Dr William Baker, a national expert in food banks in schools, teamed up with leading food insecurity charity Feeding Bristol to capture the curiosity, passion, and ambitions of children across Bristol about food and food education.
Gathering feedback of more than 250 eight to 16-year-olds across the city has culminated in the creation of the Bristol Food Education Charter, which will be officially launched this week. The charter aims to make food education for children and young people a priority and act as a catalyst for change, improving provision in Bristol and beyond.
Lead researcher Dr William Baker, Associate Professor of Sociology and Education at the University of Bristol, said: “We are calling for institutions and organisations that work with children and young people, ranging from schools to youth clubs, as well as families and the wider community, to adopt the charter and fuel this overwhelming appetite to learn more about all kinds of food and gain cookery skills.”
The innovative, interactive community-based research project found young people wanted to have more opportunities for learning about food and to cook at school. They also wanted to find out more about the origins of food, discover cuisines from different nationalities and cultures, and develop more practical skills.
Local children shared their views in spoken and written words, as well as images, at open-access sessions held in schools, adventure playgrounds and other community venues across the city last year. Working in partnership with Feeding Bristol’s The Children’s Kitchen the project, also featured hands-on activities, including preparing food items and sharing a meal together.
Many children highlighted the lack of food and cooking-related education they experience at school and in other settings. One participant responded: “I don’t think there is anywhere to learn really, because school doesn’t do it, and I can’t do it at home,” while another commented: “I’d like to learn at school, but we don’t do anything. We might have done it once in primary, but I can’t remember.”
Feedback also revealed a strong desire to broaden their awareness and experience of foods and dishes from around the world. “My friends are from loads of different countries, and they all eat different food, I want to try it all”, “I would like to learn about where food comes from…”, and “I think we should learn about food from other cultures,” were amongst the key takeaway comments.
Dr Baker added: “Young people are missing out on crucial food education and opportunities to learn about food. Our project shows loud and clear that children have great passion to learn more about food in all its different forms, to find out more about where it comes from, and to be able to cook.
“Many children said there was very little food education at school, and they wanted to know more about as well as taste foods from different cultures and nationalities. Some children also weren’t able to cook at home, and expressed their wish to be trusted more around food. Overall the findings showed an alarming shortage of food education provision and children’s frustration about lacking in knowledge and experience of different foods and cooking skills.”
Showing a wider awareness of global challenges, children also spoke about health, including Ultra Processed Foods (UPFs), rising food prices, and climate change. One child asked: “Why is healthy food more expensive than junk food?” while another said: “I want to learn about food that’s good for the planet.”
The potential of food to strengthen a sense of personal identity, help forge friendships, enrich understanding, and foster cultural cohesion shone through the feedback. Many voiced their desire to cook for friends and to enjoy the communal aspect of eating together. Some expressed their wish to work in the food industry, but cited a lack of relevant opportunities at school.
As part of the project, supported by Research England Quality-Related (QR) Participatory Research Fund, The Freedom Kids Podcast, produced by Araceli Cabrera Cáceres at Felix Road Adventure Playground in Easton, created two bitesize podcasts focusing on Nutrition and Cooking.
The charter launch public event featuring a presentation of the research findings and food-based activities for people of all ages, will be held on Wednesday, 29 October, at Felix Road Adventure Playground, in Easton, from 3pm until 5pm.
Co-researcher Jo Ingleby, Head of Food Education at Feeding Bristol and Director of The Children’s Kitchen, said: "This research has been really enlightening, hearing first-hand how keen the city's young people are to cook, and the shortfall of opportunities they have. This isn't just in schools, though they play a part, it is also at home and in out of school clubs. I have been excited by the kinds of foods they want to cook; it's not all pizzas, it is food they see on social media, and it is whole meals for friends and family, rather than snacks."
The Charter will be shared with primary and secondary schools across Bristol, Bristol City Council, and national organisations aimed at improving children and young people’s access to food and food education. It includes a toolkit, so they can run similar workshops and further information on how to support the Charter’s goals.
Professor Guy Poppy, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation at the University of Bristol and Director of UKRI Transforming UK Food Systems, said: “This is a brilliant example of a grass roots qualitative research project, which captures the lived experience and views of children in the city about food and food education, and has real societal impact. It also demonstrates our commitment to be not just the University of Bristol but for Bristol, which champions children and young people and social justice.
“The participants’ passion to learn more, enjoy a greater variety of foods and cuisines from different cultures, and cook healthy food from scratch for themselves and their family and friends is heartening. Their important, insightful feedback shows how much more can be done to enhance food education in a range of settings and I look forward to following the Charter’s progress, which will hopefully be embraced locally and nationally.”
Award-winning food writer Kalpna Woolf, High Sheriff of Bristol and Founder of 91 Ways, an initiative which uses the collective power of food-sharing to build a stronger, healthier, and more connected city, said: “Listening to the opinions and ideas of young people is essential if we are to make good education meaningful. The Food Education Charter will help the city develop opportunities for them to cook and eat together and learn about food that is relevant to them.”