This week the Norwich School, Chartwells catering team and the 8th Norwich Scouts have been working to make and deliver meals for St Martin’s Housing Trust in the run up to Christmas.
St Martins Housing Trust, based in Bishopsgate, works to provide homeless people in and around Norwich with a range of support which aims to improve the lives of the most vulnerable in the community. Through street teams, supported accommodation, provision of supplies and training for independent living, St Martins works to try and reduce levels of homelessness and through education enhance understanding and compassion towards homeless people in our community.
Spurred by a successful partnership with the Henderson Trust and NR5 Community Hub to provide meals for 6,500 during the first lockdown, the school and 8th Norwich Scouts wanted to once again share their facilities and staff to help others at a time which can be most difficult for the vulnerable.
Just over 500 meals have been made and delivered free of charge to 5 of St Martin’s residential homes, which the school hopes will help to spread some festive cheer amongst service users in the run up to Christmas.
During the week, Catering Managers Darren Fitzpatrick and Gareth Parry, along with chef Thomas Craig-Moonie and the wider catering team have been working with the 8th Norwich Scouts Leader Ian Haywood and some of our own International Upper 6th Pupils to make and deliver the meals.
Dr Jan Sheldon, CEO of St Martin's Housing Trust says:
The staff and students at the Norwich School have been amazing. Every day last week four of our projects (Webster Court, Bishopbridge House, Dibden Rd and The Old Reading Rooms) received restaurant worthy meals. All of the people who received a meal really enjoyed the quality and the diversity of the meals prepared. We had 100 very happy diners! From us all here at St Martins I’d like to say a really big thank you to everyone at the Norwich School who helped to make this possible.
Both the school and 8th Norwich Sea Scouts have a long running history with St Martin’s, who are based just a stones throw from the school itself. To find out more about how the charity works across the county to support homeless people, please click here.
