When the Erskine based community farm’s heating system was condemned, the charity turned to the local community for help. With a boiler supplied by a local benefactor, our Building Services lecturers developed a cross-campus ‘live project’ for students to install the new system on site. 

Lecturers Paul Lynn, from Paisley Campus, and Allan Bauld, from Clydebank Campus, formed a team with four of our Paisley Campus NPA Building Services students: Louise Adair, Alex Doherty and David Smith.

It was a real community effort, with S. Bogan Plumbing supplying copper pipe and fittings and CMC Electrical supplying wall-coring equipment. Our Clydebank Campus Estates Manager Alex Deas also helped, by transporting material to Lamont Farm, while Garry Ross, Lecturer from our Paisley Campus, was on photography duties. 

David Walker, Paisley Campus Curriculum Quality Learder in Building Services, said:

It was a fantastic opportunity for the learners to engage in a live community project, building a sense of citizenship and experiencing a working environment. We were delighted to be part of a project beneftting both our learners and the local community. 

The City Farm was very thankful. Farm manager Trisha Craig said:

A massive thank you to the team from West College Scotland, everyone was extremely pleasant and hardworking – we couldn’t have achieved this without their help.

Students were happy to help and to get an opportunity to use their skills for a good cause. Louise said:

It was a pleasure and a privilege to help the community whilst putting what we’ve learned in class into practice. The experience gained was invaluable and will be a great help when seeking future employment.

Pictures credit Garry Ross