Dundee High School pupils team up with Food Train to cook hot meals for the elderly

School pupils have been cooking up hot meals to help vulnerable people in their community.

The scheme at Dundee High School sees youngsters spend their free time in the kitchen.

They then team up with the charity Food Train to supply home-cooked meals to those in need across the city.

One of the elderly people being supported is 89-year-old Helen Munns, who gets her groceries and a hot meal delivered every week.

She said: “I love cooking, but it’s nice to get your meals made for you as I’m no longer able to carry food.

“About five years ago, coming up to Christmas, I had a large trolley of food and sat down next to two ladies, who said ‘have you ever thought of the Food Train?’. I’ve been with them ever since, I cannot fault them.”

The school teacher behind the scheme said pupils wanted to “give something back” to the community.

Ottilie Anderson, who teaches health and food technology, said: “We’ve done lots of different types of meals. We’ve done soups, main meals and we’ve done desserts.

“They have really been developing their cookery skills during this project. We think it’s a really good social enterprise project for them to be involved in.”

Once the work in the kitchen is done, volunteers pack the delivery van.

Amanda Symington, development officer at the Food Train, said: “For quite a lot of our members, this ensures that they get a home-cooked meal.

“As we generally do their shopping, a lot of them through ill health, maybe their eyesight, they resort to microwave meals because it is quicker and simpler.

“But we enjoy going in to sit and have a chat to see how they are. They enjoy seeing us and knowing they are going to get their food every week makes them happy.”