Chartwells has delivered free cooking and nutrition workshops to more than 3,500 children and adults as part of the Government’s Holiday Activities and Food programme.
The education caterer supported the HAF programme for an eighth consecutive summer, delivering sessions across almost 80 locations in partnership with schools, councils, community groups and charities.
The workshops form part of Chartwells’ Beyond the Chartwells Kitchen programme and were delivered across more than 100 days during the school holidays.
Regional partners included Make Lunch, Feeding Britain, Leicester Tigers Foundation, BCFC Foundation, CHOMP Brighton, Teamtheme Kent and Junior Adventures Group.
Sessions focused on helping children and families understand balanced diets, nutritious food choices and the benefits of trying different foods.
Participants also prepared food during the workshops before eating what they had made.
Chartwells said 52.2% of children participating were introduced to a food they had not previously tried.
The caterer also reported a 113% increase in confidence among children around eating different foods following participation in the workshops.
Chartwells nutritionists delivered activities based on the Eatwell Guide, with fruit kebabs, yoghurt bowls, energy balls and rainbow wraps among the most popular sessions.
Nichola McAvoy, Head of Social Value at Chartwells, said: “We are proud to have been part of the HAF programme for another year. We know how important the programme is for many families during the school holidays and by partnering with local organisations, we’re able to go beyond term time to engage communities.
“Year after year, it’s encouraging to see families continue to take part in food education and learn about food and nutrition.”
Chartwells has supported holiday clubs through the HAF programme since 2018 as part of its wider food education activity for children and young people.
Across the 2025-26 academic year, the business delivered more than 135 HAF days and reached 4,762 people.