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.

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.

Lessons in schools tie in with the National Curriculum, schemes of work and Government health messages.

The Food Standards Agency (England) - the independent Government department that protects the public’s health and consumer interests in relation to food. All Focus on Food workshops are designed to promote understanding of the Agency’s innovative campaigns to promote healthy eating.

Any school in England can apply for a visit from this Cooking Bus.

The Welsh Assembly 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.

Schools in England, who are registered with the Focus on Food Campaign, can be considered for a visit by a Cooking Bus. All ingredients and equipment are provided.

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 Campaign’s programme is concerned. Each Cooking Bus is funded and championed by its own sponsor, as follows:

Yorkshire Forward - the regional development agency for Yorkshire and the Humber is charged with improving the Yorkshire and Humber economy. The Yorkshire Forward-supported Cooking Bus puts young people directly in touch with the career opportunities that exist in the food and hospitality industries in their region.

Any school in this region can apply for a visit from this Cooking Bus.

The Big Lottery is funding the Food for Life Partnership, which includes a dedicated Cooking Bus run by Focus on Food. The Food for Life Partnership is a network of schools and communities across England committed to transforming food culture. The Partnership is led by the Soil Association and includes the Focus on Food Campaign, Garden Organic and the health Education Trust.

It aims to revolutionise school meals, reconnect young people with where their food comes from and inspire families to grow and cook food.

This Cooking Bus will visit all 180 flagship schools in England. To find out more visit www.foodforlife.org.uk.

The devolved Government for Scotland 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.

Public Health Minister Shona Robison: “The Cooking Bus is a fantastic way to teach children some of the basics about where our food comes from and how to cook healthy, tasty meals.”

The Bus will visit and run programmes in all 32 councils across Scotland by the end of 2010.

Any school in Scotland can apply for a visit from this Cooking Bus.

In total Buses teach over 25,000 youngsters and train over 1,500 teachers each year.

Click here for a virtual tour of the bus >

Visits to community centres, youth clubs, special events and play schemes take place in the holidays.

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
Schools need to be registered with the Focus on Food
Campaign to apply for a Cooking Bus visit. If you are not
registered then you can do so, free, by clicking here >
Community groups can also apply for a Cooking Bus visit
outside term time.

If you wish to apply please read the full details and guidelines and fill out the Cooking Bus visit request form then send back to us via e-mail, fax or post.

To take a look at where the cooking buses have been
look at the Cooking Buses diary here.

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 download the information here click here to access 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