Leicester College Dining
On Friday 17th June your Editor was invited to the last dining event held at the
Social Club, Syston, for the current year, which is in its ninth year.
This dining event is run by Leicester College Supportive and Inclusive Learning Department and lead by Angela Belfield and Sue Arnold. They had 12 students learning work skills by devising the menus, costing, ordering and buying the food, plus having the food delivered to the club for the Friday morning. Then they don their uniforms to either work in the kitchen to prepare and cook or serve the meals to the customers. The service runs from 12noon to 1pm for customers. The students are there from 9.00am until 3.00pm.
This aspect of their course is to develop independent living and as well as running this weekly luncheon at the Social Club during term time, they also have a City Skills Cafe on Charles Street, which allows students to develop their work skills.
The reason they come to Syston to deliver this weekly luncheon during term time is that it gives the students an opportunity to develop independent travel skills, as they have to make their own way to the club. They have to bring their uniform and look after it between sessions, so helps to develop time management, as they have to arrive by a specific time. They learn how to work in a team, when to have breaks and importantly continue to work until the job is done, so no giving up as they have customers waiting for their meal.
The students do this aspect of their course for a full academic year and they all seemed to really enjoy meeting the regular customers.
In talking to some of the customers they said they saw the young people change from being very quiet, introverted and not sure about asking customers for their order, to being confident and engaging in conversation with them. The diners all said that they really enjoyed the meals and miss the students over the summer when they leave to go on to other things.
The students said that they enjoy meeting the people who attend and although nervous at the start of the year, they have gained confidence and enjoy it. They said they will miss coming every week and seeing the regular customers.
The tutors said it takes the students a little while to understand the commitment of the day as they all have different and sometimes complex learning needs. But they do get a lot out of the experience as it is often the first time they have had to talk to people outside their own environment.
Our picture above shows the group with their tutors just before service began.
Fiona, your Editor, wants to thank the group for inviting her to meet the tutors and students, she really enjoyed chatting to everyone, students, tutors and customers. Hopefully, she will attend another lunch club next academic term.