NSMW Press Releases

National School Meals Week (NSMW) launches its 2010 website

Wed, 07 Jul 2010

The Local Authority Caterers Association (LACA) is launching the plans for National School Meals Week today at its AGM in Birmingham via the website www.iloveschoolmeals.co.uk. The week is taking place from 8th to 12th November 2010 and is encouraging local authorities and schools to "Get involved" by promoting healthy school meals to parents, pupils, students, teachers and governors.

Each day has a different theme, they are: Monday Get Eating as part of Britain's Biggest School Lunch; Tuesday is Get Supporting where LACA is working with Caterer and Hotelkeeper Magazine to encourage the hotel and catering industry to work with school caterers to give young people a greater interest in healthy food; on Wednesday it is Get Dancing when pupils and students are encouraged to have fun taking exercise with the latest street dances; Thursday is Remembrance Day when young people turn their minds to all those that have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country, it is also a reminder about how school meals for all were first introduced to combat malnutrition in war time; on Friday it is Get Giggling Day where school caterers will be putting fun onto the healthy eating menus.

Beverley Baker, Chair of LACA said, "NSMW in 2009 was the biggest and best yet with an estimated 16,000 schools taking part. I think this year's activities are even better because each of them can be used in either a Secondary or Primary School. School meals must play a key role in fighting the obesity epidemic that is facing today's younger generation".

Sandra Russell, incoming Chair of LACA said, "Moving to a digital campaign last year was the right move. Once an authority or school has registered to take part there are lots of downloads that will help them organise their events. There are menu posters, recipe ideas, invitations, a how to guide, planning sheet, face masks and much more. I firmly believe that NSMW makes good business sense as last year the average increase in sales from those that saw an increase in numbers was 7.8%.

For more information about the week or pictures from last year's NSMW please contact Arnold Fewell on 01609 775686 or arnold@avfmarketing.co.uk.

Primary pupils will be saying a big thank you to their school caterers today

Fri, 13 Nov 2009

Primary school pupils will be busy making and giving thank you cards today. This is the last event of National School Meals Week (NSMW). The cards are available to download at www.iloveschoolmeals.co.uk. There are six to choose from with three for Key Stage 1 of the National Curriculum and another three for Key Stage 2. And there is a lesson plan so making the cards can be done in class. Pupils can colour in the cards, add messages, tell the school caterers their favourite meal and make each one personal. When the cards have been created a pupil can digitally photograph the card and display it in the online gallery. They can also give the cards to the catering staff so they can be displayed in the dining rooms. The school caterers can also say thank you by awarding special certificates that can be downloaded at www.iloveschoolmeals.co.uk.

Beverley Baker, Chair of LACA, said, "I think it is really important that we say thank you to the many thousands of school caterers that work so hard to prepare healthy school meals. There has been a huge change in recent years as we have moved to freshly prepared and locally sourced food. The idea of pupils saying thank you by making cards is a brilliant one and there are already some in the gallery online. I just love the comments like - To the best school cooks in the world. I am sure there will be lots of children displaying their certificates in their bedrooms and showing them off to friends and family".

Arnold Fewell, Managing Director of AVF Marketing, who is organising the week for LACA, said, "There have been so many different things happening during the week. For example the 100th authority/school to sign up for National School Meals Week was Solutions SK in Stockport. Anna Lambert, their Marketing Manager has been asking children in Stockport to tell them what their favourite school meal is. Stockport's favourite meal will be cooked in all schools today. Their suppliers have donated some great prizes, from a flying lesson to mobile phones and iPods. The team will be out and about during the week to give out the prizes. In Hampshire they have given the day a slightly different twist. They are giving out special NSMW stickers to say thank you to their customers. Each authority can do their own thing so lots of things are going on. Over 90 authorities have taken part to make this the biggest NSMW ever. My thanks go out to everyone involved.

Students encouraged to make advert about healthy eating

Thu, 12 Nov 2009

Secondary school and college students can win up to £350 in a competition that is organised by LACA as part of National School Meals Week (NSMW). All students have to do is make a 15 to 30 second commercial that promotes healthy eating to their friends and colleagues. This is all part of National School Meals Week (NSMW) that aims to encourage more young people to adopt a healthy lifestyle as part of a whole school approach.

Beverley Baker, Chair of LACA, commented, "Students know what they want and they have strong and important opinions. They are our customers and we need to listen to them. I hope this competition allows them an opportunity to be creative and that we get lots of ideas on how we can engage more closely with young people across the country. The adverts will be judged by an independent TV producer and I am really looking forward to watching them. There is a runner up prize of £250 plus five more at £100".

Karen Fewell, Digital Marketing Consultant at InDzine, who helped organise the week, said, "There is a lot of help and advice at www.iloveschoolmeals.co.uk. This can be turned into a lesson plan for different parts of the National Curriculum. Or students can work in their own time. People can get my advice in my online video and in the help section I talk about AIDA. This is an important marketing acronym that stands for: attention; interest; desire; action. If students can achieve this they have a good chance in the competition. We have created an example advert for Primary schools that can be watched online. I am really looking forward to seeing the results".

Colin Jackson is getting active as he promotes the importance of exercise

Wed, 11 Nov 2009

Colin Jackson is online today at www.ilovescholmeals.co.uk as he encourages Secondary School students to get active. He wants students to watch his video demonstrations at home or school. They are quick to do and fully explained. There is also a guide for schools which is easy to read and gives lots of safety tips so everyone exercises safely. This is all part of National School Meals Week (NSMW) which is organised by LACA to encourage young people to adopt a healthy lifestyle and enjoy a great school meal.

Colin Jackson, CBE, BBC Commentator and former World Champion in the 110m hurdles, said, "I am delighted with the Get Active videos and exercise routines, they have come out really well and my congratulations to LACA for making them happen. They are a great resource that I hope students will watch on a very regular basis. I also believe they can be used in school PE lessons time and time again and not just on the Get Active day. I would love to see everyday becoming a get active day for students as the more they exercise the better they will feel now. Exercise is fun and especially when done with friends. Perhaps Get Active will be the new after school club at a friend's house".

Beverley Baker, LACA Chair, added, "We are delighted to have Colin Jackson's support. He is a great role model and ambassador for school meals. I know he has visited a number of schools recently and I am sure lots of students will be watching his videos online. It is a great way to get fitter and build up an appetite for a tasty school meal that meets the nutritional standards laid down by the Government. Also you don't need any special equipment. A bag of sugar or a tin of fruit can be easily used to replace a weight. The online resources will be available for the next year so that teachers and pupils can use them regularly.

LACA School Chef of the Year takes her cooking skills into the classroom

Tue, 10 Nov 2009

Debbie Mumford from Ermington Primary School in Devon and LACA School Chef of the Year (SCOTY) is demonstrating her cookery skills online today as part of National School Meals Week (NSMW). She will help children learn to cook her winning recipes and how to make a cottage pie. The videos can be watched at www.iloveschoolmeals.co.uk.

Debbie is joined by Leon Taylor, BBC Commentator, and former silver medallist and 10m synchronised diver at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. The two of them are filmed with pupils form Gilbert Scot School in Croydon. They make salmon fish balls with yoghurt dressing followed by butternut squash cake. The recipes can be downloaded and there is a lesson plan for teachers. This means the cookery classes can take place at home or school.

Beverley Baker, Chair of LACA, said, "I believe the more children learn about food the better it is and I think this is a great way to do it. If children develop their knowledge of food at an early age they are more likely to be able to select items that make up a balanced diet. A school meal is a great way of enjoying different foods as the choice throughout the week is so varied. Most authorities also have theme days so that they can try out new dishes and see what the children think of them".

Leon Taylor, said, "It was a great day with Debbie and the children filming her cooking skills. She is a great catering teacher and I think it is really important that children learn about food and healthy eating. I have been to see a number of schools and the meals served there and been very impressed by the quality of the food and the dedication of the catering staff. I would have no hesitation in recommending a school meal to anyone".

Colin Jackson CBE reveals Britain's Favourite School Lunch at National School Meals Week 2009 launch

Mon, 09 Nov 2009

Despite the growing influence of international cuisine on our high streets, the popularity of celebrity chef cookery programmes and books featuring exotic dishes as well as the widening repertoire of school chefs to appeal to the taste buds of young people, nothing, it seems, can quash the popularity of traditional British fayre.

Today (Monday 9 November), former 110 metres World Championship hurdler, Colin Jackson CBE officially launches National School Meals Week (NSMW) 2009 (9 - 13 November) at Morpeth Secondary School in East London. He will reveal that our love affair with popular dishes such as sausages and mash for main courses and Bakewell tart for dessert continues unabated and British favourites still reign supreme regardless of whether you are 5 or 65+.

Prior to the start of NSMW 2009, people of all ages were asked to cast their vote online as to their favourite, or most fondly remembered, school meal from a choice of twelve typical school main courses and desserts listed on the NSMW website www.iloveschoolmeals.co.uk From a significant 3000 votes registered between July - October 31, the national winning Favourite British School Main Course by a substantial margin was Roast Dinner with Sponge Pudding and Custard as the resounding Favourite British School Dessert. Nothing, it appears, can beat a good old British roast and Yorkshire Pudding!

Now in its 17th year, National School Meals Week is organized annually by the Local Authority Caterers Association (LACA) to support a whole school approach to healthier eating by encouraging pupils and students to have a nutritious school meal and to adopt an active lifestyle.

This year, National School Meals Week has gone digital. It has switched to a completely new and up to the minute format with an online digital marketing campaign to reflect the growing familiarity and usage of the Internet by young people, parents and businesses in the public and private sectors. Schools, too, have become major users of the Internet for promotional, communication and educational purposes.

Entitled "Get Involved", the Week is proving to be the biggest event ever with over 90 school meal provider organizations taking part, equating to approximately 16,000 Primary and Secondary schools. NSMW 2009's new campaign has also won the support of the School Food Trust. Every year, NSMW is made possible by the generous support of LACA Partners and this year 24 of the school catering industry's leading suppliers of food, beverages, equipment and services are sponsoring the Week.

The Week's activities operate through its own website www.iloveschoolmeals.co.uk which is aimed at school caterers and Primary school head teachers, teachers, governors, parents and young people. Each day of the Week will feature different themes and events for Primary and Secondary schools. On Tuesday 10 November, pupils can go online and learn basic cooking skills by watching demonstrations by LACA's School Chef of the Year 2009, Debbie Mumford and on Friday, 13 November they can make thank you cards as a means of acknowledging the great work of their school caterers.

Secondary students can get active online on Wednesday and watch Colin Jackson CBE demonstrate a wide range of exercises they can do both at home and at school. On Thursday students are invited to film their own 15 to 30 second TV commercial to demonstrate how they would promote healthy school meals to their friends and colleagues. The entries will be judged by an independent TV producer with the overall winner of the best ad receiving a prize of £350, £250 for the runner up plus five more prizes available of £100 each.

Colin Jackson CBE says: "Healthy eating and regular exercise are vital messages for our young generation so I can't stress the importance of National School Meals Week strongly enough. It is a national focus on getting the balance right between what you eat and the amount of exercise you do. It is no good talking to children and teenagers and telling them what will happen in 30 or 40 years. The messages must be relevant to their lives now and using the communication tools they are familiar with. I have been into schools recently and seen the fabulous food that is served every day. My aim is to show teenagers how easy it is to exercise and my message will be ‘now you have worked up an appetite, why not enjoy a great, new school meal?'. My all time favourite was Shepherd's Pie, by the way!"

School Food Trust Chief Executive, Judy Hargadon, said: "With new nutritional standards now in force in all schools, National School Meals Week is a chance to highlight the hard work being put in to ensure that all children have access to healthy, well-balanced food at school.

"School food has been transformed; the historical decline in take up of school lunches has been halted, with most parents telling us that they think the quality of school meals is good and that it has improved in the last 3 years. The challenge now is to keep encouraging more children to try school meals, working together to continue improving kitchens and dining rooms, and in making sure all those involved in school food have the support they need to deliver an efficient, innovative service."

Commenting on the success of NSMW 2009's new campaign, Beverley Baker, Chairman of the Local Authority Caterers Association (LACA) says: "2009 is a major turning point in the history of National School Meals Week. We have a brand new format which represents a far greater opportunity than ever before to directly interact with young people through a medium they both relate to and enjoy. With a different theme every day that is integral to a whole school approach we can, through fun, relevant activities, directly engage with them and encourage them to adopt a healthier diet and lifestyle. Ultimately, our collective efforts with campaigns such as these, can start to make a real difference to improving their health for the future".

Contacts: Hazel Fancy, National Press Officer
T: 01483 574727
E: HaGreen7@aol.com

Colin Jackson CBE to reveal Britain's favourite school lunch at National School Meals Week 2009 launch

Thu, 05 Nov 2009

PHOTOCALL .... PHOTOCALL .... PHOTOCALL

Date: Monday 9 November 2009

Event: Launch of LACA's National School Meals Week 2009

Venue: Morpeth Secondary School, Portman Place, Bethnal Green, London E2 0PX

Time:

10.30 Announcement of result of National Vote for Britain's Favourite School Lunch
12.15 Britain's Favourite School Lunch served to guests
13.15 Colin Jackson runs Get Active session with students

Contact: Hazel Fancy Mobile: 07950 007169

Colin Jackson CBE, former 110 metres World Championship hurdler, BBC Commentator and Strictly Come Dancing competitor will officially launch National School Meals Week (NSMW) 2009 on Monday 9 November at Morpeth Secondary School in East London.

Colin, who is the face of National School Meals Week 2009, will also announce the results of a national and regional vote to find Britain's Favourite School Meal and Dessert. Over the past four months, people of all ages were asked to cast their vote online as to their favourite, or most fondly remembered, school meal from a choice of twelve typical school main courses and desserts listed on the NSMW website www.iloveschoolmeals.co.uk

National School Meals Week is organized annually by the Local Authority Caterers Association (LACA) to support a whole school approach to healthier eating by encouraging pupils and students to have a nutritious school meal and to adopt an active lifestyle.

Entitled "Get Involved", the 2009 Week is proving to be the biggest event ever with over 90 school meal provider organizations taking part, equating to approximately 16,000 Primary and Secondary schools. NSMW 2009's new campaign has also won the support of the School Food Trust.

This year's National School Meals Week has gone digital. For the first time, the Week will be an online digital marketing campaign with activities operating through its website - www.iloveschoolmeals.co.uk which is aimed at school caterers, head teachers, teachers, governors, parents and young people. Each day of the Week will feature different themes and events for Primary and Secondary schools including Get Eating, Get Cooking, Get Active, Get Filming and Get Thanking.

Colin Jackson CBE leads the Get Active Day (Wed 11 Nov) with an online workout for Secondary students.

Contact: Hazel Fancy, National Press Officer, LACA.
Tel: 01483 574727 Mobile: 07950 007169
November 2009

NSMW Hits the Big One Hundred

Thu, 03 Sep 2009

Solutions SK Ltd, Stockport Council's wholly owned company, was the 100th local authority, contractor or school to sign up for National School Meals Week 2009.

Local authorities and schools can register on the website at www.iloveschoolmeals.co.uk to take part. Once they have registered they can access a range of marketing materials to help them run the week locally. Free webinars can also be booked with training about organising the week and digital marketing.

National School Meals Week runs from Monday 9th to Friday 13th November. On Monday the result of Britain's favourite school meal will be announced. Each day has a themed event including a Get Active Day with Colin Jackson on Wednesday and a Get Thanking Day on Friday. This gives pupils the chance to make thank you cards for their school cooks.

The school meals team at Solutions SK, are already making big plans for the week using the resources on the website. Leading up to the week staff will be asking children in Stockport to vote for their favourite school meal and the most popular meal will be cooked on Friday 13th November.

Next week Solutions SK will launch a competition on both www.myschoollunch.co.uk/stockport and http://www.yougo4it.co.uk/stockport to tie in with the Get Active Day. Secondary and Primary Schools will have the chance to win a visit from Stockport County Football Club at a school lunchtime.

Beverley Baker, Chair of LACA, said: "We are absolutely delighted we have reached the 100 mark already and this is set to be the biggest National School Meals Week yet. NSMW is fast approaching but there is still time for others to come on board. Simply register on www.iloveschoolmeals.co.uk and download all the free marketing materials to promote the week.

Vote Is On To Find Britain's Most Popular School Meal

Sat, 15 Aug 2009

As children are heading back to school the Local Authority Caterers Association (LACA) wants to find out which is Britain's most popular school meal. Parents and pupils are invited to go to www.iloveschoolmeals.co.uk/vote/ and vote for their favourite main course and dessert. The winning meal will be announced on Monday 9th November at the start of National School Meals Week (NSMW) 2009.

NSMW has been organised by LACA since 1993. The week promotes healthy school meals in England, Scotland and Wales and encourages pupils and students to adopt a healthy lifestyle. This year it is an online promotion using digital marketing tools like user generated content and social networking. During the week there will be online features and competitions plus local events. Already nearly 60 local authorities have signed up.

Beverley Baker, Chair of LACA, said, "School meals have changed in recent years and from this September they must all comply with strict Nutritional Standards laid down by the Government. There is now a much greater variety of food and that is why we would like to find Britain's favourite. Is it the more traditional roast meal or perhaps a Chicken wrap? And will it be rice pudding or a fruit smoothie? There are twelve main courses and desserts that voters can select from and these were chosen by a sample of 20 authorities from across the country. Already several hundred people have voted but we would love to see a lot more as we want to find out if there are regional variations".

The voice of National School Meals Week will be Colin Jackson, former World Champion in the 110 metres hurdles, BBC Sports Commentator on athletics and a competitor in last year's Strictly Come Dancing.

National School Meals Week will promote healthy eating in schools with Colin Jackson

Fri, 03 Jul 2009

National School Meals Week (NSMW) organised by the Local Authority Caterers Association (LACA) will take place from 9th to 13th November. The theme of the week is for parents, teachers, pupils, students, governors, families and school caterers to "Get involved" and eat the new healthy school meals that meet the nutritional standards set down by the Government.

The voice of the week will be Colin Jackson, former World Champion at the 110m hurdles and regular performer on TV in programmes like "Strictly Come Dancing" and "Who do you think you are?" Colin is also a presenter for the BCC on athletics. Colin said, "Healthy eating and regular exercise are vital messages for our young generation. The lessons they learn now will have an effect for the rest of their lives. However, we need to make the messages relevant to them today and that is why I am so pleased to be involved with National School Meals Week. I have been into schools recently and seen the fabulous food that is now served every day. The school caterers are doing a fantastic job and we need to say thank you to them."

Before the week starts people can go online at www.iloveschoolmeals.co.uk and vote for their favourite school meal and dessert. The results will be announced at the start of the week. There is a lot more planned including the opportunity for teenagers to "Get active" and work out with Colin.

More details will be announced online between now and 9th November. Please use the RSS feed to keep up to date.

Any questions should be sent to nsmw@avfmarketing.co.uk.