Meet Chefs in Schools, Our New Charity Partner for 2025

As children across the UK head back to school with new pencil cases and fresh exercise books, we're absolutely delighted to announce that Chefs in Schools is our charity partner for 2025!

Earlier this summer, we asked our customers to help us choose our charity partner for the year ahead. We created a shortlist of four inspiring organisations, including our previous partner The Country Food Trust, alongside three new recommendations from our team. We were delighted that so many people took the time to cast their vote to help us make this important decision. The results were incredibly close, with Chefs in Schools just narrowly securing the most votes. It's clear that transforming how children experience food really resonated with many voters.

Who are Chefs in Schools?

Chefs in Schools is a charity that believes kids are our future, so let's feed them like it. They're on a mission to transform both the food and food education served in schools, ensuring every child - regardless of age, income or location - gets the nutrients they need to grow, learn and thrive.

Here's what makes them special:

The Problem They're Solving

While children are bombarded with cheap, processed food packed with sugar, salt and fat, Chefs in Schools wants every child to experience a varied, exciting diet that's both good for them and delicious to eat.

Their Approach

They upskill school kitchen teams to make tasty meals from scratch, with a focus on child nutrition, practical food prep, and presentation skills. But they go further - introducing new menus, helping schools grow their own produce, and making food education central to school life for both pupils and teachers.

Proving It Works

They're demonstrating that fresh, sustainable, tasty food can be served within school budgets. Their training creates lasting change, supporting school chefs to become the heroes ensuring a more nutritious future.

Beyond the Kitchen

They're also campaigning for policy change - working with government to extend access to free school meals for hundreds of thousands more children and to improve school food standards.

A Natural Partnership

We're particularly excited about this partnership because it aligns perfectly with our mission to introduce people to sustainable, local food sources. From our involvement in events like the School Farm and Country Fair here in Suffolk, we know firsthand how naturally curious and open-minded children can be about trying new things - given the right circumstances and education.

We've been discussing with Chefs in Schools how their network of trained chefs are experimenting with putting game on school menus, starting with venison, which is lean, nutritious and a sustainable, ethical choice given the UK's abundant deer population.

Imagine children discovering that sustainable, wild food can be both delicious and good for them! It's an exciting possibility, and if anything develops from these early conversations, we'll be sure to keep you updated.

How You Can Help

Just like with The Country Food Trust, you can support Chefs in Schools by adding a voluntary donation at checkout when you place your order with us. Every contribution, however small, helps transform a child's relationship with food.

Since launching our donation scheme in 2020, together we've raised over £51,000 for charitable causes - an incredible achievement that we're immensely proud of. With your continued support, we're excited to help Chefs in Schools create their vision of a school food revolution.

Want to support Chefs in Schools? Add a voluntary donation when you place your next order with us.