West Lothian College Students’ Association has claimed a top honour at the 2019 National Union of Students Scotland Awards.

The team at West Lothian College Students’ Association were named the College Students’ Association of the Year at a ceremony on March 21 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Dunblane at the NUS Scotland Conference, beating competition from West College Scotland Students’ Association and Fife College Students’ Association.

The prestigious NUS Scotland Awards has taken place over the past eight years as an annual celebration of the excellent work Students’ Associations, officers and staff do across Scotland.

They are an opportunity to applaud the unsung heroes from the movement, whilst reflecting on the standout stories and achievements of the past year.

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It has been a year of change for the Students’ Association with a new staff structure being put in place as well as completing a full evaluation of their Class Ambassador system in order to collect and then implement feedback from all college students.

There has also been a great deal of work in evidencing the health and wellbeing needs of students which has seen the creation of student welfare packs, free soup and a roll for all students, discounted breakfast provision and work underway to deliver a new health and wellbeing policy.

This is the second National award the Student Association has been shortlisted for in 2019, the other being for its self-evaluation tool, SPARKLE, which was created by the Student Association for use by students so that they could have a bigger influence on improvements in the college.

The Student Association found out the outcome of this second award at a ceremony earlier this week (Thursday, March 28).

West Lothian College student president, Michelle Low, said: “This is a huge honour for the Students’ Association and I have to thank everyone in our team for their incredible work over the past year.

"It has been a transformational time for us in terms of the way we deliver our services and we have received really positive feedback from both students and staff at the college.

“We’re delighted that all of this has been recognised by the judging panel and we plan on continuing the good work.”

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Principal of West Lothian College, Jackie Galbraith said: “Everyone at West Lothian College congratulates the Students’ Association on a very well deserved win at the NUS Awards. The Student Association play a vital role in supporting and enhancing the student experience.

"There is no doubt that they thoroughly deserve to be recognised at a national level for the work they have put in and we are all so proud of their achievement.”