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Great minds weren’t forged in grease
Child health is at a tipping point
Obesity is one of the biggest crises facing our country, with diet-related disease-causing untold personal misery and costing the NHS £6 billion a year and rising. In the most deprived areas, 1 in 3 children leaves primary school obese, almost double the rates in more privileged areas.
Investing equally in the next generation, equipping every child with the skills to eat and cook real food for themselves, is a proven, vital intervention into their future health, wellbeing and happiness. Yet while the school food system has come a long way, there is still too often beige, boring bad for you food being served up in schools.
“But you can’t change the system.” Nope.
“But good food is expensive”. Wrong again.
“Kids don’t need nice food”. Now that’s just mean.
Better is possible
At Chefs in Schools, we’re delivering clean, healthy, inexpensive, generation-powering, mind-opening, society-changing food in schools – and inspiring and enabling schools across the country to follow our lead.
Join the revolution – help us to fuel the future.
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We’re a charity and need your support to do our work. Donate and help us create an army of chef trainers and food education experts who can transform school food.
Our News
What Covid Taught Us About Collaboration
Our Head of Development, Polly Praill, looks back on the lessons we’ve learned from working in school food during Covid – more than anything we’ve realised the vital importance of collaboration when it comes to change.
Stickers Galore!
We are delighted to be receiving thousands of stickers from the wonderful Discount Sticker Printing. The lovely Leah got in touch with Chefs in Schools after reading about our work and offered us stickers and banners to support the promotion of our work.
Ethical Cooking Classes from the Hackney School of Food
We are excited to launch our 2021 cooking classes at the Hackney School of Food. These classes give the chance to learn something new while also supporting our charity. Not only do we have incredible experts lined up to teach tricks of the trade but a few famous faces too. The classes start in January – dates TBC – but vouchers are available now. All proceeds go towards our work in child health and school food.
Hackney School of Food in the running for design awards
We’re delighted to see the Hackney School of Food on the shortlist for the Hackney Design Awards. The school, set within the grounds of Mandeville Primary School – part of the LEAP Federation – opened earlier this year and offers seed to spoon classes to the local community and children free of charge.
Mushroom Protests and Bin Checks – behind the scenes with school chefs
The New School chefs – Jehn and Sophie – have been in place for a few months now and talk through their experiences of working in school food – from mushroom protests to making the menu inclusive.
Chefs in Schools becomes the first beneficiary of The Food People Foundation
We are delighted to be working with The Food People, a food trends organisation which shares our passion for good food. Like us, they recognise the important role that food has to play in improving the health and education of children and young people.
Chefs in Schools Welcomes Increased Support to End Child Food Poverty
Following a major public campaign, which saw charities, food organisations and campaigners working together, the Government has announced a funding package to help alleviate child food poverty. Whilst we welcome this news and thank the Government for taking action, we will continue to call for the extension of free school meals to all children living in poverty. There is still work to do.
Creating ‘Tinned Pears’ – the Director’s story
A lot of people don’t know that food poverty is so prevalent in the UK. I hope that this film is, at the very least, an eye opener to people, a conversation starter. I hope that this film shines a light on the work that charities like Chefs in Schools are doing and moves people to action – Director, Libby Burke Wilde, on ‘Tinned Pears’.
Time to End Child Food Poverty
Chefs in Schools is campaigning alongside many other charities and organisations to end child food poverty. Together, we’re urging the Government to adopt the recommendations of the National Food Strategy. As we launch Tinned Pears – a short film looking at the issue – our Chief Executive, Naomi Duncan, gives her views on why this issue demands urgent attention.