The Caroline Walker Trust (CWT) is delighted to announce the shortlist for the CWT Awards 2020 Food Hero of the Year.  The award celebrates individuals who work to campaign to improve public health through good food.

“Caroline Walker Trust awards are intended to highlight distinctive and outstanding work in promoting public health by maintaining and advancing standards of food and nutrition.  This year we acknowledge those who are striving to make a difference when times are tough, and there are so many changes to our daily lives” said Kathy Lewis, Interim Chair of the CWT

“The calibre of nominees for the Food Hero of the Year 2020 was extremely high, especially in the face of such unprecedented adversity.  Those shortlisted have shown their passion and resilience by adapting their work to meet the needs of other members in our society.” Kathy Lewis.

The official shortlist of the CWT 2020 Annual Awards showcases the high calibre of individuals working in a variety of settings to provide and improve the quality of our food and the nation’s diet.  The final shortlisted nominees for Food Hero of the Year comprised Ms Suzanne Fletcher (Founding Director of Nutrition Scotland), Ms Andrea Zick (Oxo Tower Restaurant), Pascal Gerrard (Founder, StreetCube) and Haleh Moravej (Founder, MetMUnch)

“This year, the Judging Panels have witnessed some extraordinary efforts to campaign for good quality food over the past year, which includes both before and during Covid-19 lockdowns.  Learning about the lengths individuals have gone to provide good quality food fills us with the hope that we can collectively support each other’s health and wellbeing ” explained Kathy Lewis.

“The aim of these awards is to highlight the great work of others and to support those who are continuing to make a difference while inspiring a new generation of food heroes to do likewise,” said Kathy Lewis, Interim Chair of The Caroline Walker Trust.

CWT would like to congratulate all the shortlisted nominees and everyone who submitted nominations.  CWT would also like to thank the Judges for their hard work in judging the nominees from an impressive range of submissions.

For further information on the awards nominations: https://bit.ly/3jTIf2f

Contact Kathy Lewis [email protected] 07961 317 621

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Notes to the Editor

1. For information on the background to the awards and how the result was arrived see: https://www.cwt.org.uk/the-caroline-walker-trust-awards-2020/
2. The Caroline Walker Trust was founded in 1989 after the death of the distinguished nutritionist, writer and campaigner Caroline Walker. Established to continue her work and in her spirit, the CWT works tirelessly to promote the improvement of public health through good food. The work of CWT is particularly targeted towards vulnerable groups and people who need special help.
3. This year the theme for the Awards is ‘To Triumph Through Adversity’. Unfortunately, due to Covid-19, the Reception and Awards Celebrations will now be held in 2021.
4. The Caroline Walker Trust Logo:
5. Suzanne Fletcher, Founding Director, Nutrition Scotland, said “It feels great to be nominated in two categories for the Food Hero of the Year. This year has been difficult for everyone but particularly so for our most vulnerable and disadvantaged communities. Being recognised in this way is a wonderful and welcome gesture of support.”
6. Nutrition Scotland is a Social Enterprise in development; their aim is to improve health and wellbeing through improved access to a variety of nutritional services and information. Their services are designed and delivered by public health nutritionists and dietitians who believe in equal access to healthy food and reducing health inequalities. http://www.nutritionscotland.org/
7. Andrea Zick, Oxo Tower Restaurant stated “This year has been very difficult for lots of people including myself, so to keep me grounded during these uncertain times I helped set up the community kitchen projects as a way of giving back to the community and bringing people together, which gave me a purpose during these uncertain times.
8. OXO Community Kitchen was born out of the passion for reducing food waste, need to fight food poverty and Covid-19. OXO Tower Restaurant, Bar and Brasserie had been supporting StreetSmart for over 20 years.  Add to that a passion for reducing food waste, two professional kitchens not being used and a team of staff on furlough expressing an urge to volunteer and help fight food poverty. Mix them together, and in a flash, the OXO Community Kitchen was born.  With a desire to help, the OXO Tower Restaurant reached out to several great London charities in need of a kitchen.
9. Continuing their relationship with StreetSmart and now newly partnered with FoodCycle, Streets Kitchen, Feast With Us and Coin Street, the OXO Tower Restaurant have become part of a naturally formed alliance.  The OXO Tower’s furloughed team of 22 from all areas of the restaurant volunteered their time to cook the meals.  Starting small in the first week with 30 meals, OXO Community Kitchen ended week four by preparing over 1,400 meals.
10. Pascal Gerrard, FRSA, Founder, StreetCube commented “We are incredibly proud and honoured to be nominated for the 2nd year running for The Caroline Walker Trust Food Hero of the Year Award.  It is a tremendous honour to be considered again this year on the shortlist, especially at this time when we enter yet another lockdown.  It is an extremely worrying time for so many, and StreetCube will remain open to provide healthy, nutritious, sustainable food for the community of Wandsworth.”
11. StreetCube opened in May 2019 in Wandsworth SW London with the help of MasterChef Raymond Blanc. Every day, they serve hundreds of people with sustainable food, and also give out information about climate change and the effects of our food system on the environment. They are supported by a host of world-rebounded trusted advocates – people who are experts in sustainable food, climate change, nutrition, farming, organic food, chef training.
12. The StreetCube project is a winning concept which aims to help transform food systems in every city to help cut CO2 and help reverse the effects of climate change effects from our food systems. By placing a cluster of StreetCube kitchens, the project can engage whole communities with a more sustainable food ethos.
13. Haleh Moravej, Senior Lecturer, Nutritional Sciences, Founder, MetMUnch remarked:  “It is such an honour for our motivated and diverse community of MetMUnch students to be shortlisted as Food Hero of The Year 2020.  We would like to congratulate the other shortlisted nominees. We are very proud to be in the same category with such inspirational individuals.”   
14. Over the past year, MetMUnch has worked with many students building their confidence and employability skills through the medium of healthy and sustainable food. Inspired by the pioneering work of Caroline Walker, we sent up our meat-free GROW Café in collaboration with our Catering Team. We served students and staff affordable, delicious, nutritious and sustainable food. We increased sales by 237%, but the real impact was a genuine change in attitudes and provision of healthy and nutritious food on campus.
15. We have been supporting our students in lockdown with daily cooklongs, nutritional workshops and multicultural blogs. ‘Food Therapy’ became our way of dealing with uncertainty. There was even a collaborative budget cookbook created by students for students to combat food insecurity at University. Our MetMUnch students are always encouraged to find creative solutions to nutritional challenges, climate change and social problems, whilst developing leadership, collaboration, resilience, commitment, determination and perseverance. metmunch.com