Forth Valley College’s Skills Transition Centre (STC) has secured a donation of nursery furniture from Claremont Office Furniture through the community benefits aspect of the project.
As a positive outcome of the STC procurement process, suppliers are encouraged to deliver community benefits that create lasting social impact. Claremont Office Furniture has brought this commitment to life by generously donating furniture for the College’s simulated nursery.
The donation has helped create a practical learning environment where Childhood Practice students can build their skills and local families can enjoy welcoming, high-quality PEEP and Play sessions.
The donation included colour coordinated adult and nursery sized chairs, bean bags and tables which have all been donated to the Care, Sport, Business and Communities Department’s Simulated Nursery – and they were officially unveiled on Monday 2 November by Pathway to Childhood Practice students who welcomed families, carers and young children to the Falkirk Campus for the first PEEP and Play session of the academic year (see photos).
Jennifer Blair from Claremont Office Furniture, said: “Claremont were absolutely delighted to get involved with refreshing the Falkirk Campus Nursery within Forth Valley College as part of our Community Benefits initiative!
“It was a wonderful opportunity for our team to come together and collaborate on creating a fresh, welcoming vibe for the children. To help enhance their space, we were thrilled to provide new tables, chairs, and cosy bean bags - alongside additional stackable chairs sourced directly from our Re-use Department to support our circular economy.
“A huge thank you to everyone at Forth Valley College for letting us be a part of this wonderful project!”
Laura Fraser, FVC’s Skill’s Transition Centre Project Manager, said: “This donation is a great example of how the STC procurement process can deliver benefits that extend far beyond the project itself. Claremont Office Furniture’s generosity has helped create a high-quality, practical learning environment where our Childhood Practice students can develop valuable real-world skills, while local families benefit from a welcoming and engaging space for PEEP and Play sessions. It demonstrates how a shared commitment to social impact can deliver lasting benefits for our students, local families and the wider community.”
The PEEP and Play Group – which began in November 2025 - at Forth Valley College, offers fun and educational sessions for families across Alloa, Falkirk, and Stirling.
The sessions, which run in four-week blocks, will also return in January and March. Aimed at parents and carers with children from birth to five, Peep and Play provides a welcoming space to share songs, stories, and activities that support children’s language and development through play and everyday life. Importantly, all sessions are free of charge.
Each week, groups of four to five students carefully plan, resource, and deliver the sessions. Supporting students also take responsibility for welcoming families, signing them in, and monitoring health and safety. This is the first year the College has adopted the PEEP and Play approach, replacing the traditional NC student nursery and primary school placements.
Hosting the sessions in-house gives students full ownership of the experience. They must create inclusive environments, design play activities suited to varied ages and stages, and differentiate for individual needs. Students lead story and song time, while also engaging directly with parents, carers, and childminders.
FVC Childcare Lecturer Gemma Dempsey, said: “We are incredibly grateful for the generous donations from Claremont. Creating a warm, welcoming, and engaging environment for our families is so important to us, and it also provides our students with a valuable space to learn and develop their skills. The furniture has made a real difference in modernising our play area and enhancing the overall experience for everyone who attends.
“PEEP and Play returned this week, and we had a fantastic time with the children. The students thoroughly enjoyed the session and are already looking forward to welcoming everyone back again next week.”
For more information on FVC’s Skills Transition Centre facilities and training opportunities visit https://www.forthvalley.ac.uk/about-us/skills-transition-centre
For more information on FVC’s Childcare courses visit https://www.forthvalley.ac.uk/courses/childcare
For more information on Claremont Office Furniture, visit https://claremontofficefurniture.com/
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