Scottish School Cook wins National Award
Congratulations to Catering Manager Doreen Sharp, who was announced as the 2018 Food for Life Served Here Schools Champion at the national Food for Life Served Here and Green Kitchen Standard Awards celebration in Birmingham on 3rd October.
The awards, which were presented by Soil Association’s CEO Helen Browning and Food for Life co-founder Jeanette Orrey MBE, were an opportunity to celebrate and shine a spotlight on the excellent people and food providers who, with the support of Food for Life, are helping make good food the easy choice when eating outside the home.
Catering Manager Doreen Sharp, who has been school cook at Nether Robertland primary school for 30 years, was one of four nominees shortlisted for the Schools Champion award. East Ayrshire Council are the longest-standing Gold award holder in the UK, having held the Gold Food for Life Served Here award for their primary school meals since 2008.
Doreen was totally overwhelmed by the award, and felt that it makes all the hard work they do worthwhile. She said: “Serving Food for Life standard meals comes as second nature, and parents have come to expect a high quality. I’m just doing my job, so I’m overwhelmed by winning the award.” Doreen emphasised the importance of locally sourced, fresh produce, and East Ayrshire Council are proud of their close bond with suppliers. “I know all their names, even the names of the drivers,” said Doreen.
Aoife Behan, Director of Food and Policy at Soil Association Scotland, said: "Huge congratulations to Doreen and the whole team at East Ayrshire Council on this well-deserved award. This win is a testament to the team’s hard work and dedication to maintaining their Food for Life Served Here Gold award for over a decade.
“Our mission is to double the number of Scottish Local Authorities who hold the Food for Life Served Here award by 2021. It's never been more important to ensure that Scotland's school meals are healthy, freshly prepared, and sustainable. These awards are an opportunity to recognise the crucial role that farmers, food producers, manufacturers and suppliers play in enabling councils to rise to the challenge."