Inspired by famous dinner lady Jeanette Orrey, the Soil Association founded Food for Life in 2003 to help schools source fresh, local and organic produce and give pupils the chance to visit farms to see how their food is produced. Food for Life has since evolved into a wide ranging programme of initiatives in schools and beyond, all of which inspire people to source food with care and celebrate its real value.

       

Food for Life Partnership
The Food for Life Partnership is a five-year Big Lottery-funded initiative, led by the Soil Association, to transform food culture in schools and communities across England, bringing together the practical expertise of the Focus on Food Campaign, Garden Organic and the Health Education Trust.

Our mission is to reach out through schools to give communities access to seasonal, local and organic food, and to the skills they need to cook and grow fresh food for themselves. We want a new generation to explore how their food choices impact on their health and that of the planet, and to rediscover the pleasure of taking time to enjoy real food.

All schools in England can enrol with the Food for Life Partnership and work towards Bronze, Silver and Gold Marks for good food culture, rewarding everything from seasonal, local & organic meals to cooking and growing activity and links with farms. In addition, 180 diverse schools across England are being selected to become Flagship Schools - outward-facing exemplars for other schools to visit and learn from.

Visit the Food for Life Partnership website at www.foodforlife.org.uk to find out how to get involved!

If you would like to learn more about the Food for Life Partnership, please contact:
Neko Griffin, Food for Life Partnership Information Officer
T: 0117 314 5180
E: ngriffin@soilassociation.org


Food for Life Scotland
Food for Life Scotland was launched in October 2003 with the publication of the Food for Life report for Scotland, commending the Scottish Executive for its own school meals initiative, Hungry for Success, started in 2002, with its nutritional standards based on Caroline Walker Trust guidelines and a whole child/whole school approach to encouraging uptake of school meals. Food for Life Scotland works with schools and caterers across the country to help them source fresh, local and organic food, and make the links with practical food education. Several Local Authority catering services were involved in piloting the introduction of Food for Life targets, using 75% fresh, 50% local and 30% organic ingredients.

Visit the Food for Life Scotland page on the Soil Association Scotland website to find out how to get involved!

For more information about Food for Life Scotland, please contact:
Pam Rodway
Food for Life Scotland Manager
E: prodway@soilassociation.org


Food for Life Catering Mark
In April 2008, the Soil Association will be launching a Food for Life Catering Mark at Bronze, Silver and Gold levels, to enable caterers to demonstrate their commitment to using an increasing amount of fresh, local and organic ingredients. The Food for Life Catering Mark will distinguish menus that use fresh, seasonal, local and organic ingredients, high welfare meat and sustainable fish wherever possible.

The Food for Life Catering Mark will be launched for school caterers in April 2008, and extended to other sectors in the course of 2008. Sector-specific criteria and guidance are being developed in consultation with a wide range of leading caterers from the private and public sectors.

For more information about the Food for Life Catering Mark, send an email to:
E: catering@foodforlife.org.uk