December is a busy month at EMA with festive themed sessions and activities happening across both campuses that allow students to develop and utilise skill in diverse ways, with everything from planning, communication, hospitality skills, and crafts.
Foodbank donations and Christmas fundraising
Moreton Campus students have been exploring important topics such as poverty, hunger, and food insecurity, alongside the role food banks play in supporting local communities during challenging times. After thoughtful discussions and planning, they organised a call for donations from staff and students to support Dorchester’s foodbank. The collected items were delivered yesterday! Also, both campuses at Moreton and Gillingham took part in Christmas Jumper Day in aid of Save the Children UK. Staff and students together donned their favourite Christmas jumpers, and donated to the charity.
Staying connected and engaging with the local and wider community is a cornerstone of the EMA experience across both campuses. This commitment is upheld through various student-led initiatives. Students apply their developing skills to plan and deliver a range of activities, including visits to local care homes, litter picks, bake sales, and car washes, along with hosting events such as afternoon teas, and lunches for parents and carers and some of our feeder schools.
The great EMA Cake-off!
In Hospitality skills, Moreton students showed off their impressive Christmas cake baking and decorating. Once all the cakes were made, students across different classes all joined together for an exhibition of their cakes where they were able to celebrate and feedback on each others work.
All the students did amazing with their cakes, doing everything from scratch, and there was a real festive atmosphere as we had Christmas music during the exhibiting. They were all very proud to show off the finished creations!” – Kerry, Learning Support Worker
Christmas Lunches
Our annual campus Christmas lunches were a fantastic way to bring together as many people as possible from EMA to celebrate the end of term before the holiday break. Students at Gillingham and Moreton played a key role in the festivities, helping with food preparation, dessert-making, and even cooking and dressing the tables on the big day.
Feedback from staff has been overwhelmingly positive—many said these were the best Christmas lunches EMA has ever hosted! This is a true testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved over the past few weeks. The puddings were especially a highlight, made entirely from scratch and featuring sticky toffee pudding, classic school cake, and delightful mince pies. Many staff even took extras home to share with their families.
A huge thank you to Tutors Claire and Natalie and their teams, the students and adult social care individuals who contributed, and the staff team members who cooked and plated up on the day. Your efforts made the celebrations truly special!
See you in 2025!
