Projects

Campaign Updates

Save Our School Food Standards!

Together with Jamie O, Children's Food Campaign, LACA and Food for Life Partnership SFM are asking all our friends to lobby their favourite MPs to sign EDM 2854, calling for the mandatory school food standards to apply to all schools without exemption.  Ask your MP to sign today!

Food for Life Catering Mark Standards Committee

In 2011, SFM joined the Food for Life Catering Mark Standards Committee hosted by Soil Association.  This group has been working on all elements associated with moving the existing Silver and Gold Catering Mark criteria to a more flexible points based system.  The committee is made up of a  lively mix of school meal caterers, restaurant chef/owners, academics and campaigners. Click here to see the new standards launched in January 2012.

Richmond & Kingston School Meals Working Parties

In January 2010, after much lobbying and a strong show of parent and teacher support, SFM secured a place on the school meals working parties at both Richmond and Kingston Councils. SFM was able to directly influence the next school meals contracts in these two London boroughs and introduced both Sustain and Food for Life Partnership to demonstrate best practice in sustainable procurement.  The new and improved catering contracts were awarded in May 2011 and  take up across Richmond has already increased to 44% (from 26% in 2009 when the campaign started) - that's over 1,500 more children eating better school meals!   Keep up to date via our newsletter.

London Food Board

In June 2010 SFM joined the London Food Board, chaired by Rosie Boycott. The Board meets quarterly to develop strategy to improve Londoners’ access to healthy and sustainable food.  The 12 Executive group members include Judith Batchelar, Director of Sainsbury’s brand and Tim Lang, Professor of Food Policy at City University. 
 

Food Growing in Schools Taskforce

Led by Garden Organic with research funded by DEFRA, the taskforce is examining the benefit of establishing food growing areas in every school in the UK.  Alongside SFM, the group includes Blue Peter gardener Chris Collins; former England rugby union captain, Lawrence Dallaglio, the Royal Horticultural Society, the Women’s Institute and Morrison’s supermarket amongst many other key players.

Breakfast of Food Champions

SFM was invited to join this group in early 2010 to discuss food growing projects.  Meeting each month at Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen, this is an invaluable opportunity for SFM to work in partnership with other local and national organisations and to spark new ideas within the food campaigning sector.

Capital Growth Working Party

SFM continues to be part of the working party for Capital Growth; the campaign to create 2,012 new community food growing spaces in London by 2012, supported by the London Mayor.  Since joining the working party, SFM has promoted Capital Growth to schools, and children from three newly enrolled schools contributed to Capital Growth’s stand at Hampton Court Flower Show in July 2009.

Feeding the 5,000

In 2009 SFM partnered with Tristram Stuart, the renowned food waste campaigner and author of “Waste”.  Feeding the 5,000 took place in Trafalgar Square where SFM coordinated a body of students, parents and teachers to distribute food that would otherwise have been wasted to the assembled crowds.  In November 2011, SFM coordinated the participation of 90 Richmond schoolchildren tasked with inspiring the public to sign the "Reduce Waste Pledge".

Project Updates

School Produce Sale at Waitrose

In July 2010, two Kingston schools participated in a pilot for schools to sell their produce at their local branch of Waitrose.  This was a huge success, with all proceeds going back towards their schools’ gardening projects. In July 2011, 19 schools participated across 10 Waitrose branches in 7 different London boroughs.  This year we are set to double in size in London with 20 Waitrose branches offering a great enterprise opportunity to 40 London schools along with a national pilot of the School Produce Sale in 6 more UK cities.   This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  if your school would like to take part!

Cooking Ideas

Launched in 2009 with Michelin star chef Tom Aikens, Cooking Ideas offers free hands-on practical cooking sessions in schools. Sessions take place in both primary and secondary schools across London’s boroughs and Tom, alongside a growing line-up of other top London Chefs, are inspiring young cooks’ with recipes to try at home. You can find all the recipes on our Cooking Ideas page. If you would like your school to be considered for a Cooking Ideas session please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Grey Court School Farm

Check out our School Farms page to follow the progress of Grey Court School to become London’s first school farm.  You can track the progress of Grey Court‘s free range chicken project on Twitter.

Growing Ideas

SFM likes to celebrate the wonderful work of schools in producing home-grow veg and our Growing Ideas pages offer case studies to inspire you to give growing a go.   We also know that schools need a little funding from time to time so three times a year SFM submits applications to Waitrose Community Matters on behalf of schools.  So far 29 schools have benefited from grants ranging from £50-£208.  If your school would like to take part please contact us.

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