Cornish pasty makers raise £20,000 to get kids cooking

Money will go straight to local schools to fund cookery sessions, food-related field trips, cooking equipment and ingredients.

In celebrations of the week, pasty makers visited Sandy Hill Academy and Halwin Primary School.

Over 130 students at these schools were taught how to make, crimp and bake their own pasties by professionals.

Head teacher of Halwin Primary School, Ms Carr said: "Halwin students absolutely loved making pasties to celebrate Cornish Pasty Week and they learnt so much about where their food comes from and the importance of the great Cornish pasty.

"As a small school of just 63 pupils, the funds we have received from the Cornish Pasty Community Fund will enable us to take the children on field trips to learn about the food chain, from farm to plate."

Sandy Hill Academy has plans to use their share of the fund to establish regular after school cookery clubs.

Both the fund and Cornish Pasty Week are initiatives by the Cornish Pasty Association.

This non-profit collective of genuine Cornish pasty makers has been instrumental in strengthening the Cornwall community, more so through the Community Fund initiative.

The association’s chairman, Jason Jobling said: "We wanted to show how much we value Cornwall and its people.

"Helping youngsters learn about food and, of course, pasty making, therefore felt like a natural and fitting way for us to do that.

"Others seem to agree, because we have been overwhelmed by support from the entire Cornish pasty community.

"Pasty shops up and down the country have made donations and some of our key suppliers have come on board as sponsors, including key sponsor Kepak, along with Conway Bailey, Hay Farm and ADM Milling.

"Half of their sponsorship has gone straight into the Community Fund."

So far, the fund has benefited 20 schools across Cornwall.

School administrators interested in applying for a share of the fund can get details through the Cornish Pasty Association's website.