Kids Country to receive £17,950 donation from Schöffel Country
Kids Country, the education initiative managed by the East of England Agricultural Society, are delighted to confirm that Schöffel Country will be donating £17,950 from their giveback Black Friday fortnight, in order to help them continue to inspire future generations about British countryside, farming and the food that comes from it.
Schöffel Country, who are based in Rutland, raised the incredible amount for the non-profit organisation, Kids Country, with a donation of £5 from each online sale made during their giveback period.
Kids Country education manager, Sandra Lauridsen, said: “We are so grateful to the Schöffel Country team and all its customers who took part in the Black Friday event to support Kids Country, this is amazing news. This generous donation will allow us to reach even more primary school children across the East of England through our programme of events, delivering hands on food and farming activities directly into schools. Thank you so much!”
Children with Charlie Coups and Paul Tomson from Schöffel Country, at Folksworth C of E Primary School for Kids Country Breakfast Week
Marcus Janssen, Sales Director at Schöffel Country, said: “We are genuinely delighted to be able to support Kids Country in this way. As someone who grew up on a farm, and a father of three children, I am only too aware of the disconnect that exists between us as consumers – and in particular children – and our food. Never has society been so far removed from the countryside, and all of the processes that go into the growing, producing, harvesting and processing food for our consumption.
“At Schöffel Country, we certainly recognise how important it is that children understand and appreciate where their food comes from, and the effort and care that goes into preparing it for the plate. So, to be able to support a brilliant organisation that is dedicated to giving children exposure to the real countryside that they wouldn’t otherwise have, is just wonderful. Kids Country do what so many of us at Schöffel Country would love to spend more time doing – sharing our passion for the countryside with the next generation, and getting to see how that exposure changes their views of the world and gives them perspective and a proper appreciation for food and food producers.”
Schöffel Country joined Kids Country at their field-to-fork event, Breakfast Week, at Folksworth C of E Primary School in November to see first-hand what their donation would contribute to. Charlie Coups and Paul Tomson said: “We were delighted to join the team at Kids Country for the start of Breakfast Week 2022. It was clear from the offset how passionate Sandra and her team are in helping to educate children about food, farming and the countryside. I hope that over the next twelve months, Schöffel Country can help to shine a light on these countryside heroes and the incredible work they do in educating the next generation.”
Kids Country provide hands-on learning events for primary schools across the East of England, delivering many of the activities directly in school and in keeping with the national curriculum. Children will literally get their hands dirty, whether that’s planting potatoes that they must care for through to harvest, making sausages, or planting an apple tree for their school.
Sandra Lauridsen continued: “This incredible donation allows us to make even more exciting plans for 2023 and to hopefully reach more children than ever. We are all so passionate about helping children really understand where their food comes from, how to cook it, make sensible food choices, and learn about the technology involved in farming and how our amazing farmers are real custodians of the land they farm, spending so much time making wildlife habitats – the more children we can reach with that message, the better for their future.”
Kids Country are supported by a range of corporate sponsors and volunteers, local farmers and food producers, and individual volunteers. If you would like your workplace or school to be involved in any way, or to volunteer as an individual please contact slauridsen@eastofengland.org.uk
To keep up to date with upcoming Kids Country events, please visit: Events – Kids Country (kids-country.co.uk) or follow Kids Country UK on Facebook, twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn.
