Launch of new Forth Valley CAB Sensory Loss Advice Service (SLAS)

A vital new service for people experiencing sensory loss launched on Thursday 24 July 2025 at Forth Valley Sensory Centre.

The Forth Valley CAB Sensory Loss Advice Service (SLAS) is a new and innovative approach that extends and increases the ability of Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) to inclusively help people with sensory loss across Forth Valley access advice, information, support and representation in relation to Money, Debt and Benefits, and is kindly supported by National Lottery.

Neil Ritch, Scotland Director for the National Lottery and Kaukab Stewart, Minster for Equalities were keynote speakers at the launch.

Neil Ritch, Scotland Director, The National Lottery Community Fund said: ‘We were really glad to be able to support the great work trialled by Forth Valley Sensory Centre and Stirling and District Citizens Advice Bureau. This will reduce isolation and increase access to support services amongst people living with sight or hearing loss across the Forth Valley’.

The Sensory loss advice service introduces a specialist advice service for households experiencing sensory loss. This includes individuals and their families and carers across the Forth Valley region, named the Forth Valley CAB Sensory Loss Advice Service (SLAS). SDCAB will lead the service in collaboration with the other Forth Valley CABs (Denny and Dunipace, Clackmannanshire, Falkirk, and Grangemouth) and the Forth Valley Sensory Centre (FVSC).

Jacquie Winning MBE, Chief Executive of Forth Valley Sensory Centre said:

“Delivering welfare advice in person is a game-changer for people with sensory loss. By offering face-to-face support, we’re ensuring everyone is given equal opportunity to navigate a complex benefit system and feel genuinely heard. At Forth Valley Sensory Centre, we value this service not just for its practical impact, but for the dignity and confidence it restores to so many lives.”

Stirling CAB has employed two Sensory Specialist advice workers, one being a BSL competent worker, to support people with hearing and sight loss with information, advice, casework support, technical advocacy and representation. They will work proactively with the FVSC, its satellites and Centre Service Users, and via a wide range of referral partners.

The Sensory Specialist advice workers will support people who are Deaf or have hearing loss and/or people who are blind or have sight loss with information, advice, casework support, technical Advocacy & representation on Money, Debt and Benefit and related issues (e.g. Housing, Employment rights) and facilitate clients to access the additional help and support they need. Advisers will work proactively with Forth Valley Sensory Centre (FVSC) and its satellites, Centre Users, and a wide range of referral partners to raise awareness of the service and to engage and support service users.

Campbell and Fiona, the Sensory Loss advice workers said:

“We are looking forward to helping support and empower the hearing and sight loss communities. We’ll be removing the barriers that, historically, people might have met when trying to our access advice which is free, confidential, independent, and impartial.  Inclusivity is key and fundamental to what we do.”

Craig Anderson, CEO of Stirling CAB added:

“We are delighted to be launching this vital initiative across Forth Valley in partnership with our sister Bureaux and Forth Valley Sensory Centre with the support of the National Lottery Community fund.  It will ensure that households experiencing sensory loss will have inclusive access to holistic advice that informs, enables, and empowers.”

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