Cheshire College South & West has joined forces with businesses across the country to support local learners and their families over the Christmas break by providing over 300 hampers full of a wide range of essential food items and toiletries.

With a number one priority to support learners' health, safety and wellbeing, Cheshire College – South & West reached out to companies including Coca Cola, Costa, Mornflake and The Little Food Company to spread some Christmas cheer through the 'Happy Holiday Hampers'.

Hospitality & Catering learners at the College also got involved with the campaign to support their peers, generously preparing more than 1,000 dishes to be included in the hampers, from tea-time stables to delicious sweet treats.

Dhesi, Principal and CEO of Cheshire College – South & West, said: "The College continuously strives to make a positive and valued contribution to society, which is why we have and will continue to support all our learners.

"It has been truly inspiring to witness the College community and local businesses pulling together, showing resourcefulness and commitment in such unprecedented circumstances.

"It is often the small gestures, like this, that we overlook and take for granted. Our learners have shown tremendous resilience and kindness during what has been a very different first term and I am delighted we have been able to share these hampers with them."

The 'Happy Holiday Hampers' have been distributed to learners across the College's three campuses who applied for them on a 'no questions asked' basis.

One learner who received a Happy Holiday Hamper commented: "I'm absolutely made up to have received one of the Happy Holiday Hampers. The College has always given learners amazing support, placing a huge emphasis on our wellbeing, and this is just another example of them going above and beyond to support us.

"I didn't know what to expect when I collected the hamper last week, but I'm genuinely overwhelmed with how much was in it and it's going to help so much over the holidays."

Included within the hampers were items donated from The Little Food Company who have worked closely with Cheshire College – South & West for many years.

Mark Keats, Operations Director at The Little Food Company said: "We are always happy to support the College's initiatives surrounding social and economic responsibility. If anything 'good' has come from the pandemic, it's the amount of organisations like Cheshire College – South & West who are looking after the needs of the most vulnerable. I am confident this will continue for a long time to come."

Other companies who donated food and gift items to the Happy Holiday Hampers include: Mornflake, Coca Cola, Ravenscroft, Darlington & Daughters, Turner & Wrights, GAP, Eden Farm, Ribble Farm, Costa, ASDA Ellesmere Port and Crewe, Boulder Hut, Ginger and Pickles, Money Forest and Mandy Robertson.

The 'Happy Holiday Hampers' come at the end of the Autumn Term which has seen the College introduce a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support learners, after what has been an unusual start to the academic year.

If you would like to know more about studying at Cheshire College – South & West visit ccsw.ac.uk.