will be accompanied by TV personality Matt Baker, who successfully took on a similar challenge last year, raising £1.9 million.

Lauren said: “I want to give something back. PLUS has helped me meet new people and make friends with people my own age with similar challenges. What’s even better is that I go out socialising and have fun with them all as well.

“I’m really excited about the challenge and I want to raise as much money for Children in Need. I’m also looking forward to meeting new friends and completing the challenge.�

The former Wallace High School pupil added: “After I got run over I had to learn everything again. At the time the doctors said to my parents that anything over and above me breathing again they would have to be grateful for.

“I want anyone in a similar circumstance to know that life isn’t over. With some support anything can be accomplished.�

Lauren has been supported by PLUS for almost 7 years and has been involved in a number of projects over this period of time. She attends the Rock Community Project in Stirling, with support from 'Count Me In' a PLUS Project funded by Children in Need to support inclusion into mainstream clubs and groups for young people with disabilities.Steph Millar, Project Manager said 'Lauren is such an inspiration to us all. She has such an infectious personality and we are delighted to have been able to put her name forward for this challege. We wish her well, and look forward to hearing her stories on her return!'

For regular updates on the Rickshaw Challenge, please visit http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b008dk4b/features/cin-rickshaw-challenge-2012 or watch the One Show!

 

Do you shop online?

Have you started counting down the days until Christmas?

How about being more organised this year, and shop in the comfort of your own home!

No more sore backs with those heavy bags, or indeed finding out after trekking across town that the shop has sold out of the item you are looking for!

Shop online through easyfundraising - an online gateway to over 2000 well known retailers.

When supporters shop using the links on the easyfundraising site, PLUS Stirling receive a free donation of up to 15% of the purchase price. With British shoppers set to spend a staggering £39 billion online this year alone, Susan Rodger, Chief Executive PLUS Stirling is keen for as many people as possible to sign up:

“Things are tough at the moment and we understand that, so we’re having to look at more creative ways to raise vital funds for PLUS Stirling."

“More people than ever are shopping online because they know they can pick up a bargain. With easyfundraising our supporters get to shop around for the best deals AND raise money for us at the same time."

And as well as raising funds, the free to use website also gives shoppers access to hundreds of offers, discounts, vouchers and free delivery codes that they won’t find elsewhere. Money can also be raised simply by using the site to change your insurance, book a train or hotel, do your tesco shopping...the list is endless!

To support PLUS Stirling, visit http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/plusstirling and follow the instructions.

 

 

PLUS Bus hits the road!

Summer 2012 has been the busiest yet at PLUS. 168 events have taken place over the 7 weeks of the summer holidays, which has resulted in 820 opportunities for children and young people with disabilities to access social opportunities with people of their own age.

Activities like Dounans, Monster Mania and the Safari Park are always favourite activities in the summer. Visits to Palacerigg Country Park near Cumbernauld, day trips to the Edinburgh Festival and Ceilidhs at the Tolbooth have also been well attended.

Two new projects have been experiencing their first summer - Opportunity PLUS, which supports children between the ages of 3-5 and their parents have held weekly play sessions at the Boys Club near the top of the town.

Direct Short Breaks has been supporting 20 families across the Forth Valley to book breaks at a time suitable to each individual family. This flexible approach has been valued by young people and their parents over the long school holiday.

One of the many highlights of Summer 2012 has been the arrival of the PLUS Bus... which is still waiting to receive an official name. The PLUS bus has facilitated access to events for a large number of our service users over the summer, whilst reducing some of the taxi costs PLUS would normally incur.

Many thanks go to all the local schools, organisations and groups who have been kind enough to donate money to us over the last year to allow this purchase to take place.

 

 

 

MSP Aileen Campbell joins kids on charity adventure

At a recent summer visit to Dounans Outdoor Centre in Aberfoyle, PLUS was joined by MSP Aileen Campbell, Minister for Children and Young People.

PLUS young people, staff and volunteers patiently posed for photographs alongside MP Aileen Campbell, before testing out their raft building skills.

 

Retirement after a decade in post

After over 10 years as Chief Executive for PLUS, Paul Dumbleton retired from at the end of May. As one of the founder families of PLUS, Paul and his wife Sue have been involved in the development of the organisation since 1988.

Paul has successfully led PLUS from strength to strength, continuing to develop new innovative projects to support children with disabilities and their families across Stirling, and more recently the Forth Valley. This has included projects promoting inclusion into mainstream youth opportunities, working within schools to promote circles of support, widening the provision to support young adults over the age of 18 and developing a project to support children between the ages of 3-5 and their parents.

Also leaving PLUS is Otter, Paul’s 4-legged companion, who affectionately became known as the office mascot. Otter, not quite ready for retirement, will be keeping Paul busy once he takes up his new post as a PAT dog.

To mark Paul’s retirement, he was awarded ‘Lifetime Membership’ at PLUS. This is only the 2nd time this has been awarded, and highlights Paul’s contribution to the organisation.

PLUS staff and board wish Paul well in his retirement. Paul is succeeded by Susan Rodger, a previous staff and board member at PLUS.

Full press release available for download here.