A partnership in Torfaen that helps local businesses and community groups promote healthy and sustainable food has been given a national award.
Torfaen Food4Growth aims to increase locally produced food by creating a network of food producers and suppliers, providing grants to help food businesses diversity, and supporting organisations to find sustainable solutions to food poverty.
The partnership has now been given a silver award by the UK Sustainable Food Places programme, which recognises areas that are driving innovation and best practice on all aspects of healthy and sustainable food.
Leon Ballin, the Sustainable Food Places programme Manager, said: “The Torfaen Food Partnership has shown just what can be achieved when creative and committed people work together to make healthy and sustainable food a defining characteristic of where they live.
“While there is still much to do and many challenges to overcome, Torfaen Food Partnership has helped to set a benchmark for the other members of the UK Sustainable Food Places Network to follow.
“They should be very proud of the work that they have been doing to transform our collective food culture and food system for the better.”
This year, the council’s has given grants to 34 community groups and 13 businesses through the Food4Growth partnership.
Cwmbran Centre for Young People received a community grant to provide young people with cooking lessons, as well as lessons in preserving food, bread making and butter churning.
The centre has also used the grant to buy ingredients from Monachty Farm Shop, which has also received a grant to develop new food products and techniques, and support jobs, at their farm shop in Mamhilad.
Councillor Sue Morgan, executive member for waste and sustainability, said: “What the team has achieved to date is brilliant, and I know they are working hard to work with as many food-related groups as possible.
“I would like to congratulate them for winning this award, it goes to show what hard work and dedication can achieve.”
The Torfaen Food4Growth partnership includes Torfaen Council, Torfaen Voluntary Association, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, as well as 80 businesses and community organisations.
The Food Resilience Programme is funded by the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund and Welsh Government.
For more information about the programme and grants, please contact [email protected] or visit Food Resilience Programme.
The Sustainable Food Places programme is a partnership between the Soil Association, Food Matters and Sustain. It is funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and the National Lottery Community Fund and supports places to transform food culture.