North-Derbyshire restaurant, The Tickled Trout has provided 140 lunches for summer school pupils at Outwood Academy in Newbold.
The initiative is the latest in a line of kind community efforts from the Barlow-based gastro-pub, after staff provided doctors, nurses and carers at Chesterfield Royal Hospital with meals during the height of the covid-19 pandemic.
Chris Mapp, who owns and manages the restaurant said: “We just want to do our bit to help people in this really troubling time. I hope that by providing these lunches, it can help the students get a bit more out of the summer School.
“Having been in the academy, I am aware of the culinary talent of the students already there. It really is exceptional. Some of the dishes were brilliant, especially Mia’s dessert which I would quite happily serve in the restaurant. I am excited to work with the students more and see them progress.”
Chris also runs an education programme with the school through his restaurant, to help students improve their skills, and to identify students who could become future apprentices and embark on a career in the sector.
Rob Southern, Head of School at Outwood Academy Newbold, said: “We are delighted and grateful that Chris has stepped up to do this for us. Everyone is aware of how difficult it has been the last 18 months, and it really is a time for people to come together and work together.
“At Outwood, we believe in working with our community to the benefit of our students and this partnership is the perfect example of this. Working closely with someone as talented as Chris will be the opportunity of a lifetime for some of our students.”
The Tickled Trout supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 180 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.
