St Margaret’s Academy host Senior Citizen’s Christmas Dinner

This week, St Margaret’s Church of England Academy played host as they welcomed a local care home to its annual Senior Citizen’s Christmas Dinner.

Students from St Margaret’s Sixth Form welcomed residents from Waverley Care Home to the school, to enjoy a Christmas Dinner to remember.

With recent figures from Age UK showing that nearly 400,000 older people are worried about being lonely this Christmas, and 60% of over 65s do not expect festive happiness to be part of their Christmas this year, the school’s annual event continues to play a vital role within its community.

Residents from Waverley Care Home, based in Sefton Park, enjoyed a delicious Christmas dinner while sixth formers, dressed as waiters, managed the event to ensure the meal ran smoothly.

Entertainment was provided by St Margaret’s Choir, while generous gifts donated by pupils were handed out, so that each and every resident could celebrate Christmas with a present.

This event is just one of many initiatives the Aigburth secondary school takes part in throughout the year, as it believes in the importance to giving back to the local community and encouraging pupils to invest their time in various charity and volunteer work.

Geoff Laird, Head of Sixth Form at St Margaret’s CofE Academy, says: “We were delighted to welcome the residents of Waverley Care Home back into our school. Our annual Senior Citizen’s Christmas Dinner has been running for fifteen years now and has become a very popular St Margaret’s Christmas tradition, eagerly anticipated by guests and students alike.

Jacqui Thomas, Activities Co-ordinator at Waverley Care Homes, says: “The Christmas lunch at St Margaret’s school is always an eagerly anticipated event with our residents. It’s the perfect opportunity to see some friendly faces and get into the Christmas spirit!

The students are always incredibly welcoming, putting on great musical performances and activities, and even serving the meal themselves! It’s so important for our residents to feel part of the community, especially during the festive season, and St Margaret’s Christmas meal does just that”.

Geoff Laird, adds: “Christmas is a time for sharing and this event is always an invaluable opportunity for our pupils to connect with the local community.

“This aspect of community is integral to our vision here at St Margaret’s and our Christmas Meal is further to our enrichment programme, which encourages students to volunteer and get involved the community. The smiles on the faces of our guests make it all worthwhile.”

To keep the festivities going, pupils will also be carol singing at local care homes across the City in the run up to Christmas.