Free food for turning veggie
An animal campaign group is offering free food to two schools if they make their switch to vegetarian meals permanent.
St Barnabas CofE Primary, in Evington, and Highfields Primary – both Leicester – have been serving vegetarian meals because of concerns about potential contamination of halal food.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) has written to the head teachers to offer free vegetarian sausage rolls for every student if they make the meals a permanent fixture.
Leicester City Council withdrew a halal lamb burger from its school menu in April after it claimed tests showed up to 50 per cent pork in a sample.
Independent tests for the supplier, Paragon Foods, showed no contamination.
In a letter to the schools, Mimi Bekhechi, from Peta, said: "Studies have shown vegetarian kids grow taller and have higher IQs than their classmates and they are also at a reduced risk for heart disease, obesity, diabetes and other diseases in the long run.
"Meat, diary products and eggs are the main culprits in the obesity epidemic. Meat production is also a leading cause of water depletion, soil erosion and most other environmental problems, according to United Nations scientists."
Susan Poole, head of St Barnabas, and Jane Ridgewell, head of Highfields Primary, declined to comment.
This is from the Mercury Opinion column in today's Leicester Mercury:
Meat tests should reassure
Leicester City Council is to undertake widespread testing of meat. The aim is to reassure residents.
It is easy to find criticism of the outrage provoked by revelations some food products have contained meat other than the type advertised. Some have argued eating horsemeat, for example, is not dangerous, and consumers should "get things in proportion".
However, it appears the scandal has concerned a sizeable proportion of meat eaters; both butchers and manufacturers of vegetarian food have reported a significant increase in trade.
Whatever your view, consumers have a right to know they are eating what they believe they are buying and eating. That is something that is particularly important for Muslims, for whom the consumption of pork is prohibited.
The tests being carried out by the city council will, we hope, reassure consumers that they can have absolute confidence in local businesses.
Vegan fair serves up a treat for visitors
A fair dedicated to vegetarian and vegan living welcomed scores of visitors.
More than 200 people attended the event at Avenue Primary School, in Avenue Road Extension, Clarendon Park, Leicester, on Saturday to sample vegan and vegetarian food.
A number of workshops were also held to teach people about crafts, such as making their own tote bags, and caterers Pocketwala were on hand to feed the hungry masses with healthy Indian food.
Richard Bonfield, resident poet for the Born Free foundation – an organisation which aims to combat animal cruelty – also entertained visitors with readings of his and Pollyanna Pickering's new book Wildness.
Organiser Ann-Marie Harrigan said: "It was a great success, we had more people than we anticipated and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves."
Delight at progress of city's first free school
Teachers, parents and children at Leicester's first free school say they are delighted with the progress in transforming its building.
Krishna Avanti primary, in Evington, opened in September in a grade II-listed building, formerly occupied by Leicester Grammar Junior School.
Youngsters have been working in temporary buildings put up on the site while thousands of pounds of refurbishment and extension work got under way.
The work is due to finish in August, in time for the autumn term, when pupils numbers at the school will increase from 30 to at least 75.
Head teacher Christopher Spall said: "We're thrilled with the way work's progressing.
"It's going to look amazing with a square piazza being created and cloisters around it – it's got a real spiritual feel to it."
Free schools are set up by charities, parents or teachers outside local authority control, but paid for by the state.
The building work at Krishna Avanti includes the creation of a classroom block for years one and two, refurbishment of the existing building inside and outside, with new windows, carpets and redecoration.
The square piazza is being built towards the back of the school and a garden area for the children to grow their own vegetables will sit to one side of it, alongside a new-look outdoor area with play equipment.
There are still 15 places left for parents who wish to send their children to the school.
Sabrina Braithwaite, from Narborough Road, in Leicester, is sending her son, Jahziah, five, from September.
She said: "I've looked around the school before but I wanted to bring my son so that he could get used to it.
"I'm very impressed with the school's calm ethos and its vegetarianism. I like the fact that children do yoga and I think he'll be happy here.Jahziah said: "I really like the school playing field."
Pargan Dhadda, from Queen's Road, has a son, Angath, five, at the school, and another son, Aaryan, four, who will start in the new academic year.
He said: "I was a little bit worried at first because it was a new school but I've been really pleased with how it's been run.
"The grounds are very impressive and far better than any other school we looked around and because it's a small school the children get lots of individual attention."
The primary, which will eventually have places for 420 children, is sponsored by education charity the I-Foundation.
It has a Hindu ethos but children of all faiths attend and follow the national curriculum.
School governor Pradip Gajjar said: "We're very happy with how the school and the work is progressing."
