Our Objectives

The objects for which the Charity is established, is to further the education and training of persons resident in England and Wales in the baking, confectionery, butchery or catering trades by such means as the trustees determine. This includes the following:

Providing grants to individuals to enable them to receive better training and education. Examples of this would include assistance with the costs of living, equipment and books.
Liaising with various institutions who are already well established in the training of people with the above mentioned trades to establish the most effective way to supplement their budgets for training and education.

Significant Activities

The Trust currently furthers its charitable purposes for the public benefit through the following activities:

Providing funding to assist students attending the School of Artisan Food in Welbeck, Nottinghamshire, with fees, equipment and other training needs. Students are appraised by the school allowing the charity to offer financial
support to students who otherwise would not be able to attend.
Providing financial assistance for former students of the School or Artisan Food to assist in their training needs when commencing business or
employment in baking, confectionery, butchery or catering trades.
The charity also invites applications from individuals for assistance with training costs relating to baking, confectionery, butchery or baking from other institutions.

Barbara Curtis & The School of Artisan Food

The School of Artisan Food was delighted to be able to honour Miss Curtis and her vision for food education when in 2020 we created - out of a store room once used to house a horse-drawn fire engine - a state-of-the art multipurpose training room, funded by The Barbara Curtis Trust and the LEADER scheme.

The Barbara Curtis Bursary is a vital part of our commitment to inclusive food learning and reflects the heart of our mission to support individuals and communities to connect, grow and thrive. Funded through the generosity of the Barbara Curtis Trust, the bursary enables access to transformative hands-on experiences for those who may face financial barriers. It allows access to a course that celebrates the origins of food and the preservation of artisan techniques, helping learners build confidence, develop skills and pursue significant careers in food. The bursary embodies The School of Artisan Food’s values of treating people with respect, inspiring learning and creating real impact. The bursary plays a key role in ensuring that our vision of a more sustainable and connected food system becomes a wider reality.