Falkirk East MSP Michelle Thomson recently tabled a motion in the Scottish Parliament recognising Forth Valley College’s partnership with Start Up Stirling, which has enabled food support to be extended to vulnerable people in the Falkirk area.
Once again before Christmas, staff and students from FVC’s Hospitality team’s at both the Falkirk and Stirling Campuses, stepped up to the plate to provide meals to vulnerable people. During the recent festive season, as well as Start Up Stirling Crisis Food Service, KLSB in East Falkirk and a Community Group in Grangemouth benefited from receiving hundreds of frozen Christmas meals, which they distributed to the vulnerable people they help in their area.
FVC Chef Trainer Sarah McGeever and her team including the Level 1 Professional Cookery students and Chef Trainer Scott Rankin along with the Level 1 and Level 2 Professional Cookery students, made the popular main course Turkey dinners with all the trimmings and also the soup starter.
Chef Lecturer John Meechan and his NC Bakery Students created the Sticky Toffee Pudding which was a real treat for those receiving the dishes!
The Parliamentary motion – which was raised in the Scottish Parliament on 12 December 2024 - recognised the efforts of staff and students from Forth Valley College’s hospitality team and Start Up Stirling to:
‘Deliver vital support to the vulnerable in the community this Christmas; understands that, alongside the 2023 beneficiaries, Start Up Stirling Crisis Food Service, support will also be extended to Falkirk East through KLSB and a local Grangemouth community group; notes that the hospitality department at Forth Valley College created and delivered 300 three course frozen Christmas meals, to be delivered to those in need, to ensure that they have a nutritious homemade meal to enjoy for the festive season; recognises what it sees as the community-minded spirit of Forth Valley College’s hospitality team and the Start Up Stirling group, and thanks them for their efforts to expand this initiative into the Falkirk area.’
The motion was supported by fellow MSPs: Karen Adam, Jeremy Balfour, Colin Beattie, Miles Briggs, Sharon Dowey, Jackie Dunbar, Annabelle Ewing, Emma Harper, Bill Kidd, Paul Sweeney, Evelyn Tweed, Annie Wells and Tess White.
Michelle Thomson MSP, said: “I was delighted to table this motion in the Scottish Parliament to congratulate you on the extension of your partnership with Start Up Stirling. Learning of this fantastic achievement and the support that will be provided locally, I believe recognition in Parliament is rightfully deserved.”
Andrew Ireland, General Manager at Start Up Stirling, said: “This is fantastic news. The continued strategic partnership with Forth Valley College is a vital one, not only at Christmas, but throughout the year providing healthy meals for those in crisis. Thank you."
Gareth Davies, FVC’s Chef Manager, said: “For the last few years we have been working closely at Christmas with the team at Start Up Stirling Crisis Food Service. This year our Hospitality Department have created and delivered over 300 three course frozen Christmas meals for Start Up Stirling to hand out to their clients to ensure they have a homemade, nutritious meal to enjoy on or around the big day. We delivered our meals to a very grateful team at Start Up Stirling and it has been a fantastic team effort across our three campuses.
“In a slight change this year we are also reaching out into the Falkirk area and delivering more meals to both KLSB and a Community group in Grangemouth. We are delighted to be spreading this initiative into the Falkirk area and we plan to continue this outreach in the coming year.
“I really need to take my hat off and thank all of those mentioned and the wider teams who have played their part in the planning and creating this annual project. We are all very proud to have supported the local community again at the festive period and we look forward to continuing that support through the year ahead!”