Students hope to earn their crust with winning sandwich design

Image via The Northern Echo

FOOD technology pupils have come up with a winning idea for a sandwich to be sold in a high street butcher’s shop.
Three students from Park View School, in Chester-le-Street, designed the Royal Bite sandwich as part of a project working with Dicksons Pork Butchers, who will now sell the winning butty in their shop in the town.
The Royal Bite was a combination of coronation chicken, cheese and crunchy cucumber with the addition of sweet chilli sauce for a slight spicy kick.
The three members of the winning team received an Odeon Cinema voucher prize.
Park View School teacher, Rebecca Howe said: “The aim of the project was to give our GCSE food technology students the opportunity to see food manufacturing processes in a real commercial environment and bring our theoretical work to life.
“To support this, Dicksons welcomed our students to tour their large production facility in South Shields and learn more about how products are actually made.
“All of the students were very engaged in every stage of the project and the final designs showed real thought had gone into the commercial appeal, taste and flavour of each sandwich."
Michael Dickson, managing director of Dicksons, said: “We always aim to involve local schools in food education projects where possible as our large facility in South Shields offers a great environment for young people interested in a career in food production to learn more about the everyday processes involved in getting food from the factory to the shop floor.
“The students at Park View School went above and beyond to submit what was an incredibly detailed project with colourful, delicious ideas for new sandwiches to sell in our stores."

Originally published in The Northern Echo (under Tony Kearney, News Editor and work experience supervisor).

Animal charity appeals for furniture

A CHARITY shop is appealing to supporters to donate furniture to help fund its work with animals. 
Staff and volunteers at the Chester-le-Street branch of the veterinary charity PDSA are asking for good-quality furniture with a fire warning label in exchange for a free collection service.
The appeal comes from efforts to raise vital funds for the charity, whose work includes providing PDSA-funded veterinary treatment in the local area.
A charity spokesman said: “If you’ve recently redecorated, had a clear out or moved house and have unwanted furniture taking up your valuable space, then why not donate your items to PDSA?
“All donations will help us raise valuable funds to care for the sick and injured pets of local people in need.”
Supporters who want to donate their furniture should contact the shop on 0191 3881676 to arrange a free collection.
Donations can also be taken directly to the shop on Front Street between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Saturday.
For more information about PDSA, visit www.pdsa.org.uk.

Originally published in The Northern Echo (under Tony Kearney, News Editor and work experience supervisor). Also in print.