STUDENTS mentored in a Forth Valley College initiative for care-experienced people have recently received special packs ahead of Christmas.

The Time4Me initiative – for care experienced people and young carers – has sent out cookbooks, food vouchers, gloves, sweets, a small gift and more to 28 college students across the Forth Valley.

The college's hospitality team also provided the mentees with a three-course Christmas dinner as part of the Giving Back scheme.

Business development staff also helped out by assembling and delivering the packs, raising around £130 to help provide items.

The idea came from mentor co-ordinator Sarah Trevit and followed similar care packs supplied last Christmas, this Easter and during the coronavirus lockdown.

Sarah said: "The purpose of the packs is to promote the health and wellbeing of our mentees over the Christmas period.

"This time of year is not always the best of times for them and an extended holiday period from college can present its own challenges too.

"We want our mentees to feel valued and cared for by their Time4Me and wider college community, supporting the overall wellbeing of our mentees is just a small part of our corporate parenting responsibilities.

"We are also delighted to have teamed up with the college's hospitality team who will be providing three course Christmas meals for some of our mentees who have requested one, as part of their Giving Back initiative."

She also gave a big thanks to the business development team for their help.

The Time4Me initiative recently secured further funding of £149,000 from the Robertson Trust and is looking for 20 more staff volunteers to get involved as mentors.