Regional News
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DVD Shows what’s on the Menu for Hampshire Primary School Children
County food group Hampshire Fare and Hampshire school meal provider HC3S are currently distributing 90,000 free DVDs to parents of every child at Hampshire’s 460 primary schools, to highlight the ‘field to plate’ journey of school food and encourage the uptake of school meals across the county. The DVD is presented by TV presenter Chris Packham, himself a parent and avid supporter of Hampshire School meals.
This follows a successful pilot in June when 2000 free DVDs were distributed. Feedback from this pilot confirmed that the majority of respondents (97%) found the DVD interesting and over 50% had learnt something from watching the DVD - primarily that vegetables served for school lunches are fresh and that ingredients are sourced locally.
Even prior to Jamie Oliver’s TV campaign, Hampshire school caterers HC3S had switched to a healthy eating programme, developing and improving their menu to meet current dietary requirements for children. Says Amanda Frost, Head of HC3S: “HC3S cares about where ingredients for our school meals come from, and the nutritional value of these. We want to get this message over with the DVD, to reassure parents and encourage more children to benefit from healthy school meals here in Hampshire”. As part of their healthy eating campaign, HC3S has been working with Hampshire Fare for the past three years to increase the inclusion of local food on the school menu, with notable successes including organic minced beef, seasonal vegetables and milk. This has been both a farmer and Hampshire Fare led initiative to reconnect the local food chain.
The scheme has been funded by SEEDA (South East England Development Agency) in association with FRIG (Farming and Rural Issues Group), and supported by Hampshire Fare, HC3S, Hampshire County Council, Hampshire farmer Mike Smales and the South East Food Group Partnership.
For more information, contact Tim Brock, Hampshire Fare Manager on 01962 845999. www.hampshirefare.co.uk

Let’s Get Cooking - new Regional Posts
A Let’s Get Cooking Club Coordinator and Training Officer are now in post are are offering support, training and resources to either establish new cooking clubs or support exisiting clubs aimed at children, their families and the wider community. The first cycle of recruitment of schools in the region is now underway. Until July 2008 the recruitment and training for cookery clubs will focus on Brighton & Hove, Portsmouth, Southampton and the Isle of Wight.
Let’s Get Cooking staff in the South East
Sophie Wogan – Regional Club Coordinator
T: 01483 882399 / 07795 427744
E: sophie.wogan@sft.gsi.gov.uk
Mari Polonen – Regional Training Officer
T: 07795 953219
E: mari.polonen@sft.gsi.gov.uk
or visit www.letsgetcooking.org.uk