EDUCATION Pupils bridging the age divide at city soup club
CARING pupils from a Cardiff high school are helping run a community soup club.
The club is held at St Francis parish centre every Wednesday following morning Mass and is supported by the staff and students of Mary Immaculate High School, Wenvoe.
The initiative, organised by the Sisters of St Vincent de Paul Convent on Grand Avenue, Ely, aims to bring together different age groups in the community.
Each week, a group of Mary Immaculate students attend the lunch to help serve soup, clear up and chat with people attending the event.
The school said helping run the soup club gives pupils an opportunity to develop communication skills and offer something practical to their local community.
Tony Mills, lay chaplain at Mary Immaculate High School, said: “We were invited by Sister Ann from the Convent on Grand Avenue to take part in this weekly community gathering, and we are always keen to give our students the opportunity to get involved with local community events.
“Our pupils have enjoyed helping with the running of the soup kitchens, but the most valuable learning experience for all involved has been the conversations which take place across all age ranges.”
Mr Mills added: “We have been working together for more than six months now and I strongly feel that community partnerships like this provide a lot of learning opportunities for everybody involved.
“A lot of meaningful learning takes place outside of the classroom and we place great value on community projects such as these.
“Our Year 10 and 11 students are volunteering their time to help with this project and they are all benefiting from the experience and adding value to others.
“I know that a lot of individuals from the local community have thoroughly enjoyed chatting with our young people and really look forward to seeing them at the weekly event.
“Many of them do not have the opportunity to sit down and have a conversation with young people and, as a school, we are keen to encourage activities which ensure the generational divide is narrowed.”