Get Kids Cooking!

We are partnering with Biona Organic to raise money for our education programmes so that we can inspire the next generation to develop a love for cooking. Every penny raised will be kindly matched by Biona Organic so your donation will go twice as far.

This year we opened the Hackney School of Food in partnership with LEAP Federation, transforming a disused caretaker’s cottage into a state-of-the-art cookery school and kitchen garden. We have big ambitions to transform children’s understanding and enjoyment of fresh food, a lack of which is contributing to growing rates of childhood obesity. One in 10 children is obese by age five, rising to one in five by age 11. Children in areas of higher deprivation are three times more likely to be obese than those from the most affluent.

This work is more vital than over as obesity and diet related diseases are major risk factors for Covid-19. This is exacerbated by growing levels of deprivation as a result of fallout from the pandemic.

Developing cooking skills is integral for good health and nutrition and it's vital that we invest in educating our children about this. By teaching children about where their food comes from and connecting this with what they cook in the kitchen, we can empower them to both enjoy good food and make healthier food choices.

“I want to get the children into our kitchen to see how it all works. I think if they understand it, we can cut down on food waste. They’re already learning that yesterday’s food can be transformed into a totally different meal. We’re enjoying being creative, working with our kitchen teams and teaching the students about food.” – Head Chef Jake at Woodmansterne School

This Organic September, Biona Organic’s Little Foodies campaign is supporting children to understand the importance of good, organic food; where it comes from, how it’s grown and how making the right choices can help protect the planet. Through conducting a little experiment of their own, they asked a group of children what they thought organic was, their answers are just one of the reasons why Biona launched its Little Foodies campaign. A wealth of information is available on their dedicated Little Foodies content hub which has all the tools you need to teach your children about organic. From fun downloadable activities like colouring in sheets and word searches, to easy baking recipes and fun educational videos, the hub has everything you need all in one place to help keep your little foodies entertained whilst learning about the importance of organic and the role it plays in environmental conservation.