Students Create Christmas Hampers

Supported Learning students at Walsall College have been creating Christmas Hampers that will go to students who most need it, as part of the 101 Club.

101 was a sponsorship based project, where six students with physical and learning disabilities undertook 101 challenges many people take for granted. The project has been so successful, the 101 Club has now evolved into a charity, raising money for both specialist equipment and for students who need their help.

The students have been collecting items and donations of toiletries, household cleaning items and gift sets, in order to make up the hampers that will be presented to students who live independently or find it difficult to cope financially.

Care students have also been involved in co-ordinating the hampers and even secured external donations from companies, including Tesco and Wilkinson, who donated gift vouchers.

To celebrate the success of the project, the 101 Club held a celebratory tea party for Supported Learning students on Monday 12th December in Walsall College’s Jerome’s Restaurant, where the hampers were presented to students, along with certificates to students who worked so hard and selflessly to make it happen.

The party was a Christmas celebration of the 101 Club’s achievement and an opportunity to thank everyone for their support. The event included hot drinks and mince pies, a prize for all Supported Learning students in attendance and a raffle to win a Heston Blumenthal Christmas pudding.

Guests at the tea party, included supporters of the 101 Club, College Governors, Judith Ashley and Madeleine Holland; Councillor Tom Ansell; Councillor Gary Clarke; John Buckle from the Birmingham Settlement Foundation and Superintendent, Keith Fraser. Special thanks were also given to Chief Superintendent, Kevin Bullas for his support of the 101 Club.

Deborah Tovey, Inclusive Support Manager at Walsall College and 101 Club co-ordinator, said: “We are absolutely thrilled with the success of the Christmas Hamper project. The students involved have doing a terrific job in collecting the donations to make the hampers that will make a real difference to students who most need it this Christmas”.