Welcome to Alloa

Often underrated, the historic town of Alloa boasts an exciting collection of unique independent specialist shops as well as high street names.

With plenty of places to eat and drink as well as cultural and leisure amenities and surrounded by the scenic Ochil Hills, you’ll be surprised at how much our town has to offer. To make visiting the town centre even more convenient, all our car parks are FREE. So why would you go anywhere else?

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What Alloa has to offer

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Business Spotlight:

Home-Start Clackmannanshire

Local Charity Celebrates Over Three Decades of Dedicated Service

Home-Start Clackmannanshire, a beloved local charity, is proud to announce its enduring commitment to supporting parents and caregivers in providing the best possible start for their children. Founded by local parents in 1988, the organisation envisions a society where every family receives the assistance they need during the challenging early years of parenthood.

Raising a family presents various challenges, and Home-Start Clackmannanshire recognises the diverse needs of parents and caregivers. Whether facing disability, illness, loneliness, bereavement, relationship difficulties, or navigating the responsibilities of being a first-time parent, the charity is dedicated to providing a helping hand.

Home-Start Clackmannanshire’s core model revolves around recruiting, training, and supporting volunteers who work closely with families in their homes. The organisation understands that each family is unique, and, therefore, tailors its support services to cater to a wide range of needs, including group work, parent-only sessions, home visits, and engaging family activities.

In 2018, Home-Start Clackmannanshire expanded its reach by opening the doors of its charity shop. Located on the High Street since 2019, the shop not only raises crucial funds for core services but also provides an avenue for volunteering opportunities and a learning and development pathway for parents who have benefited from the organisation’s support. This initiative aligns with the charity’s commitment to creating a circular economy, reducing waste, and encouraging reuse and upcycling.

The shop offers a diverse range of quality pre-loved items, including prams, electronics, games, toys, and family clothing, all at affordable prices. The income generated directly supports the charity’s core services, with a primary focus on groupwork provision for families.

Home-Start Clackmannanshire is not just an independent charity; it is also a proud member of the wider network, Home-Start UK. This affiliation showcases the organisation’s dedication to maintaining high standards through regular assessments via Home-Start UK’s Quality Assurance process.

The shop’s dedicated team, comprising two part-time staff and a group of enthusiastic volunteers, ensures its smooth operation. With a focus on learning and development, building partnerships with businesses, and day-to-day management, the team embodies Home-Start Clackmannanshire’s values of compassion, inclusivity, positivity, and empowerment.

A purchase from the Home-Start Clackmannanshire shop directly supports the local community, contributing to the ongoing provision of groupwork services, local volunteering opportunities, and environmental efforts.

“We don’t see other businesses as competitors; we each have our strengths and place in our community. What makes us unique is that every penny raised through our shop sales goes back to supporting local families,” says Louise Orr, CEO at Home-Start Clackmannanshire.

Home-Start Clackmannanshire’s commitment to community support extends to its “Bairn Bank” within the shop, offering families in need access to essential items at no cost, further demonstrating the organisation’s dedication to making a difference.

The charity has received acclaim, including the prestigious Queens Award for Voluntary Service (now Kings Award for Voluntary Service) in 2022, and maintains Quality Assurance through its Home-Start network membership.

Looking ahead, Home-Start Clackmannanshire aims for significant growth in the next five years. Initiatives include expanding the learning and development program for volunteers, increasing the number of donation pods, enhancing collection and delivery capacity, and focusing on environmental impact data capturing.

“We hope to continue developing to ensure our shop is here for many years to come. We’d like to be remembered for making a difference in our local communities,” concludes Louise.

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Love Local Winter 2023 Edition

The winter edition of Love Local is here! Packed full of events, recipes, articles and maybe even some vouchers. Have a look at what's happening in the Wee County and keep up to date with the latest.

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