From farmer’s fields to Westminster corridors, July’s events gave us space to connect, share ideas, and push forward conversations on food, education, and early years. We’ve gathered the highlights from a month that showed, once again, how change is built in meetings, in kitchens, in fields, and in communities. Groundswell 2 July Lannock Farm, Hertfordshire […]
Our July in events: nutrition, equity, and local food systems Read More »
Welcome to our first monthly round-up of events. Each month we will be reflecting on the events that we have attended, highlighting the important work and discussions happening around policy issues across food, education, infant feeding, sustainable procurement equity in food systems. This month: Food Education Mapping Project (FEMP) Conference 3 June School of Artisan
Our June in events: policy, health, and education Read More »
A new report from the Child of the North All-Party Parliamentary Group (Hungry for Change) sets out a stark picture. Children growing up in the North of England face higher risks of food insecurity, poorer nutrition, and obesity from birth through adolescence. These patterns reflect structural inequalities that continue to deepen across regions and generations. The
Myles and Dayna reflect on what they shared and learnt at last week’s Future Food Symposium at the University of Birmingham The Future Food Symposium 2025, hosted by the University of Birmingham, brought together academics, advocates, and practitioners working at the intersection of food, education, and policy. Across two days of panels and presentations, the
Birmingham Future Food Symposium: The Child Nutrition Policy Rollercoaster Read More »
On 1st April 2025, a quiet but far-reaching change came into effect: the end of transitional protections for free school meals (FSM). Over the next six years, an estimated 500,000 – 550,000 children in England currently on FSM will no longer receive them — children who had previously been shielded from sudden eligibility changes due
A quarter of all those on free school meals set to lose out? Read More »
Bremner & Co is excited to announce our new research exploring the economic opportunities of expanding school meals for the UK food and farming sector, in partnership with Sustain and with support from Impact on Urban Health and the Ampney Brook Foundation. At present, 2.1 million children are eligible for free school meals in England;
New research: Could expanding free school meals boost the UK food and farming economy? Read More »
The prevalence of food poverty among families has been increasing significantly. While families with children generally face a higher risk than those without, those with children under the age of five are particularly vulnerable.1 A new report launching today by the Education Policy Institute, How Can We Reduce Food Poverty for Under-Fives?, highlights the urgent need
New report: How can we reduce food poverty for under-fives? Read More »
“When we have lunch, it makes us stronger, healthier, and we can concentrate more on our learning.” – Year 4 pupil In 2023, London achieved a milestone in school food policy, extending free school meals to every primary-aged child in state-funded schools. This groundbreaking initiative, supported by £130 million in emergency funding from Mayor Sadiq
New report: Independent evaluation of universal free school meals in London Read More »
A year ago, I began an in-depth exploration of food policy coherence within UK local authorities to better understand how councils navigate the complex web of actors influencing food systems. Today, my findings shed light on the practical realities of achieving policy coherence and highlight both successes and areas for improvement. Here’s a summary of
New Report: Food Policy Coherence in Local Government Read More »
In conversation with… is a series of blog posts where I’ll be talking to inspirational people working in the world of food policy. Todays ‘In conversation with’ features Dan Parker, Chief Executive of Veg Power. For 25 years Dan worked in marketing and advertising for some of the world’s largest food corporations. However, he had
In Conversation With… Dan Parker Read More »
