Health for Life, an evidence-based, award-winning programme, designed to promote healthy lifestyles and funded by Mondelēz International, chose Hillstone Primary School as one of three schools to receive the substantial sum last year. Grants, totalling £15,000, were awarded to celebrate the scheme’s 10th anniversary. Since then, the school has installed a dedicated cooking teaching space, which aims to inspire students to live a healthier lifestyle and learn and develop new cookery skills.

The generous grant has enabled the school to introduce a permanent and fully-equipped kitchen classroom with brand-new cooking equipment such as mobile electrical fast heat cooking pans, electrical whisks and pots and pans.  The new facility gives pupils greater opportunities for regular hands-on cookery experience, exploring healthy eating choices and using produce harvested from the school grounds.

As well as positively benefitting the school’s students, the local community are also able to access the all-new classroom, and family cooking courses will take place from the space.

Health for Life was introduced by Mondelēz International in 2011 and has now involved 211 schools across the city and, alongside additional activities offered in the community, has reached more than 242,200 children and adults in Birmingham. With an investment of over £4.8m from Mondelēz International to-date, the initiative is delivered in partnership with Services For Education and The Conservation Volunteers (TCV). Through local schools and communities, the programme engages people in growing fruit and vegetables, learning about healthy eating, improving cooking skills and taking part in a range of physical activities.

Jason King, headteacher at Hillstone Primary School, said: “We simply wouldn’t have been able to introduce our brand-new cookery classroom without this donation from Health for Life, so we’re extremely grateful to have been awarded the significant sum.

“The introduction of the new space has dramatically improved all of our pupils’ access to hands-on cooking experience and learning and developing new skills. Matthew Knight, our school chef, will be able to share his vision and passion for food education with not only our pupils, but also the community - the whole Hillstone family. Our students absolutely love the classroom and have already enjoyed creating omelettes, bread and homemade sauces for pasta dishes since it was installed, which has been wonderful to see.”

Kelly Farrell, community affairs manager at Mondelēz International, commented: “The Health for Life programme aims to inspire pupils, teachers, parents and local communities to develop and sustain a healthy lifestyle, so we’re delighted that Hillstone Primary School has been able to introduce a brand-new cookery facility for both pupils and the local community.

“It’s fantastic to hear that students’ passion for healthy eating and cooking has already been developed further since the classroom was installed.”

For more information about the work carried out by Health for Life in schools, visit www.servicesforeducation.co.uk/health-for-life/, and for further information on Mondelēz International, head to www.mondelezinternational.com.