The IndependentSchool Food Plan

What’s worked well:

Since being awarded Food Flagship status in July 2014, Croydon and Lambeth have forged ahead with bold and ambitious plans to transform their food landscape, making good healthy food the easy option for all.  Both Boroughs already have a host of projects working with schools, community groups, public places and retailers.

Both Lambeth and Croydon have their own school food plans in place, which translate national policy into local action, and have identified specific Flagship schools to serve as champions for the programme. Schools in both boroughs are now working to implement these plans and are serving as catalysts to drive improvements in the wider community.

The Food Flagship ethos and approach will be championed by all who live, work and do business in the borough; in homes, schools, supermarkets, hospitals and workplaces. Organisations and citizens will work collectively to bring about a transformation to the obesogenic environment – The Flagships are not programmes that are ‘done to’ citizens – it is something of which they are an intrinsic part.

Snippets of success:

Lambeth

Lambeth have worked with founder Pam Warhurst, Garden Organic and Incredible Edible Lambeth to develop an ‘Incredible Edible’ route through Clapham Common. This interactive project extends from local schools to surrounding green spaces, estates and businesses, providing an extraordinarily visual and interactive illustration of community-led food engagement.

Lambeth also successfully launched the Alexandra Rose voucher scheme, which provides support for low-income families to gain cheaper access to fruit and vegetables from local markets, and are working  with retailers to determine how they can improve food provision within local supermarkets.

Croydon

Croydon held a ‘What Works Well’ schools conference bringing together local schools, caterers and partner organisations. The three ‘Flagship’ schools are creating dynamic school networks, making sure that help and support is available in all schools across the borough.

Croydon has also launched its Community Food Learning Centre, which has been providing residents with cooking and growing courses, whilst Garden Organic has been using their Master Gardeners and Food Buddies scheme to increase the borough’s food growing capacity.

What’s coming up:

Both Boroughs have ambitious plans to take the Flagships into 2016 and beyond.

Croydon is committed to hosting a Flagship Regeneration summit, working with retailers and housing developers to make sure that their massive infrastructure project creates a better food environment for its citizens.

Meanwhile, Lambeth will be launching their village hub pilot in early 2016, which will see more intensive and systems-wide interventions for the 14,000 residents across a single ward, Gipsy Hill.

And through the Healthier Catering Commitment in Lambeth and the Eat Well programme in Croydon, both boroughs are working to improve the quality of food served at local takeaways.