SERC Students Make Christmas Gifts for Leonard Cheshire

Students on SERC’s Foundation Learning course at our Lisburn and Downpatrick campuses recently created Christmas gift hampers for residents in Taylor Cheshire House, Leonard Cheshire’s supported living environment for people with varying abilities in South Belfast. Their services support people with physical disabilities, acquired brain injuries, sensory impairments, and learning disabilities to live independently in their own home. 

Anne Murphy, associate lecturer at SERC, spoke about the collaboration, she said “Our students are doing their Duke of Edinburgh and there were limited volunteering opportunities for them in the community due to COVID-19, to compensate we came up with the idea of creating the gift hampers for the residents of Taylor Cheshire House. 

“For some of the residents, these hampers will be only gifts they receive this Christmas. The students produced hand-made pop-up cards, baked goods and made Christmas ornaments. Students also made some hampers with toiletries, chocolates, and included quiz books - which will be fun for residents especially when they meet in the communal areas. 

She added, “Working on this project has helped us and our students meet the volunteering requirement of the Duke of Edinburgh qualification and we hope it has help a establish a long-term relationship with Leonard Cheshire.” 

Anne concluded, “This year has been understandably difficult for many, including those at Taylor Cheshire House, we’re hoping that these gifts will bring smiles to the faces of the residents.”