Students and staff put their best feet forward recently to keep fit and raise awareness of homelessness this week (Wednesday 24 February)
Organised by the FVC Student Association, the event attracted dozens of energetic FVC walkers who gathered at the Falkirk Campus at 1pm, to walk across to the iconic Kelpies in the Helix Park and back.
The Falkirk Campus based English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) group also collected donations for their homelessness shoebox appeal, as part of their citizenship and diversity project.
Debbie Jackson, FVC Student Association Vice President for Health, Well-Being and Sport, said:
“A massive well done and thank you to all who participated in this year’s walk from Falkirk Campus to the Kelpies.
“This year the event was used to promote a project currently running to support our Falkirk ESOL group, who as part of their course work wanted to raise awareness surrounding homelessness, and also collect donations for their shoe box appeal.
“I have been working and liaising with the ESOL group and their Learner Development Worker Seema Arshad for several weeks, designing posters and getting the group to decide on how to best participate in an event.
“As the Walk is already an established event, we saw this as a fantastic opportunity for cross departmental working and to encourage some creative learning. Not only were the students getting time away from their desks, but also mixing with other students and staff from across the campus who also came to support us.
“The Student Association are delighted to have worked with the ESOL students on this project and hope more students and staff will continue to support them by donating to their cause. The group, while working with the Association, has fulfilled part of their course work requirement and shown them a new way in which to approach their work.
“They now hope to fill shoe boxes with essential items that could make a real difference to someone in need. If anyone has any toothbrushes, toothpaste, bars of soap, hair brushes, sanitary products, deodorants or any other items they feel would benefit those who are homeless and at most risk, then please don’t hesitate to contact us and we’ll pass them on. A small token can make all the difference to let people know that someone cares.”
Seema Arshad FVC Learner Development Worker, said:
“I am really proud of my ESOL group as they are putting into practice all the things they are learning from their citizenship and diversity section of their course. English is not their first language, but they are embracing not only that, but the understanding of being a community member. They have chosen the Salvation Army Homelessness Unit as the charity to help and they have done a fantastic job so far.”
Donations for the appeal can be made to any FVC Student Association office on any campus.