Youth Council provide hot meals for vulnerable over Christmas

January 29, 2021

Nizle Biju, Deputy Youth Mayor, pledged as part of her Deputy Youth Mayor manifesto, to do some work with the vulnerable over the festive period. Nizle and her siblings, Noel Biju, Junior Environmental Officer and Merril Biju, Mental Health Officer worked with St Vincent’s Southend to provide meals for vulnerable people in Southend. They prepared, cooked and delivered 30 Christmas dinners on Christmas day itself.

St Vincent’s Southend has been able to continue to support vulnerable people by providing hot meals, clothing and housing items during Covid-19. They have also worked alongside Southend-on-Sea Borough Council and many other charities and organisations, including in the town to support the most vulnerable.

Nizle Biju, Deputy Youth Mayor, said: "Christmas, which is a period of celebration, is also a time to reflect. This Christmas, being extremely hard and challenging during a worldwide pandemic, we decided to think about people in our community who are less fortunate than us.

“When many of us have the opportunity to stay warm and enjoy our Christmas dinner, the thought that there are many in our community who need help and support was worrying us. Myself, and Youth Council officers were able to cook and serve warm dinner to thirty vulnerable people in our community. This made our Christmas more meaningful.”

Daniel Cauchi, centre manager for St Vincent’s Southend, said: “Working with the youth of our Borough has brought about great community spirit. We have continued this throughout this year with the support of young people in our community with the Deputy Youth Mayor leading from the front in providing hot meals for the vulnerable.

“The young people have helped to provide hot meals and food packaging from the foodbank. It is important that they become involved with this key issue in our community so that together we can combat it. This is a great accomplishment where young people have united to turn concern into action.”