Supermarket giant Tesco is receiving widespread acclaim for its 'phenomenal' Fruit & Veg for Schools programme, which provides free fresh produce to children in areas of high deprivation across the UK.
A Growing Impact on School Communities
Now in its second year, the initiative has significantly expanded. Developed in partnership with the British Nutrition Foundation, the scheme now supports over 500 schools, specifically targeting those with a high proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals.
Val Hanson, a Senior Student Mentor at Boldon School in South Tyneside, expressed her astonishment at the scheme's impact. "Not in a month of Sundays did we realise the difference free fruit and veg would have on our school – it’s phenomenal," she said.
More Than Just Nutrition: Building Confidence and Community
The benefits extend far beyond physical health. At Boldon School, where more than half of the pupils are on free school meals, the programme has been integrated into support for vulnerable children.
"We get some of the kids who are having a tough time at home or who need help with behaviour or attendance involved in the scheme, helping us to shop or distribute the fruit every week," Hanson explained. "Having that routine, being involved as part of a group... can really build confidence and it almost works as a counselling session sometimes."
Schools have also reported that children are becoming more adventurous with their food choices. Katy Mehaffy, Family Support Officer at Park View Community Academy, noted the unexpected popularity of avocados. "We’ve found that the kids are more adventurous at school; if one of their friends is eating something, they’re more likely to give it a go."
Life-Changing Results for Learning and Wellbeing
The most critical outcome has been the effect on the children's ability to learn. Mehaffy highlighted how the scheme tackles hunger, which was previously affecting behaviour in the classroom.
"A lot of children used to come into school hungry... so just being able to offer these children a piece of fruit really is life changing for them," she stated. "They’re able to concentrate on their work and go back into class after a break feeling more alert."
This feedback is echoed by Tesco. Claire de Silva, Head of Communities at the retailer, confirmed that every teacher surveyed for their report agreed the scheme has made a positive difference, citing sharper focus, more energy, and better behaviour among pupils.
Elaine Hindal, Chief Executive of The British Nutrition Foundation, added: "We could not be more delighted to see our work have this kind of real-world impact... The diet-related health of our young people is a major concern and initiatives, like this one, to promote access to healthy foods are sorely needed."
