Edible Rotherhithe has been working in the local community for 3 years to deliver free after-school workshops to children & young people who live in areas of economic deprivation, food insecurity and poor air quality. Providing them with the opportunity to learn and thrive is at the heart of everything we do. Workshops are currently delivered from an outdoor polytunnel at Surrey Square School SE17 and include food growing, gardening, and arts & crafts. We aim to help children develop a better understanding of healthy food choices, nutrition and the environment, while encouraging their creativity! Children who take part in the workshops then become ambassadors within their school and share what they have learned with their classmates and their community through public exhibitions and performances. At a time when many schools are facing financial constraints, the workshops compliment the curriculum and provide children access to hands-on learning outside the formal classroom environment

What we'll deliver:

• Two weekly food growing and gardening after school workshops
• Three weekly arts and crafts after school workshops
• Special one off assemblies, events and performances

Why it's a great idea:

We run projects in areas of Southwark that face a range of challenges including economic deprivation, inequality, food insecurity and poor air quality. It is important that children and young people have the opportunity to increase their understanding of healthy eating & healthy lifestyles, while developing their creativity, skills & confidence – opportunities that are not afforded to everyone. We aim to build on our fantastic partnership with Surrey Square School where we have been delivering after-school workshops 3 times a week over the past year. However, the majority of these sessions are volunteer-led. By supporting Edible Rotherhithe, we will be able to expand our reach so that 195 workshops are delivered over 39 weeks (5 a week) reaching 100 individual children. We will also run special whole School assemblies, events and performances through our links with London Dreamtime storytelling, Really Big Pants Theatre and Garden Organic, with ex Blue Peter gardener Chris Collins.

Steps to get it done:

• Put workshop tutors in place
• Identify with the School children that are most in need of workshops and sign them up
• Create workshops timetable and tuition plan
• Organise special performances, exhibitions and events

We have excellent working relationships with Walworth Community Gardening Network, Garden Organic, Southwark Food Action Alliance, Pembroke House Community Centre & Walworth Living Room, Community Southwark, Walworth Society and Southwark Council. All of the workshop tutors we work with are DBS checked and have a requisite qualification to lead workshops and practical experience of working with young people. For example: The horticulture tutor (who is a volunteer) is a qualified Southwark Master Gardener. The arts and crafts tutors have graduate degrees in subjects relevant to the workshops they teach.