The Education team at ISS Facility Services in partnership with School Food Matters (SFM) have been announced as joint winners of the Premises and Facilities Management (PFM) Award for Partners in Education Facilities.
‘Growing’ projects
The school catering business at ISS works with the School Food Matters charity to promote food education through growing projects for schools. Together they have established a gardening grant programme for over 100 schools in and around London to help the schools to get their gardens up and running.
The judges were impressed by the innovative joint approach by ISS and SFM to support schools with food education. The award recognises the strong relationships which the organisations have built, both together and with local schools and communities.
Mark Davies, Managing Director, ISS Education, said: “We are delighted to have won this award alongside the School Food Matters team. Without this partnership, ISS would not have been able to deliver such a successful programme for the schools we work with. Seeing all of the great gardening activity happening in schools across the capital as part of our grants programme is really exciting. We are very proud of what we have achieved together and can’t wait to see what the future holds for us!”
Stephanie Wood, Director of School Food Matters, said: “At SFM much of our time is spent convincing the world that food education is key to helping children live healthy lives. ISS needed no such convincing. They were enthusiastic partners from the start with a clear commitment to introducing children to the joys of growing, cooking, eating and sharing delicious fresh food. It’s been a pleasure working with them.”
The partnership’s gardening grants programme has been running since 2012. It began in the London Borough of Richmond, where SFM is based. The education team at ISS funds the project, allowing schools to buy what they need to build and/or improve in their school gardens. The money is managed by SFM, who liaise with the schools and encourage them to spend their money on items which will most benefit their individual school.
The partnership also organises special gardening training days for pupils and teachers, to show them how to best utilise their gardening grants.
For more information about School Food Matters click here
For more information about ISS Facility Services click here
For more information about Feeding Hunger Minds click here