The community-led organisation Cherwell Collective has received international recognition for its work to stop food waste and feed communities. The group was the only UK-based organisation to win the €10,000 EESC Civil Society Prize awarded to grassroots projects across the EU for their contribution to supporting communities most impacted by COVID-19. The collective runs three interconnected projects: Climatarian Kitchen and Community Action Groups Harvest at Home and Cherwell Community Larder. Their activities include distributing surplus food parcels to 600 people a week, providing food growing supplies and guidance to residents and organising cookery classes to enable people to develop confidence in the kitchen and reduce food waste.
The organisation’s founder Emily Connally said: “I am honoured to receive this prize on behalf of the hundreds of people and organisations who have helped make this project possible… It has taken an incredible amount of work and faith and I am incredibly proud of all of us for building something beautiful out of a worldwide nightmare.”
For more information about Cherwell Collective, visit their website or their Facebook page.