Wakefield organisations recognised for helping community eat healthily

Organisations that offer healthy eating choices and are helping to create a healthy community are being recognised at a special awards ceremony in Wakefield.

The joint ceremony for achievers of the Healthy Business Award and the eatwell award will take place at Wakefield Town Hall on Thursday 15th March and will be attended by businesses that have achieved awards during 2011/2012.

The eatwell award is run by the community food and health team in Wakefield, which is provided by South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, in partnership with the Environmental Health team and is designed to make it easier for people to find a food outlet that offers and promotes healthy options.

The eatwell award helps businesses across the Wakefield District promote healthier food choices and maintain a good standard of food hygiene. All establishments that gain the award have been assessed by Wakefield Council Environmental Health and the food and health team, so local people can be assured of high quality food and hygiene.

To date approximately 170 premises have achieved the eatwell award, including schools, residential homes, cafes, hotels and workplace canteens.

The Wakefield Healthy Business Award has been developed by Wakefield Environmental Health team in partnership with Royds Community Association to give recognition to workplaces who take positive steps to improve employee health and wellbeing and improve the environmental performance of their organisation. This includes supporting employees to stop smoking, be physically active, eat healthily and manage stress.

This year’s successful businesses will be presented with their awards by Wakefield Mayor, Councillor Ros Lund. A number of speakers will also be attending the event including Councillor Maureen Cummings, who will do the opening address, and the Trust’s head of dietetics Dr Anne Hoyle and community food and health development worker Carrie Fennell.

Speaking about the eatwell award Carrie Fennell said, "We’re working with local food outlets to encourage them to provide healthier food choices with reduced fat, sugar and salt. Those meeting the criteria get our award so local people know where to pick up a healthy meal. This award ceremony for both healthy eating awards is a great opportunity to celebrate with businesses that practise high standards of food quality and hygiene. Together both awards are contributing to improving the health of the local community. "

"Cllr Maureen Cummings, Wakefield Council’s cabinet member for Environment and Communities, said: "These awards are a great way to recognise the high standard of food establishments we have in our district. Customers are more likely to want to visit somewhere that has received one of these awards and it encourages staff and business owners to take pride in their work. It gives me great pleasure to be attending this event and celebrating the positive steps these businesses have taken to improve employee wellbeing and their environmental performance."

Any organisation that serves food can apply to gain the eatwell award. Look out for the eatwell stickers in windows and on menus. A list of outlets with the award are available at www.wakefield.gov.uk/Environment/FoodSafety/eatwell

To find out how to get involved with both awards contact the Environmental Health Department on 01924 305969.