Could you inspire the chefs of tomorrow?

Freedom Food has recently added its support to an excellent new initiative - A Passion to Inspire – which aims to improve the skills and the employment prospects of young up-and-coming chefs.

The organisers are initially seeking partners in East Anglia and nearby areas – with seven local Freedom Food members already signed up - to help educate young chefs and help them learn more about how animals are reared for the table.

However, the plan is to roll the initiative out countrywide in the near future so, if any members would like to know more about A Passion to Inspire and get involved as the national plan is formed, please let us know (contact details below) and we'll put you in touch with the organisers.

There are three different levels of involvement and you can choose to do as little or as much as you like – and costing little more than some time and a small amount of produce. Here’s the suggested involvement:

• Level 1 - Supplying five colleges in East Anglia with a small amount of your Freedom Food produce - this could range from a duck, chicken or a joint of pork for instance, per college together with information about your business and information about Freedom Food  - which we will supply
• Level 2 - Visiting a college at a convenient time to meet students and have the opportunity to talk about your farm, farming methods, animal welfare and your produce
• Level 3 - Hosting a visit by local students to your farm, with the opportunity to engage and educate them on how animals are reared for the table

Influencing opinion

Young chefs are potential opinion formers – and customers – of tomorrow, so it really is a golden opportunity to influence them now. And, should you also choose to get find out more, there are many local PR and communication opportunities that members can explore around involvement with the initiative. The organisers also maintain that there will be opportunities for those involved – via the colleges – to meet local hoteliers, restaurant owners and chefs and to talk about your produce.

Those involved will have the opportunity to meet, network and invite to their businesses, local talented chefs and employers – the users of their produce,

confirms Murray Chapman from First Contact Chefs.

Renowned chefs including Paul Foster from Tuddenham Mill, Suffolk and the BBC’s Great British Menu TV show; Mark Poynton of the award-winning Restaurant Alimentum, Cambridge; TV chef Chris Coubrough from The Crown at Wells - and Stephen Smith, from the Burlington Restaurant at the Devonshire Arms in Yorkshire, with its four AA rosettes and Michelin star, to name but a few.

If you are interested in finding out more about A Passion to Inspire please email joe.harrison@freedomfood.co.uk as soon as possible.