Tuesday 9 March 2010

Students Raise Awareness of Fairtrade Products

Lifestart students from Forth Valley College’s Clackmannanshire Campus served up a treat of Fairtade products in Alloa Town Centre recently.

Wee County shoppers popped into The Citizen Ship shop in Drysdale Street to browse through the selection of ethical goods on offer. Students, who were volunteering as part of their Citizenship project, explained how Fairtrade helps small farmers in developing countries.

Forth Valley College are delighted to have teamed up with the Imagine Alloa project to create the unique shopping experience at the Make Room in the town centre. The Prize Draw was support by the Co-op who donated Fairtrade products.

Nearly £200 worth of products were sold during the week as groups of students from the college’s Access and Progression Department along with other volunteers worked on the counter and kept the shelves well stacked.

Access and Progression Lecturer Linda McPherson said: “A total of eight students from the Lifestart group were involved in gaining work experience. They also had an absolute ball and their self esteem has had a real boost. It was great to see them taking their Citizenship project into the community and getting so much out of helping other people.”

Council leader Councillor Janet Cadenhead said: “We’re delighted that students from Forth Valley College have been able to work in the Make Room in Alloa. The Make Room is part of the Imagine Alloa project, which is all about town centre regeneration and using public art to leave a lasting legacy in the town. The local college is very much part of the town, even more so now that work is progressing on its new campus off Clackmannan Road. I hope the students who used the Make Room were able to gain valuable experience of retail and also witness for themselves how successful our newest town centre arts drop-in facility really is.”

Tags: Access and progression, Clackmannan, Current students, Event, Full-time