Jamie Oliver launches school food awards in UK
UK chef Jamie Oliver has launched the Good School Food Awards. The awards celebrate the amazing catering teams, beautiful canteens, holiday programmes, campaigners and unsung heroes who, day in and day out, go the extra mile to make sure Britain’s school children are well nourished.
Starting in 1906, Britain has the oldest school meal system in the world. It now has a workforce larger than the Royal Navy and Air Force combined, serving nearly 5 million meals every day; that equates to about 41 meals per second. After 17 years campaigning to improve school food, Jamie has set up the Good School Food Awards to recognise what excellence looks like.
A panel of 20 expert judges will shortlist the awards and celebrity judges will have the final say. Mary Berry, Greg James, George Webster, Jessica-Ennis Hill, Big Has, Loyle Carner, Joe Wicks, Seema Pankhania and Jimi Famuwera will join Jamie as they judge winners across eight different award categories: Catering Team Champions, Early Years Award, Sustainability Award, Governor or School Leader Food Hero, Youth Activist of 2023, Food Educator of 2023, Rising Star and the Community & Kindness Award.
Jamie Oliver, says: “We need to show big love to the food educators, teachers and catering teams that work so hard 190 days a year to feed our kids and teach them about the joy of food. I truly believe schools are our secret weapon. From the food they serve to the cooking skills they teach kids, they lay the foundation for children’s health and wellbeing, as well as their academic success and future productivity. These awards are all about celebrating what is brilliant in our school and wider food systems.”
The Good School Food Awards are open to nurseries, pre-school, primary and secondary non-paying schools and individuals who work in these schools. Applications need to be made via www.jamieoliver.com/schoolfoodawards.
