Community Education
A local authority’s education service is far more than the provision of schools for children and teenagers. It includes providing educational opportunities for all members of the local community in its widest sense. This can include areas such as vocational training, basic skills, and leisure learning.
Whilst overall responsibility for securing adult and community education lies with the Learning and Skills Councils, local authorities are central partners in the planning and provision of good education. An authority’s approach to community education will embrace much more than providing access to courses or classes.
Local authorities can utilise the delivery of various services to promote important information and messages. For example the provision of food in a variety of environments (schools, leisure facilities, staff canteens etc) can help promote healthy eating.
Community education in the context of food issues may be stand alone or be part of a broader initiative embracing wider messages. Food related education can embrace areas such as food safety and hygiene, food standards matters such as labelling, as well as promoting the benefits of healthy eating and a balanced diet. Initiatives can include breakfast clubs, pre-school activities, providing healthy choices in vending machines; promoting contact between local farmers and schools allotment schemes, provide training for local food businesses, specific local campaigns and partaking in any national campaigns.