A SUMPTUOUS banquet prepared by young people helped kickstart Cornwall Rural Community Charity’s (CRCC) 80th anniversary celebrations.

Students from CRCC’s Learn Your Way (LYW) and Work Your Way (WYW) programmes prepared and hosted a buffet lunch at Truro’s Old Bakery Studios on July 2 to showcase the skills and confidence they have acquired. More than 60 guests included representatives from organisations including Cornwall Council, GWR, Watergate Bay, Yallah Coffee, Sea Space, Penwith Carers, Geevor Tin Mine and the Great Cornish Food Store.

The lunch included beetroot hummus and rustic bread, chicken with sumptuous salads and a duo of delectable desserts. Eight students took the lead in every aspect of the event, from menu planning and food preparation to front-of-house service.

The programmes are fully funded to support 16 to 24 year olds with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) to build independence, gain qualifications, develop practical skills and take part in supported work placements, progressing into employment and everyday life with confidence.

More than 40 students have attended the programmes this year, with 95 per cent of last year’s cohort progressing into employment, further education, internships or voluntary work.

CRCC chief executive Katherine Nissen said: “Seeing young people take the lead and showcase their skills with such confidence highlights exactly why the programmes we deliver are so important – not only for the individuals involved, but for the future of our communities and local workforce. We’re incredibly proud of what they’ve achieved.”

Cornwall Hospitality Collective CIC founder and director Mark Lewin added: “The students have been doing anything that any member of staff working in a hotel would do.

“They made arrival drinks – Nojitos – from scratch and served them, laid the tables with minimal supervision, and helped with chopping and prepping dishes in the kitchen. Front of house, it was all about customer service, teamwork, leadership skills.

“It always surprises me how well they do it and how involved they get. They were a joy to work with.”

Participant Jess Hollow from Hayle said: “It has really helped my confidence. It’s a lot of work because there are so many people, but I just got on with it. I would definitely do it again.”

Founded in 1946, Cornwall Rural Community Charity (CRCC) is part of a national network of 38 Rural Community Charities represented by Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE).

Working closely with partners across the public, private, and voluntary sectors - including the NHS, Cornwall Council, DEFRA, Seafarer's Charity and the Cornwall Voluntary Sector Forum - CRCC plays a vital role in reducing pressure on public services, supporting local economies and tackling isolation and disadvantage.

In 2025, the charity supported more than 4,000 unpaid carers and 5,600 residents, helped young people into work, delivered hundreds of community projects and invested over £4-million into initiatives spanning education, environmental projects and wellbeing services, including Cornwall Carers Service, the Rural Housing Enabler programme, Clean Cornwall and Fishing Animateur.

Future anniversary events include a major fundraising campaign with an 80-mile coastal walk challenge and gala in November.