Birmingham schools put the world in a wheelbarrow at annual NEC BBC Gardeners’ World event

Green-fingered school pupils from across the region have packed wheelbarrows full of home-grown produce, representing a country of their choice, in the ‘Around the World in Barrows’ competition led by the Health for Life programme.

The finished wheelbarrows were on show at this year’s BBC Gardeners’ World Live Special Edition, which aims to educate and excite children about gardening, wildlife and growing their own fruit and vegetables.

More than 170 barrows have been created and displayed since the competition was introduced in 2016. It is just one of the features of Health for Life, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. The programme aims to promote healthier lifestyles by engaging people in growing food, physical activity, healthy eating and cookery. Working with local schools and communities across Birmingham, supported by Services for Education, The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) and funded by Mondelēz International, Health for Life has reached more than 225,000 children and adults in the region over the decade.

This year’s hands-on wheelbarrow activity put local students’ gardening and geographic knowledge to the test, with each school growing a barrow’s worth of plants from countries including Bangladesh, Mexico and Pakistan. The finished barrows then took pride of place at BBC Gardeners’ World Live Special Edition last week.

Awards for best school was up for grabs, as well as a prize for the public’s favourite barrow. Bishop Milner Catholic College was crowned Best School, by a panel of 2 expert judges. Somerville’s barrow depicting Pakistan was revealed as the winner of the Public Choice award.

Sally Grundy, Operations Leader from TCV, commented: “Over the past few years, we have worked closely with so many schools on the barrow project and it’s always exciting to see how enthusiastic and creative the pupils are in using their gardening knowledge and skills.”

Kelly Farrell, community affairs manager at Mondelēz International, said: “Our Health for Life programme is all about making sustainable changes that lead to healthier lifestyles, helping our local communities across Birmingham. The students and TCV worked hard preparing the barrows and it’s great to see them engage with the programme and food growing both at school and home – providing them with inspiration and lifelong skills.

“A big thank you to the schools, pupils and our partners TCV for creating the barrows and representing Health for Life at the show. Thanks also to BBC Gardeners World Live Special Edition for involving us in this wonderful event again.”

For more information about the work carried out by Health for Life in schools, please visit www.tcv.org.uk/midlands/health-for-life.

ENDS

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Notes to editors

About Mondelēz International

Mondelēz International, Inc. (Nasdaq: MDLZ) empowers people to snack right in over 150 countries around the world. With 2020 net revenues of approximately $27 billion, MDLZ is leading the future of snacking with iconic global and local brands such as OREO, belVita and LU biscuits; Cadbury Dairy Milk, Milka and Toblerone chocolate; Sour Patch Kids candy and Trident gum. Mondelēz International is a proud member of the Standard and Poor’s 500, Nasdaq 100 and Dow Jones Sustainability Index.

Visit www.mondelezinternational.com or follow the company on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MDLZ.

About Health for Life

• Health for Life is an evidence-based programme supporting children and adults in Birmingham to live healthier lifestyles by engaging people in growing food, physical activity, healthy eating and cookery.
• Health for Life is funded by Mondelēz International, with an investment £4.5 million to date, and delivered in schools by Services for Education and in the community by The Conservation Volunteers.
• Celebrating its 10 year anniversary Health for Lifehas, since 2011, engaged 189 Birmingham schools comprising 146 primary, 25 nursery and 18 secondary schools benefitting 66,000 pupils. It has also reached more than 159,500 adults in the city including teachers, parents and community members.
• Over 1,000 Mondelēz International employee volunteers have given practical support to programme schools and community spaces.
• Health for Life has developed 17 community food growing spaces and continues to deliver Green Gym activities in five of these locations.
• Health for Life supports Change4Life, the wellbeing campaign from Public Health England.
• The programme has received national acclaim with Mondelēz International winning the Food and Drinks Federation Health and Wellbeing Award in 2013 and Business in the Community’s ‘Big Tick’ 2014, in the Building Stronger Communities category, for the Health for Life in primary schools programme. Both the Health for Life show garden and separate schools’ wheelbarrow displays won ‘best in show’ awards at BBC Gardeners’ World in 2016.

About The Conservation Volunteers (TCV)

TCV is the delivery partner for Health for Life in the community. Every day TCV works across the UK to create healthier and happier communities for everyone - communities where its activities have a lasting impact on people’s health, prospects and outdoor places. TCV does this by bringing people together to create, improve and care for green spaces. From local parks and community gardens to Local Nature Reserves and Sites of Special Scientific Interest; from school grounds and hospital grounds to waterways, wetlands and woodlands; connecting people to the green spaces that form a vital part of any healthy, happy community. As part of Health for Life in the community, TCV delivers Green Gym sessions which help people get active outdoors, improving their environment and growing their own fruit and vegetables for a healthier lifestyle.

For more information visit https://www.tcv.org.uk/midland...

Follow us on https://twitter.com/TCV_Birmin... or
https://www.facebook.com/HealthForLifeInTheCommunity

About Mondelēz International

Mondelēz International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MDLZ) empowers people to snack right in over 150 countries around the world. With 2020 net revenues of approximately $27 billion, MDLZ is leading the future of snacking with iconic global and local brands such as OREO, belVita and LU biscuits; Cadbury Dairy Milk, Milka and Toblerone chocolate; Sour Patch Kids candy and Trident gum. Mondelēz International is a proud member of the Standard and Poor’s 500, Nasdaq 100 and Dow Jones Sustainability Index. Visit www.mondelezinternational.com or follow the company on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MDLZ.

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