Pupils from Highfield Leadership Academy gave up their own time to organise a party for local people living in sheltered accommodation to celebrate the Coronation.
Inspiring volunteers from the Blackpool secondary school hosted the event, at the Lostock Community Centre, which marked the historic occasion with entertainment, games and sweet and savoury cuisine.
Pupils performed music and dance routines for the guests, organised a Coronation quiz and held a Royal raffle to ensure their guests had a day to remember.
Prior to the party, the school invited their guests to visit the school’s ‘Kindness Kitchen’ to cook alongside pupils, as they all helped to prepare food for the Coronation event’s afternoon tea.
The party is the latest initiative led by the school’s award-winning Highfield Helpers, a group of pupil leaders who befriend and support vulnerable or isolated members of the local community.
The time the pupils spent volunteering for the event contributed towards the Star Big Help Out Challenge, joining pupils in other Star Academies schools across the country to complete 10,000 hours of service to their communities to mark the Coronation.
Other selfless pupil volunteers accrued hours by participating in a community clean-up at Fylde Memorial Arboretum and Community Woodland – as part of a wider programme of voluntary projects being undertaken by the school’s Combined Cadet Force – whilst another group of pupils prepared 80 meals and desserts for local charity, Amazing Graze.
Astrid Danalia, a Year 10 pupil and member of the Highfield Helpers, said:
“We have had good fun working in the community as part of the Star Big Help Out Challenge. I enjoyed cooking with our friends and it was great to serve it to the guests at the Coronation party.
“It is easy to forget that some people will be on their own during the Coronation weekend whilst lots of us are celebrating with our family and friends.”
In the days leading up to the party, pupils also gave up their time to create 400 Coronation community cards which were sent to residents of care homes and patients in hospices around Blackpool and beyond, to mark the momentous occasion more widely across the community.
The Highfield Helpers also conducted doorstep deliveries of cakes and other treats to sheltered accommodation residents who could not attend the party.
Nicola Dodgson, Assistant Principal at Highfield Leadership Academy, added:
“There has been a great energy at the school. Our pupils have once again stepped up and embraced the opportunity to serve their local community.
“They are fantastic young leaders who are making a positive difference throughout our Blackpool and we are very proud of them.”