Russell Hobbs and global charity Action Against Hunger announces the winners of the Plates for Change competition, with St Mary’s Catholic Primary School in Staffordshire taking home first place and proving the smallest hands can make the biggest difference.
This nationwide competition forms part of Russell Hobbs’ three-year global charity partnership with Action Against Hunger, supporting its mission to end life-threatening hunger and malnutrition. The campaign provided free educational materials to help teachers spark meaningful discussions in the classroom and at home, before inviting pupils to design and submit plates reflecting these learnings.
Brocks Hill Primary School in Leicester and Sandwich Junior School in Kent were named runners-up following a rigorous judging process by former Great British Bake Off alumna Crystelle Pereira and MasterChef favourite Monica Galetti.
The judging panel assessed a total of 941 individual plate submissions, evaluating each design for creativity, visual appeal, and understanding of the importance of nutrition.
Alongside Crystelle Pereira and celebrity chef and broadcaster Monica Galetti, the panel included Byron Martinez, Senior Digital Designer at Spectrum Brands, and Alexandra Rutishauser-Perera, Director of Nutrition and Health at Action Against Hunger. They were joined by Lorraine Fountain, Senior Commercial Manager at premium food brand Tenderstem®.
The competition engaged a total of 552 primary schools nationwide, equipping registered teachers with curriculum-aligned lesson resources designed to spark meaningful discussions in classrooms and at home. Pupils were then invited to apply their learning creatively by designing a plate that tells a story about hunger, and each submission was judged on students ability to exhibit understanding of nutrition with fun and creative flair.
Delivered in collaboration with We Are Futures and National Schools Partnership, the initiative brought the campaign directly into UK classrooms. Students from winning school, St Mary’s, will enjoy an interactive cooking demonstration with Crystelle, helping to inspire the next generation of healthy cooks.
Additionally, all three winning schools will receive a bundle of Russell Hobbs products worth up to £500 alongside a copy of their design featured on an exclusive Plates for Change plate, a lasting reminder of their contribution to the global fight against malnutrition. Each individual winner will take home a Russell Hobbs small appliance, a recipe book and a £100 supermarket voucher to continue their culinary creativity at home with their families.
Head of School, Debra Statham from St Mary’s said: “We are incredibly proud of our students for this fantastic achievement. This competition gave them a powerful opportunity to learn about hunger, empathy and the power of nutrition and to express those ideas creatively. Seeing these learnings translated into such thoughtful artwork has been a great opportunity for our whole school community.”
Speaking about the entries, Crystelle added: “I’m delighted to be part of this campaign with Russell Hobbs and Action Against Hunger. Food has always been such a big part of my life – growing up in a family where cooking and sharing meals was everything. However, I recognise that many people worldwide go hungry due to a lack of access to safe, nutritious food. Giving children the chance to learn about good nutrition, and the challenges related to global food poverty and where food comes from, is so important.”
Chef, presenter and bestselling author Monica Galetti also added, “Food should be something everyone can enjoy, learn from, and feel proud of. I’m so excited to work with Action Against Hunger and Russell Hobbs on Plates for Change. The campaign not only teaches practical cooking skills, but also opens young people’s eyes to the wider issues of food poverty around the world. I’m proud to support a campaign that empowers the next generation to think differently about food.”
Through the partnership, Russell Hobbs has committed to a minimum donation of £270,000 over the next three years to support Action Against Hunger, working together to redefine the kitchen as a force for good.
For more information on Russell Hobbs’ charity initiatives as part of its three year partnership with Action Against Hunger, please visit:
