The Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) has announced that it will be joining the national school food programme the Food for Life Partnership (FFLP) to further enhance the health expertise of the programme. The initiative is led by the Soil Association and RSPH will be working alongside existing partners Focus on Food, Garden Organic and the Health Education Trust.

Heather Davison, Development Director at RSPH, said: “RSPH is delighted to have been given the opportunity to be part of this important initiative aimed at transforming food culture across England. We look forward to sharing our experience and working with all the Food for Life partners and supporters”.

The new partnership is one aspect of the programme’s continued development which has recently been boosted by an award of £3.6 million by the Big Lottery Fund’s Well-Being programme.

The grant will provide core support to the development of the Food for Life Partnership’s programme over the next two years - promoting healthy eating and healthier communities through improved access to nutritious food and food education.

Established in 2007, the Food for Life Partnership currently works with over 4,500 schools across England, supporting them to provide fresh, well-sourced and healthy meals at lunchtimes. It also gives children and their families the opportunity to make better food choices through increasing their cooking skills and gaining a better understanding of where their food comes from.

The funding will enable the Food for Life Partnership to extend the success of its work in schools into new areas such as hospitals, workplaces, universities and care homes. This will be done alongside the continued commissioning of the schools programme by local authorities throughout England.

A further pilot project, working jointly with Age UK in Bath & North East Somerset, will explore how social isolation in older people can be reduced by making use of their valuable cooking and growing skills to support education in schools.
Food for Life Partnership Director Libby Grundy said: "It is fantastic that the impact of the Food for Life Partnership continues to be recognised and supported by the Big Lottery Fund. Every day we are inspired by the many innovative ways that schools make positive changes to their food culture.

"The complex issues of obesity and food poverty continue to be major concerns, and we are keen to explore how the programme can be extended into new areas to reach an even wider group of people and make a positive difference to their long-term health and wellbeing."

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Notes for editors

About the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH)

• The Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) is an independent, multi-disciplinary organisation, dedicated to the promotion and protection of collective human health and wellbeing. Through advocacy, mediation, empowerment, knowledge and practice we advise on policy development, provide education and training services, encourage scientific research, disseminate information and certify products, training centres and processes.
• The RSPH is the oldest public health body in the world and enjoys patronage of Her Majesty the Queen
• It is a registered charity operating under Royal Charter
• The RSPH is an awarding body recognised by Ofqual. Around 100,000 students take our qualifications each year through our network of over 1500 training centres throughout the UK. Our qualifications cover areas including health improvement, food hygiene, pest control, health & safety, nutrition and emergency planning.
• The RSPH is a membership organisation with almost 7,000 members. Membership of RSPH is a widely recognised mark of commitment to public health and brings real professional benefits.
• The RSPH run a wide variety of conferences covering topics such as food safety, water, infection control and occupational medicine as well as training programmes covering all aspects of health improvement
• For further information please contact: Nelly Araujo, Royal Society for Public Health, tel: 020 7265 7322, email: [email protected]

About the Food for Life Partnership

• The Food for Life Partnership has created network of over 4,500 schools across England committed to transforming their food culture. It supports them to provide fresh, well-sourced and nutritious meals and improve their overall lunchtime experience. It helps children, adults and teachers understand the importance of good nutrition and where their food comes from through practical cooking and growing activities and farm visits. 
• The initiative is led by the Soil Association, bringing together the practical expertise of Focus on Food, Garden Organic, the Health Education Trust and the Royal Society for Public Health.
• It is free for schools in England to enrol and provides a wealth of resources to support their progress through the award framework.
• To find out more please contact Jo Wild, Food for Life Partnership, tel 0117 987 4590, email: [email protected] or download a media pack, visit www.foodforlife.org.uk/media