Charity Partner

Our chosen charity for this year is Chefs Adopt a School which teaches children about food and where it comes from, healthy eating and cookery. The sessions are delivered to schools around the country by top chefs and currently reach over 15,000 children a year”.

CHEFS ADOPT A SCHOOL was conceived in 1990 and officially registered as a charity in July 2001. It is the Academy of Culinary Arts' long-term project which, through 'hands-on' teaching is delivered by professional chefs. The focus is to develop an essential understanding of taste and to show children where food comes from and the processes by which raw materials are transformed into food. As well as providing a solid foundation for learning life skills, it is hoped this will encourage them to experiment with food and cooking for themselves.

Since it started, the project has grown to include infants and GCSE-level students, as well as the 7-11 year-old group for which it was originally designed. Every year, we deliver sessions to over 15,000 children in 300 schools. This means that every ten years we are reaching over 150,000 children.

THE MAIN AIMS OF CHEFS ADOPT A SCHOOL are to:

• introduce children to 'real', fresh food through a fresh approach to tasting, the vital role of food and the joys of eating
• advance the education of children and young persons in food, nutrition, hygiene, health and related subjects
• develop their knowledge and understanding and expand their taste and appreciation of food, food provenance and of different cultures.

The Academy is very keen to press the case for food and cooking to be included in the national curriculum for children from 5 years upwards. It recently started work on its campaign FEAST Food Education At Schools Today.

Leading the hospitality profession by example; shaping its future through education…

“The Academy of Culinary Arts is Britain’s leading professional association of Head Chefs, Pastry Chefs, Restaurant Managers and suppliers in Great Britain. While concerned with raising standards and awareness of food, food provenance, cooking and service, its objectives are equally focused on the new generation of young industry people through its education and training programmes and the provision of career opportunities.”

‘Chefs Adopt a School’ is the Academy’s charity where members ‘adopt’ a school and teach children primary and secondary about food, where it comes from, how to taste and cook it.