The Food for Thought Education Fund gives financial support to develop Food and Health as a context for learning. The fund aims to improve practitioner confidence in providing progressive, high quality, skills based learning experiences which help to embed food education into the ethos of the establishment. It also provides an opportunity to plan and implement learning experiences which build sustainability and capacity for future development.

Being a Good Food Nation

Scottish Government's aspiration that Scotland is a Good Food Nation, means a country where people from every walk of life take pride and pleasure in, and benefit from, the food they buy, serve, and eat day by day. It also means that:

• Scots to take a keen interest in their food, knowing what constitutes good food, valuing it and seeking it out whenever they can
• those who serve and sell food (including schools) are committed to providing good food
• everyone in Scotland has ready access to the healthy, nutritious food they need
• dietary-related diseases are in decline, as is the environmental impact of our food consumption
• Scottish producers ensure that what they produce is increasingly healthy and environmentally sound
• food companies are a thriving feature of the economy and places where people want to work
• other countries look to Scotland to learn how to become a Good Food Nation

Eligibility

The Fund allows Local Authority Primary and Secondary Schools and Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) settings (including private ELC centres that are in partnership with their local authority) to apply for grants of up to £3000 to develop projects that support the aims of the Fund. Additional Support Needs (ASN) establishments in the independent sector are also eligible to apply. Establishments may apply individually or as part of a cluster of schools from their education authority.

What are we looking for this year?

This year, we are interested in bids which will to contribute to this vision by:

• ensuring learners have an understanding about food education and can apply their knowledge and skills in a progressive way
• relating projects to the world of work, reducing food waste and learning through farm visits
• improving outcomes for learners in ways which seek to eliminate the inequity that currently exists amongst learners from different backgrounds, and from particular vulnerable groups

Download the application

Food for Thought - Phase 11.
Application guidance (PDF)

Application form (Word)

Applications will close at 12 noon on Thursday 27th June 2024.

How can I find out about previous Food for Thought Projects?

There are several case studies under Interesting Practice on the Education Scotland Food Summary Page.

Applications must be sent to FoodforThought@educationscotland.gov.scot however questions about the fund can be directed to jeanette.smart@educationscotland.gov.scot.