Lewisham has won a silver Sustainable Food Places award which recognises the borough’s work to promote healthy, sustainable and local food.
The award also recognises Lewisham’s commitment to addressing critical food-related social challenges such as food poverty, diet-related health issues, and the decline of independent food retailers.
Lewisham’s food partnership, Good Food Lewisham , supported by local charity Lewisham Local, has been the driving force behind improvements in the borough. .
Over the past two years Good Food Lewisham has focused on fighting for food justice, expanding food growing in the borough and building a Good Food Business Network, and supporting the Healthy Start initiative – a national scheme that provides money for families with young children on a low income to buy healthy foods such as milk, fruit and vegetables.
Simone Riddle, Food Justice Programme Manager at Lewisham Local, said: “Lewisham Local is proud to have supported Lewisham’s application for a Silver Sustainable Food Places award.
“It’s a testament to the efforts of local residents, community groups, organisations, businesses and Lewisham Council, who are all working hard to transform Lewisham’s food system. “
Leon Ballin, the Sustainable Food Places Programme Manager, said: “Lewisham 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. “
The Sustainable Food Places Awards recognise and celebrate the success of places across the UK who take a holistic and systems approach to sustainable and healthy food. The Awards are open to any place – be it a city, large town, borough, county or district – which is a member of the Sustainable Food Places Network.
Good Food Lewisham is a network of people working together to change the world of food in the borough with a vision to see Lewisham become a diverse and lively community that connects people to healthy, sustainable and affordable food that is grown, produced and prepared locally to promote a vibrant food culture and prospering local economy.
The partnership was founded in 2016 by GCDA and Lewisham Council. It has been hosted by Lewisham Local since 2022, a charity that is working to make Lewisham a happier, healthier place to live. Good Food Lewisham is funded by Lewisham Council.