Food Standards Agency
Wednesday 1 July 2009
Safe food and healthy eating for all banner welsh
AZ-Directory
What's NewRSS
What is RSS?Listen
Listen to this siteWednesday 16 June 2004
Ref: WA 010/O4CK
Food Standards Agency Wales has announced further winners of its 2003/2004 AFAL award scheme. The Award, launched in November last year, is a scheme to recognise individual or team contributions to local nutrition initiatives that have made a positive impact on the diet or eating habits in the communities they serve.
There are five Award categories, which correspond to the various strands of the Nutrition Strategy for Wales – outlined in the ‘Food and Well Being’ document published in February 2003 which identifies the actions required by key players to improve the diet of people in Wales. The categories are:
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 judging panel commented: 'There has been a high level of interest in the AFAL awards, with over 70 entries. All were of a high calibre, and made the judging a difficult process.
'These winners each demonstrated how hard work, commitment and enthusiasm has helped to promote better diets in their community. We are committed to running the AFAL awards again and will announce details for the 2004/5 awards later in the year'.
In the first category, 'Initiatives to inform and educate the community', the winner was the 4 Seazons Kitchen in the Cwmbran Centre for Young People. This initiative tackles poor diets and the eating habits of disadvantaged and disaffected young people in the Torfaen area through cooking classes, an allotment scheme, and cafe providing healthy food and drinks at affordable prices.
The runner-up was the South Riverside Food Poverty Project run by Riverside Community Market Association. This non-profit making community based organisation runs a weekly producers' market and is also involved in a range of initiatives to tackle food poverty including workshops for local residents on ‘Healthy eating’ and ‘Cooking on a budget' . The project hasalso run a 'feast of fruit' day with a visit to a pick-your-own farm and a healthy lunchbox project for children from local schools.
In the second category, ‘Initiatives to Promote/Facilitate Access and Availability’ the runner-up was the Markham Community House Sport and Leisure Project run by the Markham Community House Project. This was set up in response to a request from local residents and includes a lunch club and community cafe providing healthy balanced meals to those living and working in the locality. The project includes an allotment scheme which provides produce for the community cafe, and cooking courses for 5 -11 year olds.
In the third category, ‘Initiatives to manage overweight and obesity’, the winner was the Heart Health Programme run by Rhondda Cynon Taff Health Promotion Team.
This project targets people aged 30-65 who are identified as having modifiable risk factors for coronary heart disease. A behavioural approach is taken during the 9 months, 12-session programme aimed at tackling diet and physical activity. Participants set their own goals for their diet – for example reducing saturated fat intake and increasing cardio-protective foods such as oily fish. A newsletter supports participants, encouraging them to maintain change beyond the end of programme.
The runner-up in this category was the Carmarthenshire Schools Nutrition Strategy , run by Carmarthenshire County Council. This project takes a holistic approach to preventing overweight and obesity through the development and implementation of a healthy eating policy. Its objective is to improve nutrition among schoolchildren in a number of ways – through the curriculum, school meals catering practices, training for catering staff, and supporting the setting up of breakfast clubs.
In the fourth category, ‘Initiatives that demonstrate multi-agency working’, the winner was The Funky Food Group , run by Lynn Perry of Pembrokeshire Public Health Team. This project has raised the profile of nutrition in schools through co-operation between teachers, pupils and caterers. A total of ten schools are involved, each with a School Nutrition Action Group meeting to make policy decisions on fruit tuck shops, water bottles and healthy lunch boxes.
The final category in the AFAL Awards was for ‘Initiatives that are innovative in their approach’. The winner in this category was the Domino project , run by West Glamorgan Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse. This project provides educational, social and recreational opportunities for people affected by alcohol and drug problems. This includes a gardening project growing fruit and vegetable and a cooking class to prepare healthy meals using produce from the allotment.
The Runner- up in this category was the Healthy Food Trainers in Caerphilly School Meals project run by Caerphilly County Borough Council Catering Services. Healthy food trainers have been employed to train catering staff and support them in menu planning and nutrition. Additionally, events are organised to promote healthier eating for pupils. This has included 'Veg of the Week', and a scratch card game offering free sport activities in leisure facilities, to reward pupils choosing fruit and vegetables with their school meals.
The winners in each category received £2000 for investment into their healthy eating initiative, a celebratory fruit bowl and a certificate. Runners up received £1000, again for investment in the initiative, as well as the celebratory fruit bowl and certificate.
Back to topThe AFAL Awards are open to all individuals or organisations responsible for initiating and directing activities or events in Wales that are aimed at improving the diet of their local community. This includes key players across all sectors – the National Public Health Service, local health boards, the education sector, community and voluntary workers, local authorities, retailers and food producers all of whom are working to make an impact at the community level.
Back to top
11th Floor, Southgate House,
Wood Street,
Cardiff CF10 1EW
Telephone: 02920 678916
Fax: 02920 678918/9
Email:
caroline.kitson@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk
Find out what our other sites have to offer