Last year, London Met students, staff, and community volunteers served up holiday spirit with a freshly cooked hot meal and raffle prizes at Highbury Canteen
Date: 19 May 2025
Last December, London Met welcomed local Islington residents to a free festive Christmas lunch held at its Highbury Canteen on the Holloway Road campus.
The event, hosted by the London Met Lab: Empowering London in partnership with Manor Gardens Centre and Islington Council, provided a freshly cooked hot meal to vulnerable residents nominated by the Islington Food Partnership. The London Met Lab: Empowering London team is part of the University’s civic and community engagement strategy.
London Met students, staff, and community volunteers from Islington Council and Manor Gardens prepared and served a traditional holiday menu to the local residents.
The desserts and produce were donated by Pete Doherty (lead vocalist in indie rock bands Babyshambles and The Libertines) through the Islington Food Partnership and also traders from the Nag’s Head Market, while the university’s food supplier provided meat and vegan alternatives. Residents also enjoyed coffee from Lavazza, who also donated raffle prizes including a coffee machine, Lavazza coffee mugs, and an Arsenal-signed T-shirt.
Laura Thomas-Hockey, Head of Partnerships and Development at Manor Gardens Centre, said, “The event was a wonderful example of what can happen when we all come together. The partnership between Islington Council, Manor Gardens, and London Metropolitan University made this event so special.”
Pamela Aristokle, Head of Community Partnerships at Islington Council, added, “Events like this remind us how important it is to support each other and celebrate what makes our community so strong.”
Sophie Cloutterbuck, Director of London Engagement and the London Met Lab, highlighted the impact of student volunteers, “Students that can spare time to help are making a real difference. Their efforts allow us to deliver consistent services and meaningful support to the community.”
The Christmas community lunch embodies the importance of volunteering and community collaboration, bringing warmth to Islington residents during the holiday season. Similar initiatives are in the pipeline for 2025.
Christmas community lunch highlights the importance of volunteering and community collaboration
