Stirling MSP Evelyn Tweed recently tabled a motion in the Scottish Parliament recognising Forth Valley College’s partnership with Start Up Stirling, distributing free meals to vulnerable families during holidays.
This follows a motion from Falkirk East MSP Michelle Thomson in January 2025, to celebrate the same partnership’s work over the Christmas period.
The Parliamentary motion – which was raised in the Scottish Parliament recently - recognised the efforts of staff and students from Forth Valley College’s hospitality team and Start Up Stirling and:
‘That the Parliament congratulates the success of an initiative to feed those in need in Stirling over the summer months; understands that a partnership between Forth Valley College and Start Up Stirling made and distributed meals that benefitted more than 600 people; understands that Forth Valley College's catering department cooked the food, which was then distributed to clients of Start Up Stirling; notes that college students helped plan and deliver the project, as well as cook the meals; understands that this partnership has been built over several years and has provided healthy and nutritious meals to local people throughout school holidays on previous occasions; notes that the project has been funded by Cash For Kids and Stirling Council’s Community Planning Partnership; congratulates all involved for what it sees as an excellent contribution to the wellbeing of the local community, and wishes those involved great success with the future of this project.’
The motion was supported by fellow MSPs: Jackie Dunbar, Miles Briggs, Marie McNair, Paul McLennan, Jeremy Balfour, Kevin Stewart, Bill Kidd, Murdo Fraser, Stephanie Callaghan, Martin Whitfield, Mark Ruskell, Annabelle Ewing and Audrey Nicoll.
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. 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.
“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 project. We are all very proud to have supported the local community again and we look forward to continuing that support through the year ahead!”
