Nicky Joiner, chair of the organisation that supports FM providers working across Scotland’s 32 local authorities, welcomed catering and cleaning teams, as well as suppliers to a packed Crowne Plaza Hotel.
Former chair Chris Ross was this year’s conference host, kicking off the programme with Jack Nolan, who told his own story of low self-esteem and a later bipolar diagnosis before discovering a calling in inspiring others to overcome their own anxieties. He told his audience to treat struggles and setbacks not as barriers but as opportunities to grow.
The conference then heard about an early years programme in East Renfrewshire that is teaching very young children about healthy eating, fruit and vegetables, hygiene, and sharing stories.
Called Mini Master Chefs, the early years programme signed up ten nurseries initially, later expanding to take in a further 26, after winning funding from the local health and social care partnership and support from campaign group Nourish.
Five children from Overlee dressed in chef’s whites and black-and-white check hats came on stage with headteacher Ana Castro and catering manager Beth Hilton to join the presentation.
Ana said all 50 children at the nursery had participated in the programme, getting the chance to taste new vegetables and fruit, learning to slice and dice, and were guided through recipes to make dishes such as Vegetable Cheesy Pancakes.
When the children were asked their favourite they said pizza, though Ana assured everyone the recipe included lots of vegetables.
Professor Don Bundy talked about the international School Meals Coalition of 108 countries, all of which had recognised the value of investing in school meals programmes. He said there was overwhelming
evidence that these influenced children’s educational at school, benefited their health in later life and supported farmers.
He pointed out that the UK had not yet signed up the coalition, even though it had a long history of school meal provision and could contribute a lot of experience and expertise.
He said there was a ‘drop in’ session planned at Westminster to persuade MP’s of the value of signing up to join the coalition.
And the day’s conference session concluded with Aaron Phipps the Paralympian, who told the story of how meningitis had meant his legs had had to be amputated at the knee when he was just 15.
He spoke about his reaction to such a massive setback in life, and how he had set himself a series of challenges, in the course of which he won a gold medal for Team GB at wheelchair rugby and then became the first double amputee to climb Mount Kilimanjaro unaided.
He concluded that, after much reflection, his was less a tale of self-reliance and resilience but more one of knowing when to accept the support, love and encouragement he got from family and friends.