Brighton students serve up Christmas lunch for local pensioners

Students at a Brighton school prepared and served a free Christmas lunch for older members of their local community, including sheltered housing residents.

The youngsters – from the Brighton Aldridge Community Academy (BACA) – made the four-course meal at the Bevy community pub.

They are studying for catering qualifications and, as they worked on the food, fellow pupils sang carols to entertain the guests.

This is the second year BACA students and the Bevy have worked together to lay on lunch with the Friday Friends Group.

It enabled people guests who might not have family to share a Christmas meal with to mix with others from their community.

The students prepared cream of Jerusalem artichoke soup for the starter, followed by a traditional Christmas lunch then Christmas pudding and mince pies.

Emma Seer, sheltered housing manager at The Orchards, in Moulsecoomb Way, said: “The Christmas lunch was a triumph. Thanks so much for organising it. Our people were so happy on their return.”

Natasha Silsby, community manager at BACA, said: “It’s a fantastic way to work with our local community to provide a great festive event.

“We have worked with the Bevy since it first opened and intend to make the elders Christmas lunch an annual event.

“We were able to involve more students this year with the choir singing which added an extra special element.

“It’s such a great way to showcase some of our students’ talents while providing a memorable experience for some of our local elder residents.”