Food Festival raises money so academy can purchase cooking equipment for students.

For a long time, Dartmouth Academy has wanted to purchase a dishwasher and the £1,600 raised by Dartmouth Food Festival has enabled this. The funds also brought the students their own chef jackets, a knife sharpener and a presentation trolley.

This purchase has made a huge and positive difference to the practical cooking lessons at Dartmouth Academy. It frees up more time to work with the students and helps to bring the focus of lessons more onto cooking and less about the clearing away.

The annual Dartmouth Food Festival Appeal chose the Academy as it’s beneficiary this year.

Festival chair, Sheila Shribman said: “The annual fundraising appeal will enable festival-goers to learn about the local causes supported by the Festival and, of course, we hope people will be inspired to donate so that together we can make an even bigger difference within our community.”

Any additional funds raised through this year’s appeal will be invested in a pilot after-school family learning project where pupils and their parents will prepare, cook and eat a meal together.

Sheila Shribman added: “We are very pleased to be supporting Dartmouth Academy this year and I hope festival-goers will be as excited as we are by the potential for this and future appeals to help our local community.

“Please pop along to any of our donation points at this year’s festival to find out more and contribute if you can. Thank you for your support.”

Dartmouth Academy Principal, Tina Graham said: “Dartmouth Academy is excited to be the beneficiary of the Dartmouth Food Festival’s first annual appeal.

“It is an exceptional opportunity for us to broaden the range of curriculum we cover, raise aspirations and encourage more pupils to consider a career in hospitality.”

Dartmouth Food Festival’s collaboration with Dartmouth Academy is continuing with an event in May called ‘A Taste of the Dartmouth Academy’.

Simon and Serin of Dartmouth Fine Foods will be supported by Academy students to make a three course meal. The students will be helping to staff the kitchen and work front of house.

The event will take place at 6.30pm on Friday, May 17, at The View Restaurant, Dartmouth Academy, Milton Lane.

Book to avoid disappointment at www.dartmouthfoodfestival.com to purchase £25 tickets.