Inclusion and Student Services play an invaluable role to enable Forth Valley College’s students to successfully learn new skills, build their confidence and complete their qualifications.
And no one acknowledges that more than HNC Working with Communities student Deane Gibb.
Father of three Deane (41) from Stirling, has had a troubled journey in his life, not just in education. But he can’t praise the College’s Student Support Services Team highly enough for helping him to navigate his way to academic achievement and a sense of real happiness for the first time in his life.
By his own admission, Deane has suffered from complex trauma and PTSD from the age of four. School wasn’t for him and he struggled to concentrate and found himself in trouble. Alcohol and drug addiction followed and he has even served time in jail, but further education has helped get him and his life back on track.
He said: “I first got back into education a few years ago through two six week courses called Steps To Change and Introduction To Change, which were based in Alloa. My journey had begun and I heard the name of a lecturer at the College called Ruth Davis who was running the Go Forth project. I put my name forward for this and was accepted and I really enjoyed it and it was a great help to me.
“After that, I did take a step backwards if I am honest, but it was a chance meeting with Ruth in Falkirk town centre, which put me back on the road to a qualification. She told me there was a course that would be perfect for me, and that really boosted my confidence. I applied and was accepted onto the NC Working with Communities, based at the Falkirk Campus and the rest is history.”
Deane successfully completed the NC in 2023 and then moved on up to the HNC Level and is on course to completing this qualification in June 2024. But it has been the support he has received over the last two years at FVC, which he can’t praise highly enough.
He went on: “I have loved the courses and the lecturers are great, but it has been the support I have received that I really want to single out. Over the years I have been to doctors and psychiatrists and counsellors and nothing really helped. But, I can safely say that the advice and support I have received at the College has been nothing short of superb for me and just what I needed to help me study and learn.
“The course and the support I have had, have been life changing for me at the age of 41 and I am so thankful and grateful for all the help I have been given. Growing up in the
Raploch, I never ever considered that one day I would be close to attending my graduation for completing a course, considering various job roles, and looking forward to a career in helping and inspiring other people in recovery in trying to turn their lives around for the better.
“At school I was always the class clown and joker and was getting into trouble and thrown out of classes. But little did I know that I was dyslexic… and that was only discovered when I came to the College. Support from people such as Mental Health Mentor Angela Denholm, Learning Skills and Resource Assistant Mandy Kirk and Support and Guidance Advisor Lynne Frail, have been absolutely brilliant for me.
“Nothing is a hassle for them, they are there for me even if it is just for a wee chat. They have helped me build up my confidence and I have changed the way I think, so that I am not constantly fighting with myself internally.
“Since the very first day meeting Ruth, to then meeting Angela, Mandy and Lynne I have never ever felt like I was being judged at any point. Whereas, still to this day I don’t feel comfortable with other experts, and feel like I’m being judged from the minute I’ve met them. This has been a very big issue for me in the past, however I have never once felt that way from anyone at the College. Everyone I’ve spoken with, from my lecturer to mentors, have been fantastic and made me feel so comfortable and welcome.
“I can say without a word of a lie that this last year has been the best year I have had since I was a kid, and my personal relationships with my family and children have also improved so much too. It has taken me till I am 41 years of age, but I can say for the first time I am happy with my life.”
Now Deane is considering various employed roles when he leaves College with his new qualifications and even hopes to complete a degree in the future.
He added: “I now want to build my own career and try to help people who may have had similar experiences to mine. I hope I can inspire them to change their lives too. My advice to any other student who may be struggling with their mental health or other issues is to go and speak with the Forth Valley College Student Support Team as they will give you the best help possible.
“When I first started my course I was embarrassed about even considering going to get support, but once I realised that asking for help was not a weakness and was the best thing I could do to help me all the pieces fell into place. It even encouraged about four or five of my fellow classmates to go and ask them for help too and they are thriving at College as well now.
“When I first started my course, I didn’t want or have any intention to make any friends. All I was interested in was being a father to my kids. But as the months passed by and I got to know the class, if I’m being honest, I’ve made some amazing lifelong friendships, who I’d never have seen myself associated with on the outside world at all. Now I feel like I’ve got an extended family, as we talk all the time, even outside of College.
“I can’t thank everyone at FVC Student Support Team enough for everything they have done for me and I would recommend them to anyone.”
FVC Mental Health Mentor Angela Denholm, said: “Since meeting with Deane in 2022, I have seen him grow in self-confidence and belief. Initially we had a number of conversations where he was ready to leave the course, as he felt he was wasting his own and others’ time, but I think that being able to share these thoughts and feelings with someone neutral, has been beneficial for Deane. It’s been a pleasure getting to know Deane and play a small part it in helping him on his college journey.”