Colleges Scotland has been lending a hand to Start Up Stirling this year.

As a local employer, our staff stepped away from their desks in Castle Business Park to volunteer with the team at Start UP Stirling at Springkerse Industrial Estate in the lead up to Christmas. After some basic training, our staff rolled up their sleeves to assist packing Christmas hampers and sorting donations received.

Start Up Stirling supports local families in financial difficulties and staff at Colleges Scotland also took along donations which had been collected throughout December for the Christmas Appeal 2024.

Andy Ireland, the General Manager of Start Up Stirling, said: “2024 is so far one of our busiest years with donations at an all time low. We are grateful for everyone's support especially during this challenging time.”

Jillian Cheape, Business Services Manager at Colleges Scotland, said: “Start Up Stirling is a very worthy and much needed charity in Stirling, and our staff felt really strongly about wanting to give something back to the local community and jumped at the chance to help out in the warehouse.

”For the past few festive seasons the team have collected food and essentials for a Start UP Donation Station at Christmas so it was great to volunteer in a hands-on way as well as well this year.”

Colleges Scotland, which has been based in Stirling for over 25 years, represents and promote all of Scotland’s 24 colleges. 

Start Up Stirling is hoping its festive appeal can bring some festive cheer to those who are struggling this Christmas, and is predicted that £420,000 will be required to fund all of it’s services in 2025.

The charity has a range of ways people can contribute to their festive drive – including its Reverse Advent Calendar, with each of the items on the 24 days on the calendar helps them to collect the essential food for their Crisis Food Support parcels throughout the cold winter months. Start Up Santa’s Shopping List includes tinned pasta, coffee, cereal bars, tinned meat, tinned soup or cup-a-soup.

Donations of any dried or canned items can be left at any of their supermarket donation stations across the area, or they will be happy to see you at their warehouse should you have any bulk donations. Please call in advance of your visit on 01786 561027.

Any businesses or organisations can also host a Start Up Donation Station.