Students at St Christopher's School in Lincoln have been working with the county council's Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) team to create Christmas care packages.
Students at St Christopher's School in Lincoln have been working with the county council's Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) team to create Christmas care packages.
In total, they produced 66 packages, which included festive goodies kindly donated by ASDA and Morrison's. The packages have been donated to local homeless charity Let Them Eat Cake.
This was part of the council's SEND Employment Project, which gives young people with SEND greater awareness of their skills and qualities, encourages career aspirations and offers an experience of a work environment.
This increases their chances of obtaining paid employment after leaving education.
Scott Eley, SEND employment lead at Lincolnshire County Council, said: "It was so fantastic to see the young people so engaged and wanting to make a difference.
"Not only will the project bring some much-need Christmas cheer to those receiving the packages, but the project also helped the young people develop skills that employers look for, such as problem solving, communication, confidence, and team work.
"I'd like to say a big thank you to teachers Sara Peck and Alice Webster from St.Christopher's and their brilliant support staff in class, and also to ASDA and Morrison's for their donations. Amazing results and a job well done! It's been a really rewarding experience for all involved."
Sara Peck, KS4 leader/class teacher, said: "The students were all very excited at the prospect of helping others, but found it very difficult to sympathise with the problems that homeless people face especially at Christmas.
"Through a wide variety of activities such as interviewing one of the organisers of the charity, the students were able to get an insight into the work they do, as well as the daily struggles a lot of homeless people face.
"The students also took part in a class debate about the stereotypes homeless people face and whether they are justified. It really opened their eyes to how they might have seen a homeless person.
"Students created working teams and allocated roles and responsibilities before designing and filling the packages, as well as leaving a heartfelt letter to the person who would be receiving their package.
"Students excelled themselves by writing persuasive letters to ASDA and Morrison's requesting donations, which were kindly agreed.
"The students have thoroughly enjoyed this project and all of the students hope that their small contribution to the homeless of Lincoln will help make their Christmas a nicer one."
Marion Foster from Let Them Eat Cake added: "We are absolutely blown away by what has been provided from Lincoln St.Christopher's School.
"Whilst we kindly get items donated each week to support the work that we do, we have never received so many on this scale!
"It's fantastic that students and parents have taken the time to help, and we have been so impressed by the interest that students have shown in developing their understanding of those receiving our support.
"The amount of the packages produced makes sure that no homeless person that we are working with will go without a Christmas present to open."