On Friday 22 January, primary schools across the UK and Ireland celebrate the first Appetite for Action Day.

There are already 1,640 schools taking part and we hope to hit the 2,000 mark very soon. This is a great opportunity for primary schools to kick start the year’s environmental activities by running a sustainable food theme day and launching their Appetite for Action challenge.

What is Appetite for Action?

The Appetite for Action programme is an online step-by-step process, developed in association with our charity partner Sky. The aim is to help primary schools learn about how to make the food they eat more sustainable and challenges schools to make a difference.    

The programme is free to join and includes access to brilliant teaching resources including engaging short films on a variety of sustainability topics. Once signed up schools are taken on a journey to Reduce Rubbish, Green their Grub or Get Growing.

Schools set up an Action Team and set their own challenge targets, post diary entries on the website about their progress, measure their success and search for local participating schools to share ideas with.

What's in it for schools?

Participating schools gain a UNEP certificate and are entered into a competition to win £3,000 and the chance to be on Sky Real Lives TV. There is also a School of the Week prize.

Appetite for Action provides schools with a fun, food-focused framework to teach children about key sustainability themes in a way that relates to their everyday habits. Donna McKitterick, Sky Partnership Manager at Global Action Plan

Appetite for Action is a fantastic way to educate children about the impact their food choices have on the environment and encourage them to develop good habits when choosing the food they eat - not just now but for the rest of their lives. Appetite for Action day is great way to kick of the initiative in your school so I’d encourage all primary schools to sign up and take part this Friday. Daniella Vega, Head of Community Investment, Sky

Helping to fulfil the waste strategy

This is a timely event as the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs committee has just issued a statement in response to the Government’s latest waste strategy, stating that institutions such as schools should be encouraged to compost food waste.

The Appetite for Action campaign addresses this issue fully, comprising a waste audit to measure food related waste; a food composting set up where possible; a survey of packed lunches, looking at packaging and offering advice to cut down on this with a challenge to have a packaging free day and a reuse packaging workshop; and information on food miles and planting seasonal produce.

Do you want to find out more?

For more information about Appetite for Action Day or to sign up to the challenge, visit the website today www.appetiteforaction.org.uk.

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