THE ASDAN (Award Scheme Development and Accreditation Network) sixth form students of Prince Henry’s Grammar School in Otley organised a Christmas food bank appeal to donate to families over the Christmas season.

The ASDAN team are a group of students who take up another A-level qualification based on the development of personal, social and employability skills. Their task was to manage a project and they chose the food bank appeal to help their community during Christmas.

They encouraged the sixth form and staff at Prince Henry’s to donate items. The donors were informed of what the food bank needed most: puddings, tinned potatoes, long life milk and tinned vegetables. They encouraged the sixth form to donate by awarding a prize to the form who donated the most and reminded everyone to add Christmas treats into the donations.

ASDAN student Eva Beldon said: “Thank you to everyone who helped with this food bank appeal, it was a great success, and we enjoyed the great experience. Thank you also to the family run business House Of Furniture for supporting their local community by arranging transportation to the food bank. Lastly, a big thank you to everyone who donated, we couldn't have done it without you.”

Mrs Vicki Robinson-Junni, Student Leadership and Post-16 Manager at Prince Henry's said: “We are really proud of all our Sixth Form students and staff, who have gathered so many donations for the Otley Food Bank. The ASDAN team were excellent – making sure the students and the staff know how to take part and what, in particular, the Otley Food Bank needed in their donation boxes at this time of year. Otley Food Bank stops individuals and families from going hungry and we are glad to be able to help where we can.”

The Christmas Food Bank Project is a part of the ASDAN Level 3 in Personal Effectiveness which allows young people to build the skills they will need as they prepare for future study or work. Otley Food Bank provides food parcels to vulnerable families and individuals over the Otley area.