Let's take action

It's time to wake up to the alarming increase of diet-related illnesses worldwide. There are no shortcuts and we have a big job ahead of us to make people recognise the seriousness of this epidemic. Jamie Oliver's Kitchen Garden Project aims to create real, sustainable change, and it's as simple as providing kids with the knowledge and skills to feed themselves better. We strongly believe that educating kids about food at a young age will set them up for life. What's more, we can make sure it forms part of their core curriculum at the same time as being engaging and fun.

Here are some health facts that are pretty hard to swallow:

• FACT: The UK has the highest rate of childhood obesity in Europe.
• FACT: One-quarter of children are overweight or obese at the age of four. By the age of 11, this rises to one-third.
• FACT: 96% of UK kids do not eat the recommended five portions of fruit and veg a day.
• FACT: Parents could soon outlive their own children as a result of diet-related illnesses. One in 10 children starting primary school in Britain is now regarded as alarmingly overweight.

A little help goes a long way

We can no longer wait for the government to take action. It's time to act ourselves and recruit like-minded organisations, individuals and schools. This is a food movement of national and local businesses, of parents, teachers, governors and kids, all getting involved and making real change for generations to come.