Children's Food Trust announces closure

The Children's Food Trust, has cited difficulties caused by the "political and economic climate" for the decision to close its doors. It was first launched by government in 2005 in response to a campaign led by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver around the poor quality of school meals.

The decision to close it comes four years after the Department for Education announced it was cutting its funding for the charity.

Originally called the School Food Trust it became a charity in 2007. Its work has included launching national school food standards and creating the Let's Get Cooking network of around 5,000 cooking clubs.

"Given the political and economic climate all charities are facing difficulties and we are no different," Linda Cregan, chief executive of the Children's Food Trust, said.

We remain passionate and dedicated to improving child health but it has proved impossible to continue to deliver our services and, extremely reluctantly, the trustees have chosen to close the trust," 

"It is our priority at this point to speak to all our funders and partners to ensure a smooth transition and a positive legacy.

"We are all very proud of the contribution we have made to the real positive differences in child health in the UK."

The charity's chair of trustees Adam Starkey called on the government, the food industry and retailers to ensure they continue the charity's work and invest in improving children's health.