EVEN with the pupils enjoying a break, Alva Academy was buzzing last Wednesday as charity representatives flocked to the Hillfoots for an engaging event.

A packed Forth Valley Third Sector Conference saw more than 200 people with community development workers, statutory partners and volunteer leaders coming together to learn and share ideas on February 13.

With a theme of Growing Your Communities, the event aimed to help the local third sector become as strong and resilient as possible.

Organised by Clackmannanshire Third Sector Interface (CTSi) with similar partner organisations from Stirling and Falkirk, the second conference of its kind saw workshops, speeches, networking opportunities and a marketplace of stalls.

Keynote speakers included Anna Fowlie, the new CEO at the Scottish Council of Voluntary Organisations, and Karyn McCluskey, CEO of Community Justice Scotland.

Anthea Coulter, chief officer at CTSi, said: “We have had some wonderful feedback already that the workshops and the speakers were really inspiring this year and people left feeling both motivated to ‘hustle’, as Karyn McCluskey described it.

"But also reported feeling more confident going forward through the advice, information and networking they got from stallholders, facilitators and chatting with other groups.

“It was a great success.”

One of the attendees was Dave Crozier, who recently featured in the Advertiser as he launched the Connect Alloa initiative for young people.

The Clacks man was delighted to announce his organisation recently achieved charitable status.

He added: “Today's event was a great opportunity for me personally as it offered a variety of information sessions, each one allowing me to take away lots of ideas to take back to use for the club's and as we look to recruit volunteers.

"It was a great chance to network.

“It was really reassuring knowing I already knew so many people at today's event who were supportive of Connect Alloa, but I also made plenty of new contacts who want to work in partnership too."

Jen Kerr, CEO at CVS Falkirk, added: “It’s been so inspiring, to come together today with Forth Valley’s third sector.

"For me, this event has been about celebrating what our sector achieves while improving our knowledge and skills to do more.

"Days like this remind me we’re part of a bigger picture of good change and it helps us to become stronger and more able to move forward, together.”

Next year’s conference is due to take place in Stirling at the refurbished former army barracks.