A SCHEME aimed at supporting community kitchens, and encouraging them to cut down on food waste, has won a prestigious UK recycling award.
Belfast City Council’s Kitchen Equipment Grant Scheme was named Best Food Waste Initiative at the MRW National Recycling Awards.
The grant scheme, managed by the environmental education and outreach team, “helps groups and organisations by providing the equipment they require to store food and prepare meals” for the vulnerable and in need.
Funding of £239,284 was delivered to 158 successful applicants supporting over 40,000 people across the city. Over 180 tonnes of food waste diverted from the waste stream each year, the council said.
Judges said: “This is a great idea and an example of how something very simple can be so effective, while recognising the change in funding model that was required to make this happen. It offers a triple win in terms of environmental, social, and economic benefits.”
Among the organisations benefiting from funding was Footprints Women’s Centre in Dunmurry, which helps women improve their cooking and nutritional knowledge.
Eileen Wilson, food services and sustainable living manager, said: “The scheme enabled Footprints to purchase a commercial double fridge and a variety of small pieces of catering equipment, for example, knives, pots, slow cooker and baking trays to launch a new project, Social Cook.
“We are able to receive and safely store surplus food from our community partner Fareshare in the double fridge. This food is used in Footprints community training kitchen where members learn the skills to prepare and cook a range of nutritious, low budget family meals, plan a weekly menu and learn about the food groups and the impact on health of a well-balanced diet.
"Produce grown in Footprints kitchen garden allotments is also incorporated into the cookery sessions.”
Council People and Communities Committee chairman Micky Murray described the scheme as a "major success".
