West Lothian College is making sure students can access support over the Christmas break.

West Lothian College is making sure students feel supported over the Christmas break.

Now in its second year, the ‘12 Days of Support’ is a campaign to guide students to support services over the winter break.

A two-week closure of the college can have a negative effect on the health and wellbeing of some students who see the campus as a safe space, and the campaign was created to help them find support services when the college is closed over Christmas.

support for learning assistant Matt Farnham devised a festive 12 Days theme through the college’s Student Support social media channel to signpost local and national organisations that are open over the festive period.

The campaign has highlighted organisations like West Lothian Drug & Alcohol Service (WLDAS) dedicated to helping those affected by alcohol or drug abuse and Scotland’s youth-specific homelessness charity the Rock Trust.

The college works with these organisations throughout the year and offer help on a broad range of the issues like homelessness, mental health and abuse.

Matt said: “It’s about our students knowing where they can go over the Christmas closure. Making sure that we are creating substitute safe spaces for them when we aren’t available. If one student benefits from a resources, we post then it’s a success.”

Student Support Manager Lorna Jenkins added: “We feel this campaign is really important so that students know, particularly in the lead-up to Christmas, that there are people who can help them if they’re struggling.

“Christmas can be a difficult and unhappy time for lots of folk and even more-so this year, however there are lots of agencies and organisations who are on hand to give support, so it’s important that our students know where to go for extra help and who to contact.”

Through the 12 Days of Support campaign the student support team at the college reminds students of the help available, letting them know contact details and encouraging them to reach out for help should they need it.

If you want to know more follow @WLCStuSupport on twitter.