With the support of funding provided by the Forth Valley Local Lomond Community Led Local Development (CLLD), The Robertson Trust and Clackmannanshire Council, CERT have been working to increase the level of provision of after school childcare in Clacks.
52% of parents surveyed reported that their ability to find a place in after school care was poor or very poor.
At the start of January 24, throughout Clacks, there had been no local afterschool provision for 13 of the 19 primary schools.
With CLLD funds, CERT managed to provide start up funding for a new after school service in Menstrie which is operated by Alva Play Pals.
By August 2025 the Menstrie service had increased its capacity to provide places for up to 32 children per day and a feedback survey undertaken in Feb 25, showed that 50% of parents were able to increase their employability.
Also with support from CLLD, a feasibility and business plan was undertaken to establish an after school childcare service in Tillicoultry. This was done in partnership with the primary school, the Family Wellbeing Partnership and Alva Play Pals. The results of this feasibility and business plan can be found below.
Research Report and Feasibility Study
The business plan concluded that it was viable to establish a service in Tillicoultry and this service was set up and fully operational in March 2025 and is being managed by Alva Play Pals.
CERT have a programme of action to establish new provision or extend existing services, throughout Clacks for after school childcare provision.