Afternoon Tea Celebration

Magna hosted a festive Afternoon Tea on Wednesday 12 December in partnership with Rotherham’s Newman School with pupils serving up a selection of treats for teachers, parents and special guests including the Mayor and Mayoress of Rotherham. Whiston based Newman School is a community special school which offers a specialist range of provision to support children and young people with physical disabilities, medical needs and complex learning needs. Pupils have been working closely with Magna’s Head Chef Paul Childs to devise the special afternoon tea menu giving them real life work experience in a busy professional kitchen.

A totally self-funded charity, Magna has been working with local schools and community groups to help give work experience opportunities across all areas of the organisation.

Brian Chapple, Chair of Magna said “What a fantastic afternoon we have shared with the students, teachers and parents of Newman School. It is clear the students have taken a tremendous amount from working with our team to experience the real world of work. Here at Magna we’re in the midst of delivering our legendary EAT BUMP GROOVE Christmas Party Nights which will see us welcome 4,500 party goers with the team working at full tilt, but they jumped at the chance to work alongside the students on such a worthwhile and rewarding project. If we can inspire just one person into a career in hospitality then we will be immensely proud.”

Paul Silvester, Head Newman School added, “The students have been given the chance to show off their skills to a wider audience, to their friends and family as well as special guests including the Mayor and Mayoress of Rotherham. It has been great for their self-confidence and we thank Magna for giving them this opportunity and extra confidence to go out for job interviews and really be part of the community.”

Many of the student’s family and friends joined them for the afternoon to sample the home baked treats including Joanne Harper, a parent of one of the students who not only took part in the cooking but also provided live entertainment during the event. She said, “It takes a village to raise a child and everyone here today is our village. Newman School has given our children the skills and tools to go out into the world and enter the workforce. They have masses of talent and we’re grateful for opportunities such as today thank Magna and the local community for their continued support.”

Rotherham United Community Sports Trust, the local National Citizen Service provider, were also heavily involved in the project to help the students get the most out of the experience, empowering and inspiring them to develop new skills and confidence.

Ruth Dobson, NCS Operations Manager said, “We are delighted to have worked with Newman School again for the third consecutive year and engage their students in our fantastic NCS programme. Being able to provide these students with the chance to learn new skills and try new things and to then give them opportunities like this to showcase their development really does highlight the great impact the programme has on both the young people.”

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