A LEADING Newcastle social enterprise is celebrating after winning two prestigious awards.
Food Nation – which was set up to inspire people about good food – claimed the Healthier Lifestyle Award at the RSPH Awards 2016 – the UK’s premier national health and wellbeing awards event.
Food Nation was recognised for its innovative approach to inspiring and educating people about good food and was praised by Public Health Minister, Nicola Blackwood MP, “ as an outstanding organisation, improving the health and wellbeing of people in Newcastle and Gateshead through developing skills, knowledge and networks to direct interventions to where they are most needed.”
Food Nation was one of six worthy organisations walked away with gongs in the Health & Wellbeing Awards, recognising their achievements across a range of areas, including community, mental and workplace health, with a further two finalists recognised as runners-up in each category.
And the organisation was also one of two winners presented with a prestigious Public Health Minister’s Award (a scheme launched in 2014 in partnership with the Department of Health).
The ceremony, held at the Royal College of Surgeons in London, was hosted by TV presenter Angela Rippon and saw performances by comedian John Ryan and the North London Military Wives Choir. It also saw the premier of RSPH’s new film, Championing the Public’s Health – a collaboration with ITN Productions which takes a topical look at current public health challenges and initiatives.
Jamie Sadler, Managing Director, Food Nation said: “We are incredibly proud and delighted to win these awards. Thanks so much to the RSPH and Public Health Minister for all their support and recognition. It means a great deal to us, and we intend to continue developing our organisation so we can inspire more people about good food and have a positive impact on communities health and wellbeing for years to come.”
Shirley Cramer CBE, Chief Executive of RSPH, said: “The RSPH Awards is a major highlight of the public health calendar, and this year the event is bigger and better than ever. It is a great morale booster for the public health community to be able to come together in this way, celebrate best practice and share innovation.
“RSPH congratulates all of the organisations who have been shortlisted or won awards, all of whom have come through against stiff competition and are trailblazers and exemplars in their field.”