Students delighted to help with Champ Prom preparations

Students delighted to help with Champ Prom preparations
Forth Valley College Hairdressing and Make-up Artistry students pamper Stirling Champs care-experienced young people at the Alloa Campus Salon, creating stunning looks for their self-organised prom.

Hairdressing and Make-up Artistry students from Forth Valley College have helped a group of care experienced youngsters to make their prom an evening to remember.

On Thursday 5 December students turned the Alloa Campus Salon into an exclusive venue for nine young people from Stirling Champs to get their hair and make-up done before they attended their self-organised prom at the Green Lounge in Stirling later that day.

Stirling Champs is an organisation that sits within Stirling Council and it works alongside decision makers and elected members to improve and make changes for Children and young people who have experience of care. Champs run weekly groups for ages 5-26 years, and over the past six years have really raised the profile of duties and responsibilities of their Corporate Parents.

Led by FVC’s May Tennant, Acting Operations Manager in the Department of Creative, Digital and Leisure Industries and lecturer Joanne Ellis, a total of 10 students – five from Hairdressing: Janet Chisholm, Jade McKinlay, Shannon MacAllister, Olivia Stewart and Joanne Davidson, and five from Make-up Artistry: Jivol Ferguson, Niamh Bryce, Kat Watmore, Laura Keir and Danielle Graham - decorated the salon, prepared snacks and made the young people from Champs very welcome and they set to work on their hair and make-up.

Tracy Degan, Champions Board Development Officer, from Stirling Champs, said: “Our older Champs have often spoke about missing out on their school prom for many different reasons which were out with their control.  Some moved areas and changed schools, some left school quite suddenly due to a change in circumstances and others they lacked confidence to attend.  So we decided that we would organise one for this year!

“We set up a planning committee and 16+ young people did all the organising. They organised who to invite, when and where to hold it and worked within a budget to make this a reality. When discussing what to wear quite a lot of our young people wanted to wear formal wear but most weren’t in a position to purchase this. We got in touch with Style Options in Alloa who agreed to hire out formal wear to our young people free of charge!  We also got in touch with May Tennant (Acting Operations Manager) at Forth Valley College who was more than happy to help look at making our young people feel extra special with offering to get the students from the College to do their hair and make-up. 

“Joanne Ellis at Forth Valley College opened this up to Year 2 & Level 3 Hairdressing students, HND Make-Up Artistry students asking if they would volunteer their services. By volunteering this allowed the students to put their skills to use, in a team working environment and builds up on confidence and employability skills. Joanne got a positive response and the students agreed to offer they time and skills to support our Champs young people.

“On the day nine young people from Champs had their hair and make up done.  The students all did an amazing job and our young people felt very special indeed. This was split into a morning and afternoon session.  Joanne and the students decorated the salon, prepared food and nibbles for everyone, and made everyone feel very relaxed and welcome. All of our Champs brought along some screen shots of how they would like their hair and make-up done and also a picture of their dress. The students and Champs did a consultation beforehand and the magic then happened!

“All of my Champs told me this was a lovely start to their day and really did make their Prom extra special. They all felt amazing when they left the salon and really appreciated everything the students did for them. They loved being fussed over and everyone was so nice. For most of our Champs this wasn’t something they had experienced previously, so they were a little nervous – but once the students got started they loved it!”

Joanne Ellis, said: “It was a fantastic day for the young Champs and for our students a great learning experience opportunity. We are so very proud of how they all conducted themselves on the day, working together as a team delivering impeccable skills.  It was a real glance of how life is out in industry and an opportunity to show how amazing they are and how far they have come in their time at Forth Valley College.”

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