FixOurFood in Schools
FixOurFood in Schools is a research and action partnership working across a number of school food-focused initiatives. We are part of FixOurFood – an ambitious, visionary 5-year project – which started in 2020.
Our vision
Our vision is for affordable, healthy, sustainable and tasty food for all; good for the health of our children and our planet. We are moving towards approaches which provide the greatest benefit to those needing it most.
Our challenge
To support Yorkshire primary schools in delivering on the difficult task of providing healthy school meals to all children, which are created from fresh, sustainable and locally sourced produce.
FixOurFood in Schools Network
Provision of healthy school meals created from fresh, sustainable and locally sourced produce is not necessarily easy for schools. FixOurFood in Schools is here to support Yorkshire primary schools in achieving this vital aim. We are developing a network of Yorkshire schools to support all Yorkshire primary schools and to help shape the future of food in schools. Through this network you can access data to compare your school’s approach to food to others in your area, free teaching resources, opportunities for school trips and enrichment activities plus more. You can complete a short survey now to join our Yorkshire primary schools network and find out more about the network by visiting our initiatives page.
Our current impacts
Supporting auto-enrolment for free school meals across Yorkshire
Sheffield have had huge success with auto-enrolment leading to a significant uptake in free school meals in the area; thus directly supporting individual children suffering regular food insecurity.
We are working with Sheffield to encourage other areas of Yorkshire to do the same. We have met with the Department of Public Health and many Local Authorities to progress this and prove the benefits of auto-enrolment to the UK.
Driven Holiday Activities and Food extension funding through UKRI
More children from disadvantaged backgrounds who regularly suffer food insecurity are able to receive free healthy food and critical learning opportunities during the holidays.
Read our evaluation of the Holiday Activities and Food programme written with our partners at The Food Foundation
Leaders for Change
We are working with young people across Yorkshire schools as part of our Leaders for Change programme. We provide opportunities and support for young voices both within school and through opportunities within York University
School Observation days
Through our school observation days we have found that schools need more time, more resource and mandated policies. No two schools are the same and most want to improve their food provision.
We have also witnessed many positive changes in schools. However schools are challenged by conflicting priorities and have to go above and beyond in order to deliver, due to time pressures.
If you are interested in hosting an observation day at your school get in touch at fixourfoodinschools@york.ac.uk
Trained 50 citizen scientists across 11 schools
We have a large cohort with greater understanding of the link between food and climate change who are passionate about taking the message to a wider schools’ audience
Transforming food culture in Yorkshire’s schools and early years settings report
In 2022, FixOurFood carried out a survey and workshops with a diverse range of students, practitioners and researchers involved in school food in Yorkshire. The Three Horizons practice was used to understand current challenges, desired futures, and critical actions needed to support transformation. We have summarised the discussions and actions raised during this process in a report: Transforming food culture in Yorkshire’s schools and early years settings
More detail on our initiatives
We are involved in many initiatives working towards better food provisions for children. For more information on each initiative click on the relevant image below:
Auto-enrolment for Free School Meals
Free School Meal Allowance Project
Working with Young People - Leaders for Change
Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Evaluation
FixOurFood in Schools NetworkMeet The FixOurFood In Schools team
Our core team is supported by a steering committee and partner institutions. We work on a daily basis with primary schools, nurseries and secondary schools in Yorkshire.
Maria Bryant
Nicola Nixon
Georgia Irving
Sundus Mahdi
Louise Padgett
Rob Oxley