SERC Staff and Students Host Christmas Meals at Bangor Elim Church

Around 400 people attended. Each guest got a 3-course sit down meal (vegetable broth, turkey, ham, and pavlova) as well as festive shortbread and mince pies. SERC Students Union provided SERC goodie bags for each guest and sent around 8 volunteers to help with serving food and washing dishes. There was also live music and festive decorations.  

This was an undertaking by students and staff across many course areas and departments, including Ulster University Foundation Degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management, Level 2 and Level 3 BTEC Hospitality, Level 3 Patisserie and Confectionery, Level 2 Professional Bakery, Level 2 Professional Chef, Level 3 Professional Cookery, Business students and Public Services students, SERC Hospitality and Culinary Arts staff across SERC Bangor and Newtownards Campuses, SERC Computing staff, SERC Construction staff, and SERC Students Union staff and members.  

SERC Principal Ken Webb commented, "I would like to extend a special thanks to all those involved in making this event possible. Christmas can often be a challenging time for many people, and the work that the staff and students have done to provide these meals has certainly brightened up the spirits of the attended guests from Bangor and Newtownards foodbanks and community support centres in the leadup to Christmas." 

Karen Douglas, Mayor of Ards and North Down, commented, “The Bangor and Newtownards food banks are two of my three charities that I am supporting this year and I am delighted that by working with the excellent staff and students at SERC, they provided a delicious Christmas meal to 400 people. Both food banks are available for people who are struggling to make ends meet at this time. The support and services they deliver across our Borough are invaluable. I would encourage people to reach out for assistance if they need support during these challenging times." 

Paul Mercer, Commercial Hospitality Manager and Deputy Head of School for Hospitality, Management and Culinary Arts, said, “We are delighted that our SERC staff and students contributed to spreading some much-needed community spirit this Christmas by preparing, cooking, and serving nearly 400 3-course Christmas dinners to members of the community in Ards and North Down. Real-life Project Based Learning opportunities like this not only demonstrate our students’ industry-standard capabilities, but also naturally develop their Transversal Skills: citizenship, working with others, problem-solving and decision-making, self-management, professionalism, and digital literacy.” 

“Through November and December, we have also been collecting money in our commercial food outlets to go to the Bangor Foodbank & Community Support organisation in January, which can be one of the most difficult months of the year for those in need.” 

Ken Scott, Bangor Foodbank and Community Support Manager, commented, “We can't thank the staff and students from the Catering and Hospitality department enough for all their hard work in the run up to our first ever Community Christmas Lunch and Dinner parties. On the day all the students from right across the college came together to set up and serve fantastic food to over 400 invited guests from the local community, without all their hard work the event would not have been possible. The comments we received from those attending have been absolutely fantastic. A big Christmas thank you to all the team at SERC.” 

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