Fish from the ‘chippy’ – educating the future
‘Fish from the chippy’ is launching as an education pilot in Nottinghamshire in May, through a partnership with The Fishmongers’ Company, Fastnet Fish Ltd, and the Fish in Schools Hero Programme. It will connect local schools and Fish and chip shops together, aiming to give pupils the chance to prepare, cook and eat fish – often for the first time. We know that fish is not a popular choice with teenagers – but, when they prepare and cook it for themselves, they love it!
Simon Gray, Senior Associate at the Food Teachers Centre leads a Hake cooking masterclass, with year 10 students at Louth Academy. Thursday 9th March 2023 Photo by Jon Corken
Why get involved?
Schools in the Nottinghamshire area are now registering – and local Chip shops are now being asked to get involved in this exciting scheme to become Fish Heroes. It’s a chance for shops to link-up with local schools and develop longer-term relationships. Shops will receive a logo to use in-store, promoting them as a Fish Hero, and there should be great PR opportunities in the local/national press, social media and school newsletters.
By working with their local Chip shop, schools will receive 50 portions of Individually Quick Frozen (IQF) hake, donated and supplied by Fastnet Fish. Chips shops will be asked to receive and store the fish, ready for collection by their local partner school – a perfect PR opportunity!
Claire White, Director of People and Projects, Fastnet Fish Limited said, “We are delighted to be partnering with the Food Teachers Centre on this important educational initiative. We have donated the fish and we are delivering it using our UK-wide transport network so that we can reach as many schools as possible. We are passionate about encouraging young people to cook and eat fish. Not only is it highly nutritious, it also has a much lower carbon footprint than other proteins, so it is a healthy and environmentally responsible choice.”
Simon Gray, Senior Associate at the Food Teachers Centre leads a Hake cooking masterclass, with year 10 students at Louth Academy. Thursday 9th March 2023 Photo by Jon Corken
Back at school, pupils will be inspired to get creative and cook with the hake – to help, three new recipe videos have been developed. Schools will be asked to post photos of their cooking results via social media channels, as well as share what they have achieved with their Chip shop contact.
Simon Gray, Senior Associate at the Food Teachers Centre said, “94% of our teachers surveyed wanted their pupils to use different fish and not to be scared of trying something new, but less than half of them used fresh or frozen fish. This unique opportunity overcomes the obstacles teachers face with regards cost, sourcing fish, and cooking skills in schools to introduce students to healthy and delicious fish. We are excited to see the difference this will make to young people in the future.”
Simon Gray, Senior Associate at the Food Teachers Centre leads a Hake cooking masterclass, with year 10 students at Louth Academy. Thursday 9th March 2023 Photo by Jon Corken
The Fish from the Chippy pilot is part of a wider scheme, Fish in Schools Hero programme, which is supported by the Fishmongers’ Company. It aims to ensure that every child gets a chance to prepare, cook and eat fish before they leave school and to train food teachers to be confident in preparing and cooking fish with students. The programme provides incredible life-long learning experiences for thousands of pupils across the UK.
Dr Eleanor Adamson, Fisheries Programme Manager, Fishmongers Company Charitable said, “Since 2019 our charity has been supporting the Fish in School Hero programme to bring seafood into the classroom. The partnership with Fastnet and Fish & Chip shops opens exciting opportunities to bring local seafood businesses closer to their school communities, giving more teenagers great experiences with sustainable seafood.”
The fish industry has a lot to offer, and through this type of innovative pilot it is envisaged that it will enable young people to see not just the importance of fish in a healthy diet and learn new cooking skills for life, but also consider important career pathways into the future. Fish and chip shops can play an important part in this.
Fish Heroes is launching in Nottinghamshire in May. If you are interested in getting involved, register your interest here: https://forms.office.com/e/SyrjMw7qUP
For further information please contact: info@foodteacherscentre.co.uk
About Fastnet Fish Limited
Founded in 1980, Fastnet Fish has built an international reputation for the supply of sustainable quality frozen fish and seafood. As one of the leaders in its chosen markets, Fastnet Fish and its subsidiaries are engaged in the sourcing of frozen seafood worldwide for customers in the processing, wholesale and retail sectors.
Fastnet’s trading headquarters is in Grimsby, along with a 4000 pallet cold store. The company supplies to the whole UK market and has subsidiaries in Ipswich, Reading, Kent, Plymouth and the Highlands in Scotland. The Fastnet name has become synonymous with top quality, an extensive product range and the highest level of customer service. Fastnet’s commitment to quality is underlined by their policy of regularly travelling around the world, visiting and auditing suppliers to ensure they are meeting the specifications that customers demand.
About the Fishmongers’ Company
One of the Great Twelve Livery Companies of the City of London, the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers has been closely linked to London’s Fish Trade for well over 700 years. Today the Company’s Fisheries Charitable Trust supports a wide range of projects and grants spanning education, conservation, fisheries, aquaculture and the seafood trade, to build and safeguard a prosperous and sustainable fishing industry, for the benefit of those engaged in it, and the wider environment.
About the Fish in Schools Hero programme
The Fish in Schools Hero programme aims to ensure that every child gets a chance to prepare, cook and eat fish before they leave school and to train food teachers to be confident in preparing and cooking fish with local students.
Supported by the Fishmongers’ Company’s Fisheries Charitable Trust,
Fish in School Hero (FISH) is managed by the Food Teachers Centre and their volunteer team throughout the UK. Launched in 2020, the programme will be extending throughout the UK.
The programme is supported by local heroes: fishmongers, fish-loving chefs and fish suppliers. For more information, please visit https://foodteacherscentre.co.uk/fish-heroes/ and follow #fishheroes on our social media:
Twitter: @HeroesFish
Instagram: @fish.heroes
Facebook: UKFishHeroes
LinkedIn: The Food Teachers Centre