Agency seeks community projects for 2007 AFAL awards

The 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, 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 2006 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 ethnic minority 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, a celebratory fruit bowl and a certificate with a further five runners up receiving £1,000, 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 2007.

For further information about the scheme, or to receive nomination forms, project co-ordinators should contact Kerys James-Palmer.

Tel: 02920 678912
email: nutritionstrategywales@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk

Closing Date
Entries are through the completion of a nomination form and must be received by no later than 15th December 2006.

Review of nominations
An independent selection panel will review entries, and the finalists notified by the end of February 2007.