Merchants’ Academy will be cooking 800 Christmas Dinners for free to support members of their local community.
The Academy in Withywood is striving to change how they celebrate Christmas.
Instead of selling special Christmas lunches to pupils, their canteen will be providing free dinners to the pillars of the community.
The event aims to “bring people together” from community organisations, care homes and local businesses.
Acknowledging how 2024 has been a difficult year for many in the community, Georgia-Mae Filer-Little, a Media and Library Officer at the school, said that they wanted to put on “an inclusive community event [whilst] keeping in mind the cost of living and deprivation in the local area.”
The school will also be bringing along their ‘resident magician’ to entertain guests. Younger children will also be able to meet Father Christmas too, to add to the seasonal joy.
Guy Swallow, the Head Teacher of the E-ACT Merchants’ Academy, said in a newsletter that the event will serve as a ‘thank you’ to South Bristol’s communities.
“It is expected that during the event, we will serve hundreds of local people.”
