The Forth Valley Sensory Centre was the first centre of its kind built in the UK. The Council is one of its founding partners and it's where the Council's own Sensory Service Team is based.

Yet many colleagues and managers may never have considered the centre as somewhere they could go, or that they could direct people to the Council's Sensory Service Team for support. 
 
That conversation - about what's already here, and how people may not know about it - was at the heart of the Wellbeing Group's latest meeting, where Alan Green, from the Council's Sensory Team, introduced a proposal to establish a network of Sensory Champions across the council.

The idea is straightforward: trained colleagues who can provide every day, non-clinical support to anyone experiencing sensory challenges at work due to a hearing or visual impairment.

Champions would help signpost people to the right services, support managers in having informed conversations, and feed emerging trends back to the Wellbeing Group. 
 
The point was made, more than once, that sensory impairments are often invisible. Colleagues manage quietly, not always realising what support they're entitled to, or that it's available right here, within the council's own network of services.  
 
Through the Council's Sensory Team, staff can access specialist rehabilitation and training, equipment advice, sign language interpreting, benefits assessments, and a full programme of social groups and activities.

Group discussions highlighted an enthusiasm for building awareness of the Sensory Team and of the Sensory Centre in general – from general communications to staff inductions, so that people know what's available from day one.

Peer support came up strongly too, with colleagues recognising the value of being able to speak with someone who understands, rather than navigating a formal referral process.

The group also discussed sustainability: how do you build something that lasts, rather than a network that starts well and quietly fades? Work on the proposal continues.  
 
Finally, the meeting marked a change of chair. James stepped down after a year leading the group and was thanked for his commitment and energy. Alison Durnan, who is the Customer & Business Support Section Lead in Communities, Innovation and Housing, takes over as the new chair.