The NFU’s specialist education team, led by former teachers, runs a full range of packages for schools, helping teachers to deliver curriculum-based learning objectives, all taught through the lens of farming. The new funding from NFU Mutual will help expand the current offering and allow the development of new materials and educational experiences for students.
The NFU currently delivers a range of live-streamed lessons and webinars, as well as projects for the classroom which allow children to learn about food, STEM subjects, business and enterprise. As part of the innovative Farmers For Schools programme, the NFU also trains farmers, and those who work in associated industries, to speak in secondary schools and answer questions direct from teenagers who are navigating the minefield of myths which appear on social media.
NFU President Minette Batters highlighted how the donation will help the NFU continue to educate the next generation on where their food comes from: “We’d would like to thank NFU Mutual Charitable Trust for its continued support. This generous donation will help the education team to continue to deliver our important work with schools, as well as engage with stakeholders and partner organisations to continue to move forward in this area.”
She added: “This year we hope to see the number of children reached through our live lessons hit one million. The funding will also help us to train up more Farmers For Schools ambassadors to go into schools and give older students that all-important face to face time with representatives of our modern, innovative and vital industry.
“The work that NFU Education does is so important in teaching the next generation about where their food comes from, and the popularity of our projects shows the appetite to learn more.”
“This generous donation will help the education team to continue to deliver our important work with schools.”
NFU President Minette Batters
Sian Johns, Secretary for the NFU Mutual Charitable Trust, commented “We’re proud to be supporting NFU Education with this latest donation. One of the main aims of the NFU Mutual Charitable Trust is to advance the education of the public about agriculture, and this programme is demonstrating great value for both primary and secondary aged children.”