SCHOOLS across Bradford have been invited to join the fight to help reduce food waste.

The Real Junk Food Project is a group that intercepts food destined for the waste bin and instead puts it to good use, either by selling it or using it as ingredients in its “Pay As You Feel” cafes.

The group, which has a large food warehouse in Pudsey, already works with three Bradford District schools, as well as over 40 schools in the Leeds area. Later this month it is holding an event to get more across Bradford to sign up to its Fuel For School scheme.

The schools already involved are Christ Church Academy in Windhill, Trinity All Saints in Bingley and Haworth Primary School.

The launch will take place on Monday January 23 at Haworth Primary between 1pm and 3pm, and the charity has invited schools from across Bradford to come and see the benefits of joining the scheme.

The Real Junk Food Project collects the “waste” food from shops, allotments, restaurants, cafes and other establishments.

Haworth Primary School has been involved with them since September, and as well as learning about food waste, food poverty and sustainability, the school runs a pay as you feel stall stocked with surplus food provided by the project once a week in the Airedale Shopping Centre in Keighley.

Kevin Mackay, Fuel For School Coordinator, said: “We have the infrastructure in place to deliver the project in more areas, and we’re keen to get to more Bradford schools.

“We see a lot of great social outcomes to our project, but our big legacy is going to be what we teach the next generation. Educating children is our best chance of stopping food waste, which is a major global problem.

“Schools can get a lot from this. Our partner schools run market stalls where the local community can pay as they feel for food.”

Helen Thompson, head at Haworth Primary School, said: “We have a team from the school that runs the shop on Fridays, and we’re looking to extend that and have it open for longer. We’re now looking for something longer term, not just a pop up shop.

“As well as learning about food waste, children learn things about communication and how businesses work.

“It is a really good way to support local families as well as being a great education for the children.”