Walsall school meals save more than half a tonne of food from waste

Pupils and their families at a Walsall school have helped save more than half a tonne of surplus food from going to waste.

FoodCycle has partnered with Goldsmith Primary Academy to provide free weekly community meals made using ingredients that would otherwise be sent to landfill.

Since the meals launched at the end of April, 422 meals have been served at the school and more than half a tonne of surplus food has been saved.

Pupils and their families are invited to join the meals each Wednesday, alongside the school's regular meal service.

The community dining scheme aims to bring families together over nutritious food while helping ease pressure on household shopping budgets and encouraging healthier diets.

Across three schools in the West Midlands, FoodCycle has served more than 3,051 meals and saved 3.7 tonnes of food from waste. The other schools involved are Ark Tindal Primary Academy and Windsor Olympus Academy in Birmingham.

FoodCycle is now appealing for more Walsall volunteers to help prepare and serve the meals at Goldsmith Primary Academy.

Volunteers are needed on Wednesdays between 2.30pm and 6.30pm, with no previous experience required and training provided.

Maximilian Wakeman, headteacher at Goldsmith Primary Academy, said the scheme was a way of showing children the value of good food, sustainability and community.

Liam Stanton, civic lead and assistant head, said the school was proud to be reducing waste and strengthening the local community through community dining.

FoodCycle's national schools manager Sophie Aoun said volunteers were essential to keeping the scheme running.

She said: "FoodCycle's school community meals are helping families access healthy, nutritious food and friendly company while also saving food from going to waste."

Find out more at foodcycle.org.uk