CONSTRUCTION students have started work on a new community kitchen.

The students from Brighton Metropolitan College rolled up their sleeves to help strip out a derelict office block which will be transformed into a vibrant cookery school run by the Brighton and Hove Food Partnership.

The youngsters have donated their time to work with the not-for-profit organisation as part of their multi-trade course at the college.

Brighton and Hove Food Partnership Community Kitchen manager Alan Lugton said: “The Met students are showing what community really means by working so hard.

“We are so impressed by their spirit and enthusiasm.

“We can’t wait to complete the transformation of this space – so we can get on with inspiring more people to cook and share food.”

The Food Partnership has run food projects in the city for over 13 years but the Community Kitchen is the most ambitious project yet.

The partnership aims to turn the empty Credit Union offices in Community Base, Queen’s Road, Brighton, into a busy teaching kitchen and venue for hire.

Backed by the Jamie Oliver Food Foundation the Community Kitchen will provide cooking lessons and workshops for everyone ranging from beginners to more experienced cooks. The Food Partnership will also run subsidised courses to encourage people who may find cooking more difficult, such as people with learning difficulties, those living on low incomes or people with mental health issues.

The MET students, aged between 16 to 19, will carry out the important initial work on the site including stripping out the existing fittings, walls and ceilings and making the electrical and plumbing work safe for the building to be refurbished.

Met College construction tutor Stephen Wilkins said: “This has been a great opportunity for our students to gain valuable work experience, enhancing their time at college and giving them real world life skills.”