29/08/2007

Solutions SK help shape the future of School Meals

A representative from Solutions SK Ltd, Stockport Council's wholly owned company recently attended a knowledge sharing event to help shape the future of school meals.

Julie Keen, School Meals Food Champion at Solutions SK Ltd represented the borough at the 'Every Lunch Counts' conference in London.

The event, organised by the School Foods Trust involved 40 participants selected from across the country coming together to look at ways of enhancing school meals. The conference also involved headteachers, catering managers, food champions, schools healthy eating co-ordinators and hospitality & trading services.

Julie was selected to attend the event as the Solutions SK Ltd team has made a number of positive changes to school meals in Stockport which has resulted in an increased uptake by pupils.

Julie, said; "We were invited to meet other people who are also at the forefront of this transformation in schools meal. We hope that we will be able to gain a greater understanding of what works to increase the take up of school meals even more."

The representatives discussed what was needed to convince school staff of the benefits of promoting school meals. They posed questions such as "would you want to eat in the dining room with the children" and "if not, why not?"

Councillor Mark Weldon, Executive Member for Children and Young People, said: "The School Catering Team at Solutions SK, take a real pride in providing pupils with healthy, nutritional, balanced school meals. Thanks to their hard work the number of pupils enjoying school dinners within Stockport schools has increased."

Pictured: Julie Keen (right) representing the borough at a School Foods Trust conference.