A COMMUNITY group invited some of its regular users and staff for a spot of festive afternoon tea.
Organised by the University of Reading, the Whitley Community Development Association (WCDA) celebrated its work throughout the year with hot drinks and food prepared by the university’s catering team.
Students volunteered their time to serve the refreshments while also sharing stories with the residents in attendance.
Molli Cleaver, the university’s community relations manager, said: “We have been working in partnership with WCDA to build better relationships with the Whitley community. The afternoon tea was just one way in which we are heading off campus to connect with residents and hopefully demonstrate how we want to engage more with our local community.
“It was a great afternoon made even better with performances from the choirs at John Madejski Academy and Reading School. We are excited to work with WCDA and Reading University Students’ Union this term to welcome residents to Whiteknights Campus for a Spring afternoon tea.”
WCDA community development coordinator Trisha Bennett delivered a brief speech thanking those in attendance for their contributions in 2022, while Ms Cleaver also shared a few words about the university’s plans to further strengthen ties within the community.
In December, members of the Whitley Researchers were invited to the university’s department of Food and Nutritional Sciences to observe how biomarkers are used to analyse consumption patterns.
Resident David Turner, who runs the Whitley Community Museum, said: “The festive afternoon tea held at the Community Centre today was a great success with thanks to the University of Reading for funding this event for the community.
“They are anxious to support all that is important in the social aspect in an area such as Whitley and wish to build on the success the Community Centre has achieved in recent years.
“This afternoon proved that there is an overriding positive attitude in the community rather than the negative that sometimes comes across.
“The school choirs that took part today were an absolute credit to the community, their parents, their school and themselves. The aim for the future is to engage further with local schools and to encourage further events involving the students.”
