Organic food venue to host school meals conference

Reading's school meals service is set to hold its second conference at an organic farm's eco-friendly conference centre.

The conference, called 'Food for Thought', will take place at Sheepdrove Organic Farm, in Lambourn, on Wednesday, July 15, from 10am to 3.30pm,with an organic breakfast served from 9am and fully organic lunch provided.

This year's event will feature return visits by leading school food campaigners Jeanette Orrey and Jackie Schneider.

Jeanette, who has written two bestselling books about school food, is the policy advisor for the Soil Association as well as a board member of the School Food Trust.

Jeanette was a guest speaker at the council's first 'My Meal Matters' school meals conference in October 2007 and has visited Reading three times since in support of the council's drive for healthier, better quality school meals each time noting the progress of the service. Jeanette is also very proactive in promoting Reading's work and innovation in school meals across the country.

Fellow School Food Trust member Jackie Schneider, who also spoke at the 'My Meal Matters' conference, is chair of Merton Parents for Better School Food, and a leading campaigner for better school meals. Jackie recently visited Reading with Amy Kalafa, a leading campaigner for school meals and documentary maker in the USA, who was impressed by the work in Reading as a leading Authority in the UK.

The conference, which is open to schools, parents and members of the general public, will have mouth-watering food on offer, including organic breakfast, lunch and other refreshments but places are limited and need to be booked in advance.

There will be live cooking demonstrations, and a range of presentations and exhibitions and a review of the last years work in school meals.

Jon Hartley, Lead Councillor for Education and Lifelong Learning, said: "Our last school meals conference was an outstanding success and really helped to put Reading's school meals service on the map. Since then, the service has really developed into one we can be proud of and I'm sure this year's conference will provide fresh impetus, ideas and inspiration to help it develop even further."

If you wish to attend the conference, please email paula.ward@reading.gov.uk or call 0118 937 4091.

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