Sheila McKechnie food initiative awards

This award scheme is made annually to community food initiatives to commemorate the contribution that Dame Sheila McKechnie made in helping to set up the Agency.

Sheila McKechnie was instrumental in lobbying Government to establish the Food Standards Agency and was a lifelong consumer champion, having previously been director of Shelter and the Consumers' Association (now Which?). Tragically, Sheila died on 2 January 2004, aged 55, after a long battle with cancer. The Agency is keen to commemorate Sheila's memory by developing an award in her name.

What are community food initiatives?
Community food initiatives are projects that work within a local community to help solve issues around food inequality. Many communities find it difficult to gain access to, and make choices in relation to foods that are of high quality and available at affordable prices. Consumers, especially those on low incomes, or those living in areas of economic and social deprivation are often the worst affected. Community food initiatives help to overcome some of these problems, while educating communities about the importance of maintaining a well-balanced and nutritious diet.

How do community food initiatives apply for the award?
They apply by filling in a short application form. As part of the application process, the community food initiative will also have to set out how the£15,000 (if they're successful) will be spent. It's important to emphasise that the funding shouldn't be used entirely for existing work, or used exclusively for employing staff, but it should help the community food initiative generate new ideas about how it can tackle food inequality issues and develop its work in this area. Other information that the community food initiative will need to set out is set out below:

Include brief background information about the community food initiative

• Some background information about the community the initiative serves
• Why the community food initiative was set up and what it is trying to achieve
• When it was set up
• Where the initiative's current funding originates from
• The number of key staff/volunteers
• Any other information you think will be helpful

Explain your initiative's three-year Action Plan:

• The community food initiative's main objectives over the next three years
• How the objectives will be achieved (What are you planning to do?).
• What targets/milestones will be set?
• What will be the main outcomes?
• How will the funding (15,000 over three years) be spent?

You will also need to explain how the project will continue with its work after the three-year funding has stopped.

Applications for the 2007 award must be received no later than 6 December 2007.

A shortlist of outstanding initiatives will then be made and FSA officials will visit these initiatives to gain a further insight into the work that they are doing within their community. Winners will be announced in March 2008 and funding for the winners will begin in April 2008.

Check out the links below for the application form and more details about the scheme.
http://www.food.gov.uk/aboutus/how_we_work/damemckechnieaward/

Alternatively email us at mckechnieaward@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk or call 020 7276 8170/8641 and an application form will be sent to you.