Five primary schools in Kirkby have raised just over £422 through the national Young Marketeers programme – a programme where primary school children learn about local and environmental impacts of food, grow their own vegetables, engage in food marketing, and sell their harvests at their community market.
Pupils at Kirkby C of E Primary School, Ravenscroft Community Primary School, Millbrook Primary School, St Maries Catholic Primary School and Eastcroft Park School started the “get growing” programme in their school gardens earlier this year. They received support from expert gardeners as part of Young Marketeers, a food education programme run by charity School Food Matters, funded by Knowsley Council.
The pupils then sold their produce, which included potatoes, carrots, beans and cucumbers, to shoppers in Kirkby town centre on Friday 3 July 2026.
The money raised has been donated to The Eco Therapy Garden, a community-led therapy garden in Knowsley which offers a safe, supportive outdoor space where visitors can participate in gardening, eco therapy activities, outdoor learning and volunteering opportunities.
The Young Marketeers is a food education programme that gives primary school children an opportunity to learn about food production, grow their own veg, and set up a stall at their local community market. The programme’s expert gardeners, chefs and programme leads deliver a series of sessions to children which aim to educate children on local and national food production and waste; teach children how to grow and harvest their own vegetables; and share marketing tips on how to sell their produce in local markets.
Stephanie Slater MBE, Founder and Chief Executive of School Food Matters, said “Food education is a vital life skill, and hands-on experiences such as growing and selling fresh produce can help children build a real connection with food and where it comes from. For 15 years, our Young Marketeers programme has been giving children the chance to learn new skills, work as a team and take pride in what they’ve grown. Market Day is a celebration of the value of food education and a moment for hundreds of enterprising young gardeners across the country to shine.”
Cllr Christine Bannon, Cabinet Member for Health, said “I know that the pupils really enjoyed taking part in this programme, enabling them to put their new gardening, teamwork and marketing skills into practice while learning more about where food comes from. The Young Marketeers Programme complements our Healthy Schools Programme, instilling the importance of a healthy and balanced diet from a young age.”
Cllr Sean Donnelly, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, added “This has been a great initiative, supporting important life skills which can be developed as our children progress into adulthood, as well as providing opportunities to learn, develop, and grow their confidence through selling and engaging with local residents. It’s also supporting the invaluable work and support that Eco Therapy Garden provides to our residents. A great initiative and well done to everyone who took part.”