The celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has launched a new set of awards to celebrate the “unsung heroes” of the food world, all of whom work tirelessly to feed children in the UK.
Oliver announced the inaugural Good School Food Awards on the BBC’sThe One Show on February 22. The aim is to honour the catering teams, canteens, holiday programmes, and campaigners who “go the extra mile” to ensure young people are well nourished.
The chef and broadcaster has enlisted a 20-strong panel of celebrity judges to help him choose winners across eight categories, including “Catering Team Champions”, “Governor or School Leader Food Hero”, and “Rising Star”.
Among the judges is the Standard’s chief restaurant critic Jimi Famurewa, who alongside the likes of Mary Berry, Jessica-Ennis Hill, Loyle Carner, and Joe Wicks will identify the most deserving recipients in a workforce that serves almost five million meals every day.
Founded in 1906, Britain has the oldest school meal system in the world, and requires more staff than the Royal Navy and Air Force combined.
Oliver said the Good School Food Awards will recognise the “brilliance, ingenuity, determination and creativity” of people working in food in the education sector.
“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,” he said.
“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.”
Voting opens on February 22 via the Jamie Oliver website and nominees from across the UK will be shortlisted by the judges from April 23, when applications close.
