JAMIE Oliver hit the headlines and even caught the government’s attention when he launched his healthy school dinners campaign.

But the wheels were in motion in Bournemouth long before the celebrity chef came up with the idea.

For the last five years, a team of service users at Wallisdown Heights day centre has been preparing hot, healthy lunches for pupils at Kings Park Infant School in Boscombe.

The initiative began as a sandwich project but, when the scheme had to close because of a lack of funding and facilities, the team leaders wanted a new task for the adults with learning difficulties to undertake.

At the same time, the head teacher of Kings Park Infant School decided she wanted her pupils to be served hot lunches – and so a partnership was born.

“We started off quite small on a trial basis with one year-group of about 40 kids and got them used to having hot school meals,” explained Community Care Services instructor Dave Olsen.

“From the beginning we just said no chips, nothing fried, cut out salt and try and get as much fresh fruit and veg into them as possible.

“The school is in a deprived area, so they’ve got lots of issues with low income.

“The first week we started just teaching the kids to use a knife and fork. Most of them had not seen fresh vegetables before.”

But the children quickly got used to having hot dinners and the feedback from the school was positive from day one.

“Kids within months had better attention levels and were happier,” said Dave.

“The afternoon session was a lot better for them, they were learning more and obviously it helps towards their healthy diet as well.”

There are now around 150 children eating the hot lunches every day, with menus including roast dinners, fish, pasta bake and curries as well as vegetarian options, soup, jacket potatoes and a salad bar.

While the project is funded by Bournemouth Social Services, it still generates an income through the families who pay for their meals which, at £1.90 a day, are the cheapest in town.

In the last two years, the scheme has been expanded to include a gardening project and volunteers with learning difficulties or mental health issues now also have the opportunity to literally get their hands dirty.

A plot of land has been set aside for the initiative at King’s Park Nursery, where a team works four days a week growing fruit and vegetables to be used in the menu.

The gardening side of the project has also now been linked to the school, with pupils visiting regularly to learn more about where the food they eat actually comes from.

However, the overall aim of both the kitchen and gardening projects is to get people with learning difficulties and mental health problems out into the community and back to work.

Volunteers undertake a two-year course before they are encouraged to go out and seek either voluntary or paid employment.

Marianne Edit, community resources manager at the garden project, said: “It’s about their self-esteem and confidence and getting them working all day and getting them prepared for work.”

Dave Olsen added: “It’s unique.

“The kids get to meet and get used to seeing disabled people around. It’s breaking down those barriers.

“We are giving the service users life skills, communication, working with others, getting out into the community, getting into a routine.

“I try to make it as realistic as possible. If they don’t turn up to work I want to know why, just as you would in a job.

“But even if they don’t go onto something else, they’re getting that confidence, they’re getting life skills.”

• Don't miss our packed Taste section in the Daily Echo every Monday – also online, Click here