In broad terms the role of food education is twofold - it can impart food based knowledge (including nutrition) and life skills, as well as providing a nexus for the integration of other learning.

Food education experiences provide children with an opportunity to discover, reflect and understand about themselves, their peers and others within their community.

Food education activities develop knowledge, understanding, skills, values and attitudes required to make appropriate food choices in order to lead healthy, active and fulfilling lives whilst advocating a holistic approach by encouraging various concepts of food - physical, cognitive, emotional, social and spiritual.

By implication, food education should be learned at home or at school, but what of those children who miss out because they are ill, have learning difficulties, or leave home. These are the children and young people we are primarily seeking to help and, to that end, we have identified our target audience as those children and young people who are:

• Homeless, at risk or disaffected
• Providing primary care for someone else
• Teenage Mothers
• Living in isolated or rural areas
• Living with metal illness or addiction
• Living with cancer or chronic illness