As we close out the year, we're proud to reflect on the impact our Charity Partner, Chefs in Schools, has made across the UK.
Thanks to the continued support of thefoodpeople community, we've donated more than £34,000 this year (up until end of October 2025) and more than £172,000 over the last 5 years, helping to drive meaningful change in school food, education and child health.
Championing School Food at the Highest Level
Chefs in Schools recently marked a pivotal moment for school food policy when their CEO attended a reception at No.10 Downing Street celebrating the Government's ambition to make school food a powerful tool for child health and nutrition.
The evening was catered by four award-winning school chefs, including Russ and Nathan, both of whom have been supported through Chefs in Schools programmes. They showcased the same high-quality, nutritious dishes they cook for pupils every day - a powerful demonstration of what's possible when investment and expertise meet.
This event comes as the Government commits to:
- Updating the School Food Standards
- Extending Free School Meals to families on Universal Credit
Crucially, there is a clear commitment to working in partnership with charities like Chefs in Schools to maximise the impact of these policy changes. We look forward to seeing how Chefs in Schools helps turn these ambitions into reality for children across the country.
Celebrating Excellence: Amber Francis
This year also saw well-deserved recognition for Amber Francis, Head Chef and Senior Food Educator at Christ's College Finchley, who was named Winner of the Extra Mile Award at the 2025 Foodservice Cateys.
The award celebrates individuals who go above and beyond - and Amber's work redefining what school food can be is a shining example of the impact skilled, passionate chefs can have in education.
Expanding the School Transformation Programme
Chefs in Schools continues to grow its School Transformation Programme, supporting kitchens to deliver nutritious, delicious food at scale.
- In West Sussex, the team is launching intensive training at a rural community hub kitchen after half term. The welcome from schools has been exceptional, with one even setting up an information desk in reception to share the programme with families.
- A new school in Southwark has joined this month, bringing the total to 141 schools supported since the programme began.
- Early conversations are also underway with the Welsh Government to run a pilot transformation programme aligned to their new school food standards.
Investing in Education & Reducing Food Waste
The School Educator Programme has been equally busy, with:
- New cohort kick-off days in Knowsley (funded by Knowsley Public Health), Nottingham
- A graduation in Essex this week
Looking ahead, the team is developing a Food Waste Reduction Guide, due by the end of the year. This practical resource will be available to all schools and designed to help kitchens cut waste while saving money and improving sustainability.
Growing a National Membership Network
The Chefs in Schools membership network continues to expand beyond London, now reaching schools across:
- The Midlands
- The North, including Nottingham, Derby, Wolverhampton and Hull
There are currently 44 active member schools, with a further 18 in the 2025–26 pipeline. Members benefit from an increasing range of high-quality resources, webinars and events curated by the Chefs in Schools team.
Looking Ahead
We're incredibly proud to support Chefs in Schools and the vital work they're doing to transform school food, support chefs and improve children's health. Our contributions to date - more than £172,000 - is part of a growing movement to ensure every child has access to food that nourishes both body and mind.
You can get involved by donating HERE. Thank you to everyone who has helped make this impact possible. We're excited for what's next in 2026.