Forth Valley College’s Skills Transition Centre benefits from donated nursery furniture

Forth Valley College’s Skills Transition Centre has been gifted nursery furniture through the community benefits area of the project.

The Skills Transition Centre (STC), located at Forth Valley College’s (FVC) Falkirk campus, received a donation of nursery furniture from Claremont Office Furniture which will be used in the college’s simulated nursery.

A donation of nursery furniture has benefitted Forth Valley College's simulated nursery. Part of the Skills Transition Centre, which is located at the Falkirk campus, the nursery helps students take ownership of their learning through PEEP and Play sessions. (Contributed).

placeholder image — A donation of nursery furniture has benefitted Forth Valley College's simulated nursery. Part of the Skills Transition Centre, which is located at the Falkirk campus, the nursery helps students take ownership of their learning through PEEP and Play sessions. (Contributed).

As part of the STC’s procurement process, suppliers have been encouraged to provide community benefits which create a lasting social impact.

The furniture supplier brought this goal to life with their donation, which will help create a practical learning environment for Childhood Practice students to build their skills.

Adult and nursery sized chairs, bean bags, and tables were gifted to the college by Claremont Office Furniture. (Contributed).

Local families are also reaping the benefits as the donation marks a positive addition to the student-delivered PEEP and Play sessions.

Adult and nursery sized chairs, bean bags, and tables were all gifted to the Care, Sport, Business and Communities Department’s Simulated Nursery.

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.”

The pieces were officially unveiled by Pathway to Childhood Practice students who greeted families, young children, and carers to the Falkirk campus for the first PEEP and Play session of the academic year.

Groups of four to five students plan, resource, and deliver these sessions while supporting students focus on welcoming families, signing them in, and monitoring health and safety.

By hosting the sessions in-house, learners can have full ownership of the experience as they create inclusive environments, design play activities which are suitable for various ages and stages, and differentiate for individual needs.

The PEEP and Play Group began in November 2025, and offers enjoyable and educational sessions to families throughout Falkirk, Alloa, and Stirling.

Sessions run in four-week blocks and are targeted for parents and carers with children from birth to age five.

The group provides a welcoming space to support children’s language and development through songs, stories, and activities. All sessions are free of charge.

Laura Fraser, FVC’s STC 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.”

Gemma Dempsey, FVC Childcare lecturer, added: “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.”