A fundraising appeal set up by a pioneering Bristol cookery school to help tackle food poverty in the city is being backed by national law firm Burges Salmon.
Bristol-headquartered Burges Salmon has joined a group of businesses and philanthropists pledging to double donations over the next week to Square Food Foundation’s More Than A Meal appeal. 
Founded by chef, teacher and food education advocate Barny Haughton MBE, Square Food has been tackling food poverty by teaching adults and children to cook healthy food since 2011.
To celebrate a decade of working from the Park Community Centre in Knowle West, it launched the appeal on Wednesday to raise £20,000 in just 10 days.
Food poverty is a real threat for thousands of families across Bristol and visits to food banks tripled during lockdown.
Square Food tackles this problem at its root by teaching cooking skills, supporting individuals to become more confident in the kitchen and equipping them with the knowledge they need to access and prepare good food.
The £20,000 target is enough to teach essential life skills to a further 1,000 adults and children next year.
Burges Salmon, along with a group of philanthropists, has pledged to match the first £5,500 donations. 
That means that for every £10 donated up to £5,500, Square Food Foundation receives £20 at no extra cost to the donor.
Barny Haughton, pictured, said: “The last 10 years has brought huge change – at both local and global levels.
“But the challenges we’ve faced have only made us more determined to see food education taken seriously by the people that make decisions that affect our health and our environment.”
Burges Salmon head of community engagement Jamie Cameron added: “We’re delighted to be able to support Square Food’s 10th anniversary celebrations by doubling donations to its appeal.
“Its work aligns closely with Burges Salmon’s charitable vision – that no child should go hungry.
“We look forward to seeing what Square Food can achieve in the next 10 years and beyond!”
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Burges Salmon recently donated £10,000 to support a £100,000 crowdfunding campaign by the Bristol Local Food Fund (BLFF) to raise money for community food projects in the city and help them fight food insecurity.
