Providing nutritious meals to children has become increasingly challenging due to significant cost increases, staff shortages and funding shortfalls. LACA has launched a campaign urging all political parties to commit to a minimum funding level of £3 per meal (index linked) in their general election manifestoes.
Anita Brown, chair of LACA, commented: “We look forward to welcoming you to our showcase event, LACA The Main Event 2024, which runs from July 3-4 at the Hilton Metropole, Birmingham.
“We have all had a particularly challenging period due to the ongoing pressure of the cost-of-living crisis and free meal values not being aligned or index-linked and the recruitment and retention of staff. The focus and theme of the Main Event this year is ‘Levelling Up’, which aligns with the previous key message ‘If Not Now When!’ and the need for the Government/DfE to invest in our children’s future.
“The speaker programme we have drawn up has been carefully chosen to reinforce this key messaging, with a focus on the numerous challenges and topical issues facing us at this time. We are again opening the exhibition at the earlier time of 9.30am this year on the Wednesday 3rd July to cope with expected high demand, while the three-day training and development event kicks off that day with the Workshops.”
Shirley Ballas will discuss the importance of free school meals at this year’s LACA Main Event on Wednesday 3rd July at 4.10pm. She will join Michael Hales, the forum chair, in a conversation about the vital need for school food provision and the impact it can have on children's lives.
Following the late withdrawal of full-time GP and best-selling author Dr Amir Khan from the conference programme at LACA’s Main Event (July 3-4), television presenter and journalist Kate Quilton has stepped up to take the keynote session slot.
One of the conference sessions is devoted to finding out from each of these about the school meals situation ‘on the ground’, the challenges each is facing, and how the funding figures for each stack up when it comes to ‘levelling up’.
The four will be represented by Anita Brown, LACA National Chair (England), Judith Gregory, LACA National Vice Chair (Wales), Chris Ross, Chair of ASSIST FM (Scotland), and Colm Bradley, Education Authority (Northern Ireland).
Key features of this year’s Main Event are:
- School Food Exhibition: It is the only UK event dedicated to catering in education
- School Chef of the Year (SCOTY) competition: 12 school chefs will be competing for the national title
- Grab ‘N’ Go Challenge: Three school chefs will create their breaktime snack
- Finishing Touches: A culinary salon competition where school chefs display their craft pieces
- LACA Live: Five cooking demonstrations including one from LACA ambassador Mark Sargeant
- Workshops: The three LACA workshops are free to attend for both visitors and delegates