Run by charity School Food Matters, Nourish will deliver a one-year programme of school food ‘transformation’ in eight primary, secondary and SEND schools across Birmingham. The programme supports schools to create food environments that prioritise children’s nutrition, wellbeing and long-term health.
The expansion follows more than five years of delivery in London, where Nourish has reached over 35,000 children and young people in 108 schools, helping to strengthen school food provision from breakfast to after-school clubs.
The city is home to one of the youngest populations in Europe, with more than 259,000 children aged 15 and under. Around 40% of children in Year 6 are considered overweight or living with obesity.
Georgie Branch, Nourish programme manager at School Food Matters, said: “We’re delighted to be bringing Nourish to Birmingham. Over the past five years in London, we’ve seen how improving school food environments can make a real difference to children’s wellbeing and their relationship with food. This expansion allows us to build on that experience, working with schools and local partners to create food cultures that support all children to thrive.”
In addition to Birmingham, Nourish has also been funded in Cheshire West and Chester, Cumberland, Hertfordshire and Rural Lancashire, supporting its continued expansion beyond London.