School donates food to Salvation Army Lifehouse in Coventry

A unique volunteering partnership between a local girl’s school and The Salvation Army Lifehouse this week - celebrates three years of making a difference to the quality of life for some of the city’s most vulnerable residents. 

Every Friday lunchtime, pupils at Eden Girls’ School volunteer their time to pack food for residents at The Salvation Army Lifehouse on Harnall Lane West, supported accommodation for people who have become homeless. The Lifehouse is part of the contracted services the Christian church and charity provides to Coventry City Council, assisting up to 80 people back into independent living. The faith-based (Islamic) secondary School began donating food directly to the homeless centre in February 2021, as some of the COVID restrictions were lifted. 

The School has continued its support for the Lifehouse in all that time, and The Salvation Army wants to publicly thank the School and mark the third anniversary of the partnership. 

Shazia Akram, Principal at the School said: 

“In a steadfast commitment to nurturing the leaders of tomorrow, Eden Girls’ School Coventry underscores the pivotal role of community service in shaping the character and values of our students. The schools’ ethos revolves around instilling social responsibility and pupils actively engage in community service initiatives, inspiring charitable and social action.”

The year 10 pupils re-pack food that is provided by FareShare, which is available to parents who need it at the School and also for local residents at The Salvation Army Lifehouse. 

Martyn Evans, Trainee manager at the Lifehouse said: 

“The partnership we have formed between the Lifehouse and the School has been amazing. It is a privilege for us to go into the School and talk to some of the girls about the work The Salvation Army does in the community and world-wide. The food the girls work hard to pack and distribute weekly means so much to our residents, particularly during cold weather snaps. We are so grateful to the staff team and pupils for their thoughtfulness throughout the academic year and their hard work.”

Charity prefect, Zaynab (14) who has been involved for two years said:

“I felt a need to do something in the community, to make a difference and help in some way. Doing the food bank every week, you are doing something valuable to help other people. It helps with our religious values – we have an obligation to help other people.”

Marwo (14), who has been involved for four months said: 

“We are embodying the values of the School in ourselves, using our own time to help people out. We do a lot of fundraising and charitable causes in the School that give us the opportunity to help those less fortunate than us. I think it’s important to support a charity that helps homeless people”.

The food donated from the School varies from week to week, but can typically include: fresh fruit, tinned goods, bread, cereals and custard. In addition, the School holds a community action day in the summer term involving year 10 pupils who prepare a hot nutritious meal for the residents of the Lifehouse.