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School staff learn that Every Chicken Matters
1st July 2010
High animal welfare standards, how to look after chickens in a school setting and how to afford higher welfare chicken in schools meals, are just a few of the things that school staff will learn during an exciting event being held by the Food for Life Partnership. In collaboration with the Outdoor Classroom – an educational initiative supported by the Farm Animal Care Trust and FAI farms - the event is taking place on the afternoon of the 1st July 2010 at FAI in Wytham, Oxford.Julia Hollander, Guardian writer and author of “Chicken Coops for the Soul” will be addressing the attendees about the benefits and her experiences of keeping chickens. School staff will also hear from Farming and Countryside Education, a national charity that work to promote countryside education, in particular farm visits and also the Country Trust, a national charity that work to bridge the gap between urban and rural environments. The event will involve practical hands on sessions with caterers, farmers, and of course chickens.
Ethical and sustainable food hero Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall says: "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”.
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 and farm links are vital to achieve this.
Besides co-ordinating events, Food for Life Partnership work with schools, farms and caterers towards getting more fresh, local and organic food on the school lunch menu and to get pupils - and interested parents and community groups – cooking and growing food
