Pupils are using their culinary skills to reach out to some of South Shore’s most vulnerable people.

Year 7 and 8 pupils have been supported by year 10 pupils to learn how to prepare healthy and affordable meals that will feed local homeless people through the soup kitchen Amazing Graze.

The children have been perfecting classic dishes such as leek and potato soup and chicken curry as part of the project, called ‘Bill’s Kindness Kitchen’.

The project forms just one part of the school’s annual charitable drive, its Festive Winter Gift Programme, which takes place across all 28 schools that are part of the multi-academy trust, Star Academies.

Nicola Dodgson, Director of Progress at Highfield Leadership Academy, said that ‘Bill’s Kindness Kitchen’ has helped children to provide much needed comfort to people who are struggling during the festive season. She said:

“We are very proud of all the pupils who have taken part in this project. They love doing it and think it’s wonderful. Everyone wants to be involved. The project helps us to teach children the importance of caring for others in our community while also helping them to learn practical cooking skills. As a school, we are committed to playing an active role in our community and we hope that all the activities in our annual Festive Winter Gift Programme will touch the lives of many local people this winter.”

Chris Conway, Trustee at Amazing Graze soup kitchen, said:

“These Highfield pupils are making a massive difference to homeless people in our area as the meals we serve are often the only hot meal our homeless people will have eaten in days.For our homeless people, it makes a difference to know that they are being thought about. It’s nice for them to know that they are being thought of by these children because it makes them feel like a human being again. We are just so grateful for the school’s support and for the lovely gesture. I’m sure that the people on the streets will appreciate it all the more.”

Other activities that are taking place across the school throughout December, in support of the Festive Winter Gift Programme, include a Christmas card campaign, where pupils are making cards and delivering them to people who are socially isolated, collections for The Women’s Refuge, Blackpool Victoria Hospital and The Highfield Big Tea party – a community gathering hosted by Highfield Leadership Academy where community groups will be offered a morning of cakes, conversations and carols. Pupils have also taken part in the Elf Run, to support Brian House and Trinity Hospice.