Throughout the year Focus on Food Cooking Buses are at work across the UK visiting schools and communities. A week at the venue leaves behind expertise, enthusiasm and skills.
Sessions cover key aspects of food education from food preparation skills to nutrition, food safety and hygiene - but above all young people are taught how to cook. All ingredients and equipment are provided.
Lessons in schools tie in with the National Curriculum, schemes of work and Government health messages.
Focus on Food attracts tremendous interest and support and its sponsors and partners - lead agencies in Government, education, food, health and the arts - play a critical role not least where the maintenance of the Campaigns programme is concerned. Each Cooking Bus is funded and championed by its own sponsor, as follows:
The Welsh Government makes its own legislation on devolved matters such as health, education, social services, local government. Its Cooking Bus visits schools and community centres throughout the country teaching young people coginio (to cook)!
This Bus is dedicated to primary schools in Communities First areas, which are part of the Welsh Network of Healthy School Schemes. Visits are arranged through Healthy Schools Co-ordinators - please contact your local Co-ordinator for further information.
The Scottish Government is responsible for most of the issues of day-to-day concern to the people of Scotland, including health, education, justice, rural affairs, and transport. Its Cooking Bus visits schools and communities throughout Scotland teaching people to cook and enjoy good food as an important part of the Scottish Government’s efforts to improve the health of children and families in Scotland.
The Bus will visit and run programmes in all 32 councils across Scotland.
Any school or community group in Scotland can apply for a visit from the Healthier Scotland Cooking Bus.
Cooking Bus for Hire
If you do not qualify for our funded programmes in Wales and Scotland, then our silver Focus on Food Cooking Bus, is available for hire and use throughout the UK. An articulated pantechnicon that converts to high tech state-of-the-art kitchen/classroom, the Cooking Bus is equipped with multiples of equipment, full-size sinks, cookers, workstations and refrigeration and can accommodate sixteen individuals per workshop session. If you are interested in hiring the bus, call us on 01422 383191 or email joanne@designdimension.org
Click here for a virtual tour of the bus >
What is the value of a Cooking Bus visit?
- Students learn first hand how to prepare, cook and enjoy food.
- Teachers gain the expertise, confidence and skills to plan and teach cooking at school.
- The work is linked to other subjects, offering many opportunities for cross-curricular work. Teachers are made more aware of the value of food knowledge across the curriculum.
- Cooking Bus activities teach a number of key skills, such as communication, teamwork, enterprise and problem-solving.
- Career opportunities in the food industry are highlighted.
- Shared insights into other cultures and lifestyles are also fostered by the Focus on Food Cooking Bus programme.
- A visit builds self-confidence and critical awareness of food choices.
- It improves knowledge of food hygiene.
- Dietary health messages are connected with the practicalities of choosing, preparing and cooking food.
- It helps schools to develop their whole school approach to food and extend that work into the wider community.
Requesting a Cooking Bus visit
Any school or community group in Scotland can apply for a visit from the Healthier Scotland Cooking Bus.
Please note visits by the Welsh Government supported Cooking Bus are to primary schools in Communities First areas and are arranged via Healthy Schools Co-ordinators – please contact your local Co-ordinator for further information.
Plis nodwch mae ymweliadau gan y Bws Coginio i ysgolion cynradd sydd yn cael ei gefnogi gan Lywodraeth Cymru FFLP dim ond yn ymweld â’g ardaloedd Cymunedau yn Gyntaf. Maent yn cael eu trefnu gan y Cydlynnydd Ysgolion Iach lleol, ac y mae’n rhaid cystylltu â nhw I drefnu ymweliad.
If you are interested in the Cooking Buses, but do not fall into either of the above categories, we can provide you with the opportunity to hire a Cooking Bus for a visit to your school, community group or organization or for our staff to visit your school without the bus. Click here to find out more about Focus on Food Training and Development or call for more details on 01422 383191
If you would like to be sent a Cooking Bus Application pack or need further help or advice please call the Cooking Bus co-ordinating team on 01422 383191 or email focusonfood@designdimension.org
Or you can click here to download a Cooking Bus Application Pack including:
- The Cooking Bus information, guidelines and
booking conditions. - List of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Cooking Bus visit application form
- Example sketch plan
