St. Cenydd Community School

Students at St Cenydd Community School, Caerphilly join thousands across the country cooking and tasting British mussels this week

Students at St Cenydd Community School took part last week in the “Mussel Power” programme. The Fish In Schools Hero programme aims to ensure that every child gets a chance to prepare, cook and eat fish before they leave school and is run by The Food Teacher’s Centre and The Fish Mongers Company’s Charitable Trust.

Through “Mussel Power” 8000 students in 200 hundred schools across the country are cooking and tasting sensational freshly cooked dishes made with British mussels, such as Green Thai Style Mussels and ‘Angry’ Mussels, in a spicy tomato sauce.

Head of Food and Nutrition, Mrs Karen Ryder, explains the lesson:

‘Our pupils have been busy practising how to prepare and cook sustainable fresh fish. They learned how mussels are rope-grown and harvested sustainably and provide key nutrients. Most of these students have never eaten mussels before’.

Pupils in Years 8, 10 and 11 had the opportunity to learn how to cook and prepare the mussels, most were surprised how quick they are to cook and many pupils and staff enjoyed tasting the mussels.

“Can we order two tonnes of mussels please, and could you deliver them to 200 schools? We know that delivery might be quite tricky right now, but any chance?”

This was the request that Simon Gray (Simon Gray, Senior Associate, Food Teachers Centre UK) put to the fish industry. He was overwhelmed with the positive response and ‘can do’ approach.

“Mussels are one of the most under-utilised shellfish in this country, so we are getting young people to try them in the safe, positive environment of their food and nutrition lessons. This would not have been possible without the amazing industry partners offering to support this so that there is no cost to schools. Schools are super excited and hugely grateful for Sarah’s (Offshore Shellfish) generous gift and in awe of the logistical processing and delivery challenges navigated so expertly by Matt and Pat (Fowey Shellfish, and M&J Seafood).” said Simon.

Offshore Shellfish kindly donated 2 tonnes of grade ‘A’ rope grown mussels. Sarah Holmyard, (Head of Sales and Marketing):

“We are delighted to support the Fish in School Heroes programme by supplying our mussels for thousands of school children to try. It is so important for children to have access to foods they may not otherwise try and be the next generation of seafood enthusiasts. Mussels are so quick and simple to cook, are great for you, and great for the environment so are perfect for the children to try”.