The Aston Villa Foundation have been awarded funding from The National Lottery Community Fund to begin the ‘Seed to Feed’ project, an initiative which aims to address issues of household food poverty affecting families in Birmingham.
The primary aim of the project looks to improve the knowledge and understanding of local families about the importance of eating healthy and being physically active, with the objective of reducing health disparities while building employability prospects of adults living in low-income households.
Through a targeted approach to delivery, the project aims to impact 400 children within the local communities of Ladywood, Perry Barr and Erdington over the course of three years.
Topics such as nutrition, hydration and healthy eating have been delivered to children in schools, before moving on to practical delivery around healthy cooking, food waste and active lifestyles.
As the project develops, parents and family members will be given the opportunity to develop sector-based employment and skills opportunities through the Foundation’s Villa Catering Club programme, delivered in partnership with the Nationwide Caterers Association, Digbeth Dining Club CIC and South Birmingham College.
The National Lottery Community Fund is the largest community funder in the UK.
Nicola Thurbon, Senior Head of Funding for the Midlands at The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “Thanks to National Lottery players, this funding will help the Aston Villa Foundation to support the issue of food poverty affecting families in Birmingham. The ‘Seed to Feed’ project aims to teach children and parents the foundations of healthy eating and nutrition to enable families to live healthier lives.
“The project is an exceptional expansion of the Foundation’s Health and Wellbeing department, who offer opportunities for people to turn their lives around through a series of exciting and inclusive activities. As well as our schools-based Holiday Activity & Food provision, where we engage with younger audiences to inspire them to lead healthy and active lifestyles through a series of fun sessions such as smoothie bikes, sugar rating exercises and healthy eating quizzes.”
Luke Hedley, Health and Wellbeing Manager at the Foundation, added: “We are excited to have started delivering the Seed to Feed programme to schools in and around Villa Park, thanks to funding from the National Lottery Community Fund. What makes this programme unique is that we’ll be working with family members of children who take part in the programme, to really embed the health and wellbeing messages we are sharing in the homes of the local community.”
