A programme that supports healthy eating and growing among primary schools and early years settings will be considered for a contract extension at the next Walsall Council Cabinet meeting on Wednesday 14 December 2022.
Food for Life, run by the Soil Association, aims to encourage making good food the easy choice for everyone, reconnecting people with where food comes from and championing the importance of well-sourced ingredients.
Public Health Walsall commissioned Food for Life in 2017, the first Food for Life programme in the Black Country.
So far, the programme has engaged with 86 settings (primary schools and early years), reaching over 18,000 children. The settings have also worked towards a Food for Life Award.
Cabinet will consider the recommendation to extend the contract of Food for Life from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024. This will enable schools, caterers and parents to encourage healthy eating and for children to continue to be able to access good quality food and understand where the food comes from. The extension will also provide an opportunity to review the Council’s approach to continue offering improved food quality and food education to all.
“ I warmly welcome this innovative programme and support the recommendations that Food for Life targets schools and early years settings, based on levels of deprivation, to educate children in Walsall about healthy, tasty and sustainable food.
Food for Life aims to ensure that meals in schools and nurseries meet national guidelines and that the wider community in Walsall are supported to know how to source, grow and cook healthy and sustainable meals. “
Councillor Mark Statham, Portfolio Holder for Education and Skills
Walsall Council.
Primary schools and nurseries across Walsall, as well as the wider community, have benefited from the support of the Food for Life programme.
“ Ever since we began working with Food for Life, we have been continuously supported in our journey to complete our award. We have been given a wide variety of resources and have enjoyed getting involved with your community. Whilst taking a whole setting approach. “
Blossoms on the Common.
Walsall-based nursery.
