Former government quango the School Food Trust has appointed its board of trustees, as it prepares to become an independent charity with a social enterprise.
It was announced in October that the Trust, which is the Department for Education’s specialist adviser on school meals, children’s food and related skills, would no longer be a non-department government body, and would continue as a charity and a separate newly-created Community Interest Company.
The new Trust is still an adviser to the DEA, and for the first time is also offering support and services on a paid-for basis.
School Food Trust chairman, Rob Rees, said: “The wealth of experience and knowledge that all of our new board members bring is so important as we continue our work as an independent charity and social enterprise, and I look forward to working with them all.
“With one in three pupils overweight or obese by the time they reach year six, our work to help children reach their potential through a healthier diet and better cooking skills has never been more important.
“At the same time, I’d like to thank our outgoing board members for their dedication and commitment since the Trust began its work – which has already seen such huge progress.”
The Trust’s new board members are:
- Sheila Adam, former deputy chief medical officer
- Julie Dent CBE, chair of Torbay NHS Care Trust
- Jane Hurst, a qualified teacher, youth worker and senior manager of youth and play services
- Rosalind Turner, former managing director for Kent County Council’s Children, Families and Education Directorate
- Ian Hagg, recently corporate social responsibility director for the Findus Group
- Tim Mack, head of marketing and communications at National Savings and Investments
