RETHINK FOOD

EDUCATION

Empowering schools through food and sustainability

At Rethink Food, we are on a mission to enable positive connections with food and remove hunger as a barrier to learning. Our programme supports schools (throughout Leeds and Bradford) in improving food security for children, young people, and their families by providing weekly access to fresh, nutritious food alongside an engaging climate and careers education package.

For just £1,800 per academic year (part-funded), your school can join the programme and receive:

A weekly delivery of fresh, quality food
Educational resources aligned with climate action and sustainability
Support in creating a student-led social enterprise

Did you know…?

4.5

Million

children in the UK live in food poverty while millions of tonnes of food go to waste each year.

17

Million

tonnes of CO2 emissions annually, negatively impacting our planet is generated from food waste.

3.5

Tonnes

of food from waste per year is saved by each participating school, equivalent of 13,295 kg CO2 emissions.

What do schools receive?

Weekly Food Delivery

Each week, partner schools receive a delivery of fresh, high-quality food. The food is carefully selected to be nutritionally balanced in line with the Eatwell Guide and is assessed by our expert nutritionists. A significant portion of this food has been rescued and prevented from going to waste, having been deemed surplus for a variety of reasons such as overproduction or packaging changes. By participating in this initiative, schools not only provide access to nutritious food but also contribute to reducing food waste and its environmental impact.

Careers Education

Schools work to establish their own social enterprise through which surplus food is distributed within the school community. Guided by experts, students create a business name, logo, and slogan while applying for different job roles within their organisation. This hands-on approach fosters teamwork, leadership, and business skills, allowing students to gain real-world experience. The social enterprise serves as a hub for educational, social, and environmental learning opportunities, reinforcing the importance of sustainability and responsibility.

Climate Education

Through action learning methodology, students develop a deep understanding of the environmental impact of food waste. They explore the root causes of food waste, investigate sustainable solutions, and take direct climate action. By redistributing surplus food through their school’s social enterprise, students actively prevent food waste while gaining valuable insights into responsible consumption. This initiative helps embed sustainability into school culture and empowers students to make informed choices for a more environmentally friendly future.

Rethink Food Academy

Schools enrolled in the programme gain access to the Rethink Food Academy, a comprehensive educational platform offering a wealth of resources. This includes the Rethink Food Education package as well as the innovative Agents of Change programme, which covers food, health, and sustainability. Additionally, each participating school prevents an average of 3.5 tonnes of food from going to waste annually, reducing their carbon footprint by 13,295 kg of CO2 emissions.