Food Standards Agency Wales launches third year of AFAL awards

Tuesday 1 November 2005

Ref: 48/O5CK

Following the success of its Awards for Food Action Locally (AFAL) Scheme in 2004 and 2005, Food Standards Agency Wales is once again launching the Awards for 2006.

As previously, the Awards will 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, Professor Robert Pickard, Director General of the British Nutrition Foundation, member of the Welsh Food Advisory Committee for FSA Wales and a member of the 2005 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.'

Professor Pickard concluded, 'This year, every nominated project will be judged using the same criteria, and awards will be made to the five projects considered to make the most significant contribution to improving diet in their community. Five other projects will receive a runner-up award.'

The Awards are open to all individuals or organisations whose work aims 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 £2000 for investment into their healthy eating initiative, a celebratory fruit bowl and a certificate with a further five runners up receiving £1000, as well as the celebratory fruit bowl and a certificate. Finalists will be invited to make a presentation about their activities at the Food and Well Being nutrition conferences in spring 2006.

For further information about the scheme, co-ordinators should contact Kerys James-Palmer on 02920 678912 or email:nutritionstrategywales@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk

The nomination form is available at the link below (in Adobe Acrobat pdf format).