Agency seeks community projects for AFAL awards

Friday 5 October 2007

Ref: WA43/O7HR

Building on the past successes of its Awards For Food Action Locally (AFAL) scheme over the past four years, Food Standards Agency Wales is inviting applications for the 2008 award. These AFAL Awards recognise individual or team contributions to local nutrition initiatives that have made a positive impact on the diet or eating habits of residents in the communities within which they operate.

In announcing the launch of the Awards, Lindsay Kearton, Senior Policy Officer at the Wales Consumer Council and a member of the 2007 AFAL judging panel explained: 'We are particularly keen to see nominations relating to activities being undertaken in the more disadvantaged and vulnerable communities in Wales such as those targeting low-income or minority ethnic groups where schemes to improve diet are most needed. We are also eager to receive nominations from projects demonstrating added value with limited funds. Projects demonstrating partnership working and innovation will be viewed favourably and in the future will enable Food Standards Agency Wales to promote best practice and inspire others to undertake similar activities'.

The Awards are open to all individuals or organisations whose work seeks to improve the diet of their local community in Wales. This covers all sectors including community and voluntary workers, those in education, caterers, retailers, food producers, and local authorities and Health Boards who are working to make an impact at the community level.

Each of the five winners will receive £2,000 for investment into their healthy eating initiative, an engraved prize and a certificate with a further five runners up receiving £1,000, as well as the engraved prize and a certificate. Finalists will be invited to make a presentation about their activities at the Nutrition Strategy conferences in 2008.

For further information about the scheme, or to receive nomination forms, project co-ordinators should contact Kerys James-Palmer on 02920 678912, email: nutritionstrategywales@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk or download a pdf at the link below.