This month, the Soil Association's Food for Life programme is launching an exciting new project to inspire Medway’s children to visit, explore and learn from our local farmers.
Future Farmers Medway will support four local primary schools to build deep and long-lasting relationships with local farmers and producers, bringing knowledge and passion to the whole school community.
Future Farmers Medway will build on the success of Food for Life’s partnership with us, which has seen 20 schools in the area engage with the programme to embed a healthy school food culture through the dining room, classroom and beyond the school gates. Future Farmers Medway is generously funded by the Buffini Chao Foundation.
Help children understand where food comes from
Grace Dennis, Local Programme Manager, said: “Future Farmers Medway is a fantastic opportunity for four lucky Food for Life schools in Medway. We’ll provide them with the resources, expertise and transport to visit local farms, host school farmers markets, and really help their children to understand where food comes from and why our local food economy matters.”
Building a healthy, sustainable local food economy
Cllr Teresa Murray, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Public Health, said: "We’re working to build a healthy, sustainable local food economy across Medway and local farmers and schools are an important part of that economy. This initiative is a key element within the work we do in our Medway Food Partnership. It is vitally important that all children understand where food comes from. We are committed to encouraging all of our residents to make healthier choices, and for healthy food to be accessible for all residents so they can live longer, healthier and happier lives.”
Future Farmers Medway runs from October 2023 to August 2024. Once the school-based learning phase is complete, Food for Life Medway and the Medway Food Partnership will explore how they can link more local producers to the school food supply chain.