HSBC is supporting the Gozo College's Children Psychological Assessment Unit with a sponsorship of Lm500. The funds will go towards professional psychological services for students in Gozo.

"A number of students need to be psychologically assessed regularly to improve their educational, social and behavioural developmental skills," Chev Frank Gatt, Gozo college co-ordinator, said.

"We are grateful to HSBC for this generous sponsorship as now the students can benefit to a large degree from tailor-made educational programmes based in Gozo, which we will now be able to kickstart thanks to the bank's support."

The Children Psychological Asses-sment Unit caters for students with various difficulties, ranging from mental disorders, learning difficulties, motor skill challenges, communication problems, attention deficit, and anxiety disorders, among others. Assessments are carried out by a multi-disciplinary team of professionals, including educational psychologists, psychiatrists and guidance teachers.

HSBC Gozo area director Richard Mercieca said: "The provision of psychological services to students in difficulty in Gozo will greatly benefit Gozitan families, not only by saving them from the hassle of travelling to Malta but also by providing a much more timely service. HSBC is glad to be of help in this important initiative, and we hope it will alleviate some of the families' burdens."