Beechfield School has been awarded £5,000 in funding from Watford Borough Council’s Neighbourhood Grant to create an allotment in their school grounds on Gammons Lane...
The allotment will be used to teach a carefully prepared curriculum, which will enable the children to learn about growing different types of food, and to prepare healthy meals.
This will benefit many of the children who live in flats and homes without outdoor spaces. 25% of the children are also eligible for pupil premium, this is Government funding to improve educational outcomes for disadvantaged pupils in schools in England.
With 37 languages spoken at the school, the diverse and multicultural school community will greatly benefit from this resource. The project will directly impact the school's community of 400 pupils, their families, and the hearing-impaired group 'Little Chicks', who use the school's pastoral bungalow on a Tuesday.
It will also have an indirect impact on the community by promoting life-long healthy lifestyle habits and will hopefully reduce the need for local health services in the future. The school also plans to open up the pastoral centre after school for families who need support and have previously worked closely with Watford Women's Centre.
Elected Mayor of Watford, Peter Taylor, said: “The allotment at Beechfield School will serve as a vibrant and inclusive space for the community, providing not only an opportunity for children to learn about growing food sustainably and preparing healthy meals, but also promoting long-term healthy lifestyle habits.”
Headteacher at Beechfield School, Gillian Jackson, said: “We are thrilled to have been awarded funding for this project and are excited to offer our students, and our community, an opportunity to learn about healthy eating, food production and sustainability in an interactive and hands-on way."
The next round of funding for the Neighbourhood Grant will be in open for applications again in summer 2023, however, you can email NCIL@watford.gov.uk if you want to find out more in advance. To read more about the projects, please visit watfordneighbourhoodgrant.commonplace.is.
