The latest news and headlines from City Catering
Creative Writing Competition 2025
To celebrate National Writing Day, an annual celebration of the power of writing creatively, we are offering all pupils that attend one of our member primary schools the chance to win a £15 book token that can be used during this year’s summer holidays.
Today we’re launching or #Summer challenge to WIN a book voucher. We want to inspire children of all ages and abilities to get writing. To enter, we want to know why your child loves our school lunches and what their favourite foods/dishes are on our menus and why? There will be two prizes, for two categories. One for KS1 and and one for KS2.
The competition is open to all primary aged children attending one of our member schools.
To enter, parents and carers can:
1. Send a photo of your child's creative writing piece ( via our e-mail address)
2. E-mail directly to our e-mail address
3. Send a postal entry to the address in our T's 7 C's
Closing Date is the last day of term 22 July at 5pm.
Please state if your child is in KS1 or KS2. The winners will be chosen and notified week commencing 28 July 2025.
E-mail address - marketing@citycateringsouthampton.co.uk
Get #QuizzingForGood and help us fund family meals over the Summer
We invite you to join in on our #QuizzingForGood fundraising event! In exchange for a £3 donation, you’ll receive everything you need to entertain your friends and family. Consider boosting your donation by asking for donations too.
Why timely guidance and support on Free School Meals is vital
There are so many different aspects of this pandemic that is placing pressure on households, business and services. A huge concern for us, as school caterers and advocates for equal access to good food, is the access to healthy food and the challenges that Covid-19 creates. The Free School Meal scheme, in ordinary times, allows for many children to access a healthy, hot meals that they otherwise may not be able to access. Many families struggle to afford food. For many, this can means no hot meal, at all. Or parents skipping meals to ensure that their children remain fed. We already know that this risks present itself more so in the school holidays, when the scheme is not running. This happens, up and down the country, and a pandemic and the financial crisis that looms does little to prevent this very real risk from increasing.
Colouring Pages for your Window, from City Catering
We've loved seeing everyone's wonderful window displays to send hope and support to the community during the current pandemic, so we've created some colouring pages for you to download, print and share in your windows.
City Catering Southampton goes to parliament
"As schools wind down for the summer holidays, thousands of families who receive free school meals will be worried about how they're going to feed their children, let alone take them on holiday"
- Sharon Hodgson, MP
Hampshire Holiday Provision Steering Group set to tackle children at risk of hunger in the holidays
City Catering Southampton, is calling for individuals and businesses to join its network to combat the growing issue of families, and in particular children, going hungry during the school holidays.
Our vision to tackle Holiday Hunger in Southampton
At City Catering Southampton we believe that receiving great quality food, served with kindness and care, is a right and not a privilege. Everyone deserves the best possible nourishment. To honour that belief, we place a significant focus on making a tangible difference in people’s lives through local nutritional projects.
Family mealtimes are for life, not just for Christmas
This week schools across Southampton are celebrating their Christmas meals with over 12,000 pupil’s tucking into turkey, veggie sausages, roast potatoes and seasonal vegetables.
City Catering Southampton wins EBP South Amazing People Award
City Catering Southampton were joint winners of the EBP South Amazing Business Involved in Hosting or Participating Work Experience. The UK’s first charitable catering non-for-profit won the award for providing work experience placements to students across Southampton over eight years.
City Catering Southampton announces Rachel Hall as Chief Executive Officer
The UK's first charitable catering company, City Catering Southampton announced that its board of trustees has appointed Rachel Hall as the Chief Executive Officer for the charity and its trading subsidiary.
Kids love our sweet potato and lentil curry recipe
Every week we receive requests from mums and dads who want to create school meals at home. This week Emma got in touch with us through our Facebook page to request our sweet potato and lentil curry recipe.
Healthy eating with Quorn at Oakwood Primary School
Year 3 Pupils at Oakwood Primary School learnt about healthy eating choices and tucked into Keema Curries, Sweet Chilli Noodle Pots and Sausage Twists with Quorn’s Home Economist Ita Nugent. City Catering Southampton use's Quorn in school meals and choose to partner with Quorn Foods to promote healthy eating to children, bringing the healthy food plate to the front of their minds.
Fighting Holiday Hunger in Southampton
City Catering Southampton supported Make Lunch volunteers during February half-term, serving 110 meals to children and their families at Valentine Primary School.
Catering for your child's dietary requirements
City Catering Southampton provides special diets for pupils with medical conditions and allergies, who want to enjoy a school meal. Please note that medical evidence of the allergy is required before a menu can be adjusted.