Amazing Endeavour
Westholme School explains how it has helped provide thousands of meals for the vulnerable and tackled community issues enabling families and children to reconnect
Since the start of the lockdown period, the catering team at Westholme School, have been proud to be involved with the Thomas Franks Feeding Communities initiative. The team worked tirelessly to bring to life a community kitchen project which has seen thousands of meals provided to those that are most in need in the Blackburn with Darwen and wider Lancashire area.
Westholme Catering Manager, James Pate, says: “School caterers, Thomas Franks, launched the project with a donation and since then, separate donations totalling over £20,000 have been received from Newground Together, the Duchy of Lancaster Fund, the Blackburn Carers Service, Age UK respectively and the Ivy St Community Centre. We have been able to provide:
• 10,100 meals to the most vulnerable people in Blackburn with Darwen, including; The Blackburn with Darwen (BwD) Carers Service, Ivy St Community Centre, Newground Together, Age UK, Youth Action, Blackburn Youth Zone, Healthy Living, Community Business Partners, Benefit Mankind, The Barlow, Nightsafe, THOMAS foundation, Salvation Army, ARC and Blackburn Foodbank. These meals have been publicised through various media outlets and local publications in order to gain more donations.
• 1000 meals on a day free of charge to the whole community as part of the Thomas Franks BIG FEED.
• 1000 pieces of fruit and drinks to the North West Ambulance head office in Blackpool.
• Donations to the Blackburn Food Bank.
• Weekly donations of frozen meals and other food items that have been donated to us from our various suppliers nationwide. A hundred cases of popcorn, two pallets of frozen airline meals, 1000 Robinsons drinks, 800 innocent smoothies, two pallets of vegan fillets and pieces and 2000 pot pasta ready meals were all donated to the partners listed above and moving forwards, we hope this is something we can continue to contribute towards as long as we can.”
James adds: “The most positive part of the whole endeavour has been the way in which so many different organisations have rallied together to help those that need it most. From the first moment, the council were extremely positive and helped us greatly from a logistical and financial point of view and we very much hope to continue the relationship going forward.”
During August, the school has also taken part in a government initiative named the Holiday Action Fund (HAF). As part of the initiative, Westholme and Thomas Franks have also teamed up with Blackburn and Darwen Council and Spring North, a charity based in Blackburn that aims to collectively tackle issues in the local community.
The scheme has enabled school children to receive healthy and nutritious meals and organised activities through investment provided by the Government during the summer.
Along with Thomas Franks, Westholme helped to supply 15,000 meals to Newground Together, Blackburn Rovers Community Trust, IMO Charity and Blackburn Youth Zone in conjunction with Government funding.
Spring North also managed to organise activities and food for almost 2000 children within the local area throughout August.
The initiative has been providing crucial necessities for families in the area and has allowed children to reconnect with their friends in a safe environment whilst enjoying a range of activities and a hot meal.
Commercial Director at Westholme School, Viv Davenport, explains: “This is a wonderful, kind initiative which we have been delighted to be part of. It is more important than ever right now to serve our communities – by working together we have achieved very special things. Blackburn with Darwen Council has been tremendous in connecting us to those most in need and it has been a real privilege to help make a real difference.”
Westholme School
Wilmar Lodge, Meins Road, Blackburn BB2 6QU
01254 506070
westholmeschool.com
