Pupils go bananas for Jolly Trolley reading

Pupils go bananas for Jolly Trolley reading
Students and pupils at the Stirling Campus

Primary six pupils from St Bernadette’s Primary School, Tullibody, gathered for a special Jolly Trolley book reading at FVC’s Stirling Campus on Thursday 2 March as part of the college’s Fairtrade Fortnight events.

Students from the NC Events Co-ordination course were on hand to read from the book – which was written by HNC Early Education and Childcare students and illustrated by former FVC Art and Design student Michelle Sadler (25) and is thought to be the first book of its kind to help young children to understand the concept of Fairtrade products and the ethos and importance of Fair Trade.

‘Jolly Trolley’ is a character who goes on a mystical style learning adventure after he crashes into some Fairtrade bananas in his supermarket. The students were delighted to use this story to entertain the group of children in the Kildean Suite and helped to raise awareness of Fair Trade.

Nuala McElroy, Head Teacher said: “This was a fantastic experience for our children to visit FVC’s Stirling Campus, and to work in partnership with the college. The children thoroughly enjoyed the visit and having the book read to them. They also enjoyed the tour of the college and seeing what can be available to them in their future learning, developing their skills for learning, skills for life and skills for work.”

 FVC recently won (November 2016) a Scottish Fair Trade Forum Award for Innovation for their work on Jolly Trolley. This award is presented to any individual, group or organisation that has created an innovative campaign or taken a new approach to campaigning for Fair Trade.

Kim Reid from Core and Essential Skills Coordinator and a member of the FVC Fairtrade and Sustainability Committee has also been recording reading the Jolly Trolley story – in the Stirling Campus studios – for a film produced by David Aitken from FVC’s Comms and Marketing Department. This film will be made available as a Fair Trade resource for schools and nurseries across Forth Valley.