The Children’s Food Awards aim to celebrate the ‘pioneering and courageous champions’ challenging the food system who are working to ensure children receive healthier, fairer and more sustainable food. An awards ceremony was held as part of the Children’s Food Summit in Westminster on 25th February.
Slater has become a champion for school food and driven meaningful policy changes. Transforming a local initiative into a nationally recognised movement, she campaigns for equitable access to healthy meals in schools.
The charity School Food Matters commissioned research to compare the Government’s allocated school meal funding with the actual costs of serving nutritious and sustainable meals.
The report, which has backing from across the school food sector, found that the funding rate of £2.53 per school meal is 63p below what is needed, making the ‘true cost’ £3.16.
Barbara Crowther, campaign manager at Children’s Food, commented: “What an incredible bunch of winners. We were blown away by the imagination, creativity and sheer persistence of our award nominees this year.
“We’re delighted the Children’s Food Awards is able to shine a spotlight on these heroes who are making a huge difference whether it’s transforming school food, lobbying for policy change, providing advice and support with infant feeding, or connecting UK farmers with healthy eating initiatives, or protecting children from junk food advertising locally. We all have the power to create a healthier food nation for our children, and our winners this year truly demonstrate that.”
Selected winners include:
- School Food Campaign Legend: Stephanie Slater
- Children’s Food Young Changemaker: Elsie, Esmee, and George
- Political Leadership in Championing Children's Healthy Food: Carolyn Wilson and team at the Scottish Government
- Best Local Initiative Championing Children’s Healthy Food: Give Peas a Chance!
- Best Local Healthy Food Advertising Policy: Tower Hamlets Council