Alloa is buzzing with community life and activities. The town centre has lots of useful charities and organisations that can help you as residents or visitors. Right in the heart of the town is the Speirs Centre which is both the main county library, registrar and archives of the area. Built by the former liberal-minded mill owners, as a swimming pool and recreation centre for their workers, it is the ideal place for anyone to start on their journey round the town. There you can find out family history information or grab a leaflet on the heritage, walks and wellbeing activities on offer in the town and around the Wee County.

Just down from the Speirs Centre across the car park (past the stunning ‘Look aboot ye’ and goldcrest murals) is the newly built Alloa Hub, a community owned organisation that offers tourist and active travel information. They offer a meeting room for hire and often host popular free children’s activities. Their Made In Clacks shop is worth a look to see the amazing talent on display from around the county and pick up a gift or two. The building hosts the Clackmannanshire Tapestry, a celebration of the Wee County’s heritage that was stitched together by hardworking volunteers.

Clackmannanshire Third Sector Interface (CTSI) can be found in the centre of  the High Street and offer information on volunteering, community groups and activities around the county. Clackmannanshire Citizen’s Advice Bureau, located just off Mar Street in Burgh Mews, are also an important hub for providing welfare support and help on any financial or legal issues.

Give a dog a bone are an award winning charity based in Mar Street who run a community space and free classes for over 60s. Their companionship dogs love meeting new people and anyone is welcome to come in for a cup of tea and a blether. Their monthly over 60s discos are a big hit!

Following round on Mar Street, you will come to Bank Street which houses more important local charities including Clackmannanshire Tenants’ and Residents’ Association which will help with any landlord or tenants’ association issues and they share an office with our local Clackmannanshire Credit Union which offer loans and saving options for local people and businesses. Also on Bank Street the national mental health charity Wellbeing Scotland are based, with APEX and Unison. Alzheimer Scotland’s Dementia Resource Centre can be found here too, offering an informative community space for carers, friends and relatives.

At the end of Mar Street, Ochil View Housing Association has its main office where applications or issues can be can be made for their tenancies.

The town also houses some great bargain shops supporting more valued local and national charities like Strathcarron Hospice, Homestart Clacks, Forces Support, British Red Cross, Salvation Army, Marie Curie and Sense. The full list can be found in the Buy the Good Stuff leaflet produced by CTSI.

Entertainment is brought throughout the year to Alloa Town Hall including the amazing Forefront Stage School based in the town centre, providing stage, dance and singing training for all ages. The annual pantomime and summer musicals are big hits involving hundreds of young people every year and thousands fill the seats locally. Many of the local stage, music and dance groups are involved in the annual Christmas Lights event which is a special family day enjoyed by everyone.

Finally Alloa is famous for its amazing array of churches, some of which dated back hundreds of years and boast wonderful stained glass and interesting building features and stonework. These include Alloa Elim, Alloa Ludgate, St Mungos RC, and St Mungos Parish. Moncrieff Church on Bedford Place, opposite the Sheriff Court also has a wonderful secret garden open to the public enjoy – so when the shopping day is over, pop along for restful moment of peace.