A CHAPPEL-BASED food firm has been doing its bit to help dish up meals for the needy at a night shelter.

Direct Meats, at Knights Farm in Swan Street, teamed up with Market Field College, in Clacton.

The college’s hospitality and catering students have been using their skills in the kitchen to create nutritious and tasty meals with food donated by the Chappel firm to create nutritious meals for Colchester Night Shelter.

Sales director Nicola Chandler worked with catering tutor Paul Wassan to bring the night shelter partnership to fruition.

Each week the firm sends donations of meat and dried products to the college.

Budding chefs then cook up a storm in the kitchen with their food being delivered to the charity by Mr Wassan each week.

College spokesman Claire Skeggs said: “We are delighted to be working in unison with a great local employer in Direct Meats, who have actively supported our students, offering work placements, traineeships and future possible apprenticeships, and with the Colchester Night Shelter, which is such an important and much-needed facility.

“We hope this is the start of an ongoing community project which will help all concerned.”

Direct Meats has built up a close relationship with the college and host many of its students, who are studying for hospitality and catering City and Guilds award qualifications.

Each week Mr Wassan and the students create a dish from a list of ingredients.

The team even cooked a Christmas dinner hot meal delivery so people at the night shelter could enjoy a turkey meal on the big day.

Night shelter spokesman Lynn Meadow said: “We are exceptionally lucky to have lovely meals made by the pupils at Market Field College, with ingredients donated by Direct Meats.

“It is such a lovely idea and one which considerably helps out the Night Shelter.

“We really can’t thank them enough for thinking of us to work with.”