St Wilfrid’s Catholic High School has been selected by the new Lottery-funded Food for Life Partnership (FFLP) to become one of 180 Flagship Schools and Communities across England that will be recognised as national leaders on food quality and food education. St Wilfrid’s Catholic High School is one of the first 6 schools to be chosen in the Yorkshire and Humber region.Taking up the challenge laid down by Jamie Oliver’s school dinners campaign, the Food for Life Partnership has been funded by the National Lottery over five years from 2007 to help transform food culture in schools across the country.
Building on St Wilfrid’s Catholic High School’s achievements to date, the Food for Life Partnership will now help them put more fresh, local & organic food on the menu and get pupils – and interested parents and community groups – cooking and growing food and visiting local farms.
St Wilfrid’s Catholic High School will now receive hands-on support from Food for Life Partnership staff to achieve a Food for Life Partnership GOLD Mark, which will put us at the top of the league table on food culture in school. This will mean that:
1. Our catering team will get help sourcing at least 75% fresh, 50% locally sourced, and 30% organic ingredients for our school meals.
2. For one week we will host the Food for Life Partnership Cooking Bus, which will welcome, staff, parents and community groups on board alongside pupils to teach useful cooking skills in practical hands-on sessions.
3. A garden education officer will help the school community further develop an organic growing area in which pupils can grow food for school meals and cooking.
4. We will build stronger links with community food businesses and one or more local farms.
5. Pupils will be given some of the most enjoyable and memorable experiences of their school lives, cooking and growing food and linking with a local farm.
Headteacher Mr J McNally said: “I am delighted St. Wilfrid’s has been selected to work with the Food for Life Partnership on this project. The partnership recognised our achievements in providing healthy food for our pupils and raising awareness of healthy, sustainable lifestyles but this support will help us take this to a new level. I very much hope and expect our partnership will provide new opportunities for the whole of our local community to learn more about all aspects of food, including its production. I know our pupils will really enjoy the extra experiences we will now be able to offer. ”
Quote from Catering Manager…..
“This gives the catering team a great opportunity to change the food culture of St Wilfrid’s.
The staff will have the opportunity to work with the Food for Life Partnership organisations, and build on their knowledge and skills around food and nutrition.
We already embrace giving our students some locally sourced food and we look forward to developing this provision with the help of the Food for Life Partnership”.
Amanda Donnelly, FFLP Yorkshire and Humber regional co-ordinator, says: “St Wilfrid’s Catholic High School has been selected as a Flagship School because they are committed to giving food the priority it deserves as part of their commitment to the life-long welfare and skills of their pupils, and are willing to share their learning with other schools. Other schools wanting to get involved should visit www.foodforlife.org.uk
It is more important than ever before that young people learn in school about the impact of food on their health and that of the planet. On current trends, by 2020 over one quarter of children will be obese and children will have a shorter life expectancy than their parents. A fifth of our climate change impact comes from the food we eat.”
Notes
1. The Food for Life Partnership is a five-year Lottery-funded initiative, led by the Soil Association, to transform food culture in schools and communities across England, bringing together the practical expertise of the Focus on Food Campaign, Garden Organic and the Health Education Trust.
The Soil Association is the UK's leading environmental charity promoting sustainable, organic farming and championing human health.
The Focus on Food Campaign is the leading food education support programme for the teaching of cooking in the UK’s primary and secondary schools.
Garden Organic is the UK’s leading organic growing charity dedicated to researching and promoting organic gardening, farming and food.
The Health Education Trust is the national charity dedicated to initiating and supporting work with children and young adults to encourage the growth of healthy lifestyles.
The Food for Life Partnership works to transform school and community food culture across England, by harnessing the ideas and initiative of young people and community leaders. Our mission is to reach out through schools to give communities access to seasonal, local and organic food, and to the skills they need to cook and grow fresh food for themselves. We want a new generation to explore how their food choices impact on their health and that of the planet, and to rediscover the pleasure of taking time to enjoy real food.
2. Other schools wishing to become Flagship Schools should go online and join the Food for Life Partnership at http://www.foodforlife.org.uk/
6 schools in Yorkshire and Humber have been selected this time round – 14 more will be selected from 2008 onwards.
