CATERING students have been turning up the heat to help their local hospice recover from the financial impact of the pandemic.
Level 3 students at Darlington College put together the ingredients they’d needed for their final assessments to provide a six course charity tasting menu in aid of St Teresa’s Hospice.
Around 24 covers enjoyed a veritable feast featuring crab crumpet, pea velouté, seared cod, seabass, smoked salmon and clams, caviar and samphire, pork, beef, venison, lamb loin and chocolate hazelnut brownie with chocolate mousse and mixed berry ice cream.
The £20-a-head meal and collections on the night raised over £500 for St Teresa’s Hospice.
Senior Lecturer Dawn Cobb-Neate and restaurant manager Lesley Cain-Metcalf organised the event because the hospice is a cause close to their hearts. Lesley’s husband Tony, a former deputy editor and head of journalism at Darlington College, was looked after by the hospice as was Dawn’s father.
“A lot of people at college have links with St Teresa’s and we thought this was a great way to use up the provisions we had in for students’ assessments,” said Dawn.
“Everyone had a good night and it was great experience for the students in terms of using their skills and helping their local community.”
St Teresa’s Hospice needs to raise £3m a year to provide free in-patient and community care for people living with life-limiting illnesses and their families in Darlington, South Durham and North Yorkshire.
The pandemic saw countless fundraising events cancelled and its charity shops forced to close because of lockdown regulations.
An emergency appeal, launched at the start of the pandemic, is still running and donations can be made at www.justgiving.com/campaign/hugtostts.
Hospice chief executive Jane Bradshaw said: “The college is a brilliant resource for the town which has turned out some incredible young people in all manner of fields. We were absolutely thrilled when they offered to help us at a time when we are still trying to recover from the financial impact of COVID.
“It has been the toughest of times but we have managed to keep helping people in their greatest time of need and the community is rallying behind us so we can continue our essential work.”