Support Children at Risk of Food Insecurity!

We are master’s students from the School of Management at the University of Bath raising awareness of food insecurity and funds to combat this issue. Households that are ‘food insecure’ mean that they cannot guarantee sufficient quality or quantity of food.

Our efforts will be directed to support Kitchen Social, a leading holiday food provision programme in this space.

Founded by an independent charity, the Mayor’s Fund for London, Kitchen Social gives children and young people a safe place to socialise, learn and get a free, healthy meal. The programme helps to alleviate the financial strain on families that comes with accessing food and childcare activities during the school holidays. Long school breaks, without the support that young people need to thrive, is one of the drivers of educational attainment gaps between young people from different socio-economic backgrounds. Food insecurity over the school holidays can lead to learning loss, lower self-esteem, and weight gain. Poor nutrition and social isolation not only affect a child’s wellbeing but also impacts physical and mental development, thereby perpetuating the cycle of poverty.

Kitchen Social has a city-wide network of over 100 local community organisations including schools, adventure playgrounds, and youth clubs that provide nutritious food and fun activities. In response to the pandemic, Kitchen Social also created "Take and Make" – a recipe box series designed to engage children at home with their families. These boxes contain ingredients for four portions of nutritious food, alongside recipe cards and online video tutorials.


What we'll deliver:

 ・Raise funds for Kitchen Social’s Take and Make boxes so they can be distributed to young people during the Christmas break, providing opportunities for children to learn new skills and cook together with their parents

・Contribute to Kitchen Social’s Christmas Grant Activities where families can attend a Christmas party in their local area, access food, and take part in entertaining activities

Why it's a great idea:

Covid-19 has caused the number of families living in food insecurity to rise. A recent Mayor’s Fund for London survey revealed that 75% of families reported having less money for food. Many do not qualify for government support.

Kitchen Social is stepping up to support more local community organisations during school holidays. Take and Make boxes help to ease the pressure that some parents feel outside of term-time. It is a fantastic way to support a child's wellbeing and encourage young people into the kitchen to learn about ingredients, try new skills and cook nutritious food with families and friends.

We will be running an online cooking class to fundraise for this project. Engaging with two nutrition-based TikTokers and a chef who will be doing a live cook along. These activities aim to:

・Contribute towards Christmas holiday funding, providing young people with activities, social engagement, and a delicious meal during the Christmas break

・Fund ingredients for Take and Make boxes

・Provide children at risk of food insecurity with Take and Make boxes

More information about our online cooking class is available at the link below!!!:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/online-cooking-class-with-nigel-thompson-teawithmrt-tickets-165170827391?keep_tld=1