by Kim Smith – Food Education Network (pic above: Anna Jones (centre) – TasteEd Patron, with Jenny McConnel and Kim Smith
Despite the downpours and being just off the main Festival site, more than 40 people working to engage children with learning about food came together to connect and inspire each other. In collaboration with Jenny McConnel from the Office of the Future Generations Commissioner, Kim Smith, a food education advocate, teacher and researcher gathered the “army of food educators” who work tirelessly to ensure children learn about food, to raise awareness of projects, connect likeminded people, and support friendly networking to help food education be even more impactful.
Over a locally sourced brunch, kindly funded by food education alliance Countryside Classroom, a series of Fast Food Talks were given by a wide range of projects. These included: the deforestation school meal project Size of Wales; food classes taking place at the Abergavenny Community Centre where food is at the heart of all they do; Cegin y Bobl who work to train future school food leaders; Countryside Classroom’s farming and nature resource hub which also includes a database for school farm visits; and another local group who run online cook along clubs for children teaching parents how capable children are in the kitchen.
There was also strong local government representation with public health, schools and sustainability teams sharing the work taking place across the food system. Inspiringly joined up policy approaches, and implementation working with many NGOs in partnership, demonstrated the power of a central government, empowering communities to get food education to where it is needed. Much of this work was driven and linked to the unique Welsh Future Generations Act. Sustainable Development Advisor Jenny McConnel explained how ‘education is a central and high impact way to improve future generations’ and it was evident what a driving force this innovative policy is for food education.
Talks could have continued long into the afternoon, but there was important networking to be done. People were keen to learn from each other, overcome significant funding and implementation barriers and see how working together could bring more impact, especially with government. The energy in the room was palpable, and everyone spoke of the desperate need to connect children, their families and communities with food. The power of learning about food to facilitate meat reduction in school meals, supporting children’s mental health through therapy goats and school farms, growing veg with children to help them learn to love eating the veg, and helping children to overcome their fear of trying new foods with sensory food education was visible.
Delayed departures called for more events, a bigger presence for food education in the main Festival, and for more connection and collaboration to equip children with all the skills and knowledge they need to live well, for life in the food system they are living in. This feels like this is just the beginning…
Huge thanks to Abergavenny Food Festival, Office of the Future Generations Commissioner, Countryside Classroom, Abergavenny Community Centre, Winsbury Dairy, Angel Bakery, Little Batch, Preservation Society, Mamgu Welsh Cakes, Black Mountain Preserves and Extract Coffee.
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