Academy allotment provides life skills and fresh food

A Stoke-on-Trent-based school have created their own allotment, with fresh produce grown being donated to a local fine-dining establishment.

Thistley Hough Academy, who are part of the CET Trust, in Penkhull, has linked up with Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s community development team and Stoke-based restaurant Feasted, and now donate home-grown produce from their on-site allotment, orchard and herb garden.

In return for the donations, Feasted provide work experience and apprenticeships for students and donates to school funds.

Julia Mottershead, Food Studies teacher at Thistley Hough Academy said:

"I am overwhelmed with the amount of support we have received in the setting up and opening of the allotment, this will benefit our curriculum and student’s life experience immensely. This could not have been achieved without the help of our local community and colleagues both at Thistley Hough Academy and CET. From the bottom of my heart – thank you."

Cllr David Williams, cabinet member for community safety and resilience said:

“We are delighted to see the fine food being produced by pupils at Thistley Hough Academy. This is a really exciting opportunity for pupils to gain work experience at Feasted whilst learning life skills, growing their own fruit and vegetables. Initiatives like this show Stoke-on-Trent at its best, with our young people being creative and working together with a local business with mutual benefits.”

Cllr Sarah Hill, cabinet member for children’s services and allotment champion said:

“As the ward councillor and the allotments champion for Stoke-on-Trent City Council, I was delighted to hear about this fantastic programme from the teachers at Thistley Hough Academy.

“Being an allotment owner myself I know there is nothing more rewarding than growing your own food, so giving the students of the Academy the opportunity to do this is an important opportunity for them plus they may consider pursuing this field of work in the future.”

Cris Cohen, CEO and Co-Owner of Feasted added,

“Julia from Thistley Hough Academy came to one of our events, and she approached me about working with the school. Since then we’ve been supporting students with their Key Stage 4, especially, help them realise ambitions toward hospitality.

“This is just the beginning, we’re just getting started and I’m really excited about what this can become. We want to be responsible for building and developing a really connected (food system) offering in the city, that goes way beyond anyone’s imagination.”