Hospitality Students Stir Up Skills at Dundee Charity

The students, all enrolled in Dundee and Angus College’s Introduction to Hospitality and Professional Cookery (Level 4) course, have been taking part in weekly visits to Signpost International at The Roundhouse in Dundee.

The initiative is led by Louise Barclay-Fraser, Signpost International’s Food Project Coordinator, who also lectures in Professional Cookery at Dundee and Angus College. Her dual role has created a unique opportunity for students to bridge their college studies with meaningful community engagement.

Louise added, “At Signpost International, we collect surplus food from supermarkets, greengrocers, bakers, and allotments. We then transform it into nutritious frozen meals, which are distributed to those in need through foodbanks and larders. Having the next generation of chefs and hospitality professionals working alongside us and supporting us with the day-to-day preparation is a win-win – whether they’re taking deliveries in, chopping veg or making soup, we get to work with students who really want to be here, in a live kitchen environment. In return, they get to master their skills while also learning about the potential of the impactful work we do here in the city.”

Carla Easton, Hospitality Lecturer, Dundee and Angus College, added, “The collaboration with Signpost International grew out of an introduction to an enterprise and sustainability project and has led to live, work experience placement opportunities. It’s been a fantastic opportunity for the students, not just developing their skills but also learning about food waste and how to make the most of the food they’re working with, which they can carry into their future careers and their home lives.”

One of the students, Rhys Deasley from Dundee said, “I really enjoyed working with the volunteers in such a relaxed and friendly environment. We learned how to prepare vegetables, label and portion the meals, and even made compost from the peelings. It was a lot of fun!”

As well as Dundee, Signpost International supports people across the world to be the drivers of their own change, empowering them to tackle poverty and injustice and build communities where people can thrive and flourish.  Focusing on four key themes (Food security; Sustainable livelihoods; Water, sanitation, & hygiene; and Global citizenship), the charity supports around 30-35K people through global partnerships each year. 

For more information, visit https://theroundhouse.scot/