Hello Eco Living

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall gives out well earned awards

3 December. 09 / by Laura Fitzpatrick / 1 comment

Last night we were invited to the Food For Life Partnership awards down south. It took place at an organic farm called Sheepdrove. As we live in the wilds of Northumberland we were unfortunately unable to attend, but we’ve caught up with all of the gossip this morning.

Winners!

A firm favourite of ours, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, presented Silver and Gold awards to schools that are simply outstanding when it comes to making changes to their food culture.

We’re big supports of this campaign – we wrote about it last month (click here to take a peek!). It’s a massive task for schools to make the move to set up organic school gardens, cooking clubs or make other vital changes to the way their grow and consume food – so when changes are made awards are rightly given out. We’re ever so pleased that there are already 1,500 Food for Life Partnership schools making changes across the country

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall said:

What makes this project so inspiring is the way that young people in more than a thousand schools are now learning about real food in a hands-on way, growing and cooking it themselves and even rearing their own chickens! I would urge the Government to do more to encourage all schools to follow their lead.

All Silver and Gold Food for Life Partnership schools only serve free range or organic chicken and Hugh spent the morning with progressive Food for Life caterers discussing how to make the aims of Hugh’s ‘Chicken Out!’ campaign happen in school meal catering and give thousands more young people the chance to eat high welfare chicken for lunch.

He said: “I’m delighted that the Food for Life Partnership is taking my ‘Chicken Out!’ campaign for higher welfare chicken into the world of school meals with such success, proving that young people really do care about where their food comes from.”

Emma Noble, Director of the Food for Life Partnership says: “I’m so proud to be celebrating these innovative schools, who have created a healthy, sustainable and enjoyable food culture within their schools and communities to the benefit of everybody involved.

“These schools show what real 21st century education is all about, which is using real life experiences to teach the curriculum and providing the next generation with solutions to what threatens their future, namely climate change and the obesity crisis. By empowering young people to make informed food choices and giving them the skills to grow and cook food for themselves and their families, Food for Life Partnership schools lead the way for a more sustainable future.” 

A little bit more about the awards:

“Silver” schools now serve school meals on plates, not flight trays, and have a range of locally sourced and organic items on the menu. All chicken, bacon and sausages served are Freedom Food certified or free range and no fish from unsustainable sources is served. The Silver schools have cooking clubs, and pupils get to cook with and eat the produce grown in the school growing area. Parents and the wider community get involved in food education via food-themed events.

“Gold” schools are hubs of good food culture in their community, actively involving parents and community groups in cooking and growing activities. Their school meals are at least 75% freshly prepared, 50% local and 30% organic, and more than 70% of pupils are choosing to eat school meals. Every pupil in a Food for Life Partnership Gold school learns to cook, has the opportunity to grow food, and groups of pupils are actively involved in the life of a local farm.

Tags: eco awards, eco for kids, Food for life partnership, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, organic standards