SAVE THE DATE! Hot off the press! the date for NSMW24 has been announced. It will run 11th – 15th Nov 2024

But let’s take a look back on NSMW23! Remember you can still promote and share!

What a week NSMW2023 was! Starting with Anita, our hard-working Chair, having completed a round of BBC interviews. The she recorded a video each day setting out the themes and why everyone should get behind our objectives for the week. For those of you who follow us on social media, when you get a minute click on to watch Monday’s opening address, then scroll through our posts for the videos each day https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DpIwur5CG4&t=5s

We saw so much great school lunch news buzzing around the socials this week so please keep tagging us or get in touch if you would like us to post your events on our pages. Please message us or email admin@laca.co.uk. We know many of you were too busy last week celebrating another successful week.

If you have any images of 2023 please email to admin@laca.co.uk we will feature them in our gallery.

If you didn’t get chance to run NSMW23 this week, you can still run them at a time that suits you. Free resources are still available in the Resource section, you can download, personalise and print to suit your events. We really hope you will share your celebrations and spread the word on social media about how children can benefit from a hot nutritious meal at lunchtime, details are below. Please promote in schools and in the wider community. The NSMW Team are on hand to help if you need.

The all important social media details

Facebook @nationalschoolmealsweek
Twitter @NSMW @LACA_UK
Instagram #nationalschoolmealsweek laca_uk
Hashtags #NSMW2023 #LACA_UK #greatschoolfood #comedinewithus

This year we called for school children, caterers, parents, food suppliers and schools to support our industry this year, so more people than ever enjoy great school lunches. We know pupils benefit from a hot meal at lunchtime, and as an industry we impact so positively on so many lives – this is something to be celebrated.

We recognise there are challenging times at the moment with the cost of living crisis, rising food costs, issues with staff recruitment and so much more. With that in mind, the value and benefit of great school food and all we are doing to provide quality meal each day shouldn’t be underestimated.

What were the outcomes of the week?

• To get schools serving more meals at lunchtime, we want you to encourage new customers into the dining room and to invite parents in for a school lunch.
• To offer more plant based meals and local produce, why not try a plant based roast or add an extra plant based day onto your menu.
• To get more people working in the industry, for 2023 we are running a recruitment drive with your help.
• To celebrate 30 years of NSMW, let’s share stories and invite VIPs to join in the celebrations.

You got behind this by

• Promoting NSMW and school meals on social media using the following details
• Running themed promotions in the dining room
• Inviting your local MP or VIP in for lunch
• Posting good news stories on your websites and in newsletters
• Throwing a big party to celebrate 30 years of NSMW
• Taking selfies with our 30th birthday sign and sharing on our socials

Theme days for the week
We receive so many great stories on the socials and know how much everyone enjoys a theme day. The 5 themes we saw up and down the country were:

Launch day, enjoy great school food: A fun day to launch the week with pupil’s favourites and promote your week of celebrations.

Come Dine With Us: Let’s get parents into dining rooms across the country, where they can sample how great the meals are and to see what a great environment it is to work in.

National Roast Dinner Day: A roast dinner day showcasing the best local British produce, and we challenge you to create the best plant-based version as well.

Try something new!: A day to encourage children who haven’t tried meals in a while or to get existing customers to sample some new dishes. You can make this day your own!

Happy Birthday NSMW!: We want you to end the week with one big celebration and invite your local MP or VIP to join in a day of promoting #greatschoolfood and NSMW’s 30th Birthday.

And back by popular demand to support green issues
Eat more, waste less: To teach children the importance of reducing, reusing and recycling and to run a plant based menu

If you need any further information about NSMW and how to get involved contact mail@laca.co.uk

You can keep promoting school meals after NSMW, 12 great themes now in LACA’s calendar of events

Free to download, edit and print today

An additional 6 themes have been added to create a year long campaign  LACA’s calendar of events will help you to increase uptake all year long. Resources have been created for members to use to add fun at lunchtime and encourage children back to hot school lunches. They have been designed to save you time and focus on key themes throughout the year. All promotions have free downloadable resources for you to personalise and print as you require. All are designed to provide you with a readymade promotional calendar to run alongside any other events you may have planned.

There are a number of Welsh resources available. If you require any others in Welsh please contact admin@laca.co.uk