Dame Sheila McKechnie Award winners announced

This award scheme is made annually to community food initiatives to commemorate the contribution that Dame Sheila McKechnie (pictured above) made in helping to set up the Agency. Food inequality refers to communities and consumers that find it difficult to gain access to, and make choices in relation to, foods that are of good quality and available at affordable prices.

Board member Chris Pomfret presents the award to Christian Taylor (left) for the work achieved by CSF

Community Supported Farming, represented by Christian Taylor, is a local voluntary organisation from Totnes in Devon that works with school children, refugees, farmers and the general public in order to link communities with local food production. It has already helped various school communities and refugees to gain access to land and learn about growing their own food. Access to fresh food in rural areas can sometimes be an even bigger challenge than in urban areas.

Christian said: 'We are really delighted to have won this award. It is satisfying to know that the achievements of our organisation and the hard work and dedication of the project leaders and local people have been recognised. Thanks to this money we are now able to offer even more to the local community.'

Award winner Carolyn Preece (front centre) with Board member John Spence (far right) and other dignitaries at the presentation

Carolyn Preece manages Teen Cuisine at Deeside College, which is a course designed to help Year 9 and 10 students develop their culinary skills and expand their knowledge of healthy eating. Working with school children in this way is an effective way of raising awareness and of developing a desire in young people for cooking and eating a healthier diet. Learning about nutrition, hygiene and food safety in such a fun and engaging way has really worked well.

The course has been successfully run for twelve high schools in Flintshire and students can achieve an open college network qualification, giving them a chance to explore the catering world as a career.

Carolyn Preece said: 'The students really enjoy themselves on the scheme, and it is amazing to see how they develop new skills and absorb so much knowledge over the week.'

FSA Board member, Nancy Robson with volunteer Billie Arthur and CFINE’s chairperson, George McKie

In 1997, CFINE was formed in Aberdeen to improve the health and well being of disadvantaged communities and to contribute to their regeneration. Their ‘Fast Fruit’ initiative provides fruit, vegetables and healthy snacks to more than 80 nurseries, schools and voluntary organisations. CFINE have also developed a social enterprise to sustain this important work. This makes a profit by selling food to oil companies and other businesses in the city.

CFINE have recently started distributing surplus foodstuffs from supermarkets and food producers to some of the disadvantaged communities in Aberdeen through the FareShare franchise. 'It was great to win the award and to have recognition by the FSA,' said Dave Simmers, the manager at CFINE. 'We could not achieve what we have without the volunteers and this award is really a tribute to their commitment and hard work.'