Young Modern Apprentices host Spanish night for Mayor’s charity

Young Modern Apprentices Liam Bridgeman (16) and Kirsty Dykes (16) from St Anne’s Academy, Middleton welcomed the Mayor and Mayoress to the Spanish Tapas evening at the college restaurant

On 14 April Young Modern Apprenticeship students (YMAS) from St Anne’s Academy and Middleton Technology School, who are studying catering at Hopwood Hall College held an evening of Spanish cuisine at the college’s training restaurant in aid of the Mayor’s charity, the Rochdale Moorland Children’s Home.

Students organised the evening themselves as part of a course assignment and were inspired to choose the theme as they study Spanish at school. The Mayor and Mayoress of Rochdale were invited to the restaurant which was decorated with Spanish flags and posters donated by the Spanish tourist board, for an evening of tapas and sangria that was prepared and served by the students.

YMAS student Liam Bridgeman (16) who is currently in Year 11 at St Anne’s Academy helped to organise and run the event with his course mates. He commented: “We chose the Mayor’s charity because it helps children and we wanted to raise money for people of our own age. The Spanish evening followed on from the success of another event we did last year that raised money for the NSPCC. We visited Harvey Nichols and the Norton Grange with our tutors to research event planning and customer service and hope our efforts this time will raise around £500 for the children’s home.”

After desserts and coffee, the Mayor spoke to students, staff and diners about his involvement with the charity and emphasised that vital funds are always needed for it to continue helping young people in the borough.

The Mayor said of the evening: “The preparation for the event was superb and the enthusiasm and team work was a joy to witness. I applaud the results.”