Welsh red meat promotion body Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) ramped up their work with schools and young people over the summer months.

As part of their health and education work, the HCC team have been visiting schools and events across Wales and have engaged with over 1,600 school children over the last few months.

HCC have partnered with Welsh Athletics as part of a ‘Healthier Wales’ partnership. Working together with some of Wales’ star athletes, the HCC team have been visiting schools around Wales with international athletes including Paralympian Aled Siôn Davies, Olympian Adele Nichol and national champions Hannah Brier and Osian Jones offering food and fitness sessions to school pupils.

The partnership was launched at the Senior Schools Track & Field Championships in Cardiff where HCC engaged with young athletes and their families, highlighting the natural protein available in Welsh red meat products. HCC visited schools around Wales with the athletes, cooking up their favourite healthy Welsh dishes which help keep them in top form. The children were delighted to meet the athletes and were provided with learning resources from HCC as well as a cooking demonstration and delicious tasters!

Dishes included Welsh Beef spaghetti Bolognese and Welsh lamb fajitas. The recipes all used local ingredients where possible and focused on the health and provenance of home-grown food. HCC also took part in the Pembrokeshire Food Story where over 1,000 local school children learned about food and farming in Wales. Children made PGI Welsh Beef kebabs using local ingredients and
learned about how livestock farming in Wales is more sustainable than other parts of the world, as well as understanding some of the main nutrients Welsh red meat provides.

HCC also took part in the National Education Show in Llandudno, sharing their latest food and farming teaching resources with local teachers and educators. Over 500 teachers attended the event and HCC showcased its dedicated education website www.redmeathub.wales which provides free, bilingual lesson plans and resources for teachers from Key Stage 1 up to Key Stage 4.
HCC’s Consumer Executive, Elwen Roberts, who leads on work with schools explained...

‘We have had a busy summer term engaging with schools and educators across Wales, taking the red meat message directly to teachers, schools and the next generation.’ ‘Red meat can play an important role in a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle, and Welsh red meat in particular is produced in a sustainable and environmentally responsible way.’ 

Elwen continued... 

‘Between our work with Welsh Athletics, the Pembrokeshire Food Story and other events, we have engaged with over 1600 school children in Wales.’

‘Our work within the education sector in Wales is a core part of HCC’s mission. Welsh red meat can form a key part of a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle and we look forward to continuing our important work in this area in the new school year.’