Kent’s Right to food initiative wins Green Gown “Benefitting Society” Award  

Katherine Moss

Kent took home the “Benefitting Society” Award at the Green Gown Awards last night in recognition of our work as the world’s first Right to Food University.

The Right to Food civic mission sees Kent, in partnership with the Food Foundation, use our academic experts, catering and sustainability teams to bring about change in the food system as well as working with our students, staff and wider local community to tackle food inequality and insecurity.

Now in their 20th year, the awards recognise outstanding and exceptional sustainability initiatives being undertaken in the post-16 education sector across the UK and Ireland – with 133 projects from 83 institutions shortlisted this year. This award recognises the powerful and innovative ways that education institutions are realising their purpose in society to benefit the lives of individuals, communities and wider society.

Singling out Kent in this category, the judges said that the Right to Food is: ‘A very well thought out and planned programme, addressing a critical societal issue at present. The judges felt that this stood out as being innovative and having a significant benefit to society. Right to Food standard has developed as a blueprint for other universities. Students can benefit in a variety of ways by engaging on the project. This is something we could all do and should all be doing.’

On winning the award, Professor Georgina Randsley de Moura, Interim Vice-Chancellor and President said:We are extremely proud to win this award and excited that our Right to Food project has been recognised in this way. The University of Kent works as a community, collaborating with partners for positive change and our mission on Right to Food is integral to our ethos, woven through pedagogy and civic work. This award will accelerate the impact on the creation of healthier, more environmentally sustainable, and democratically accountable societies.’

Professor Iain Wilkinson, Right to Food Lead, said: ‘The Right to Food work at Kent is key in supporting our role in ensuring the health, wellbeing and prosperity of the county and the region, as well as wider society. It challenges and inspires us to create a world where everyone has the right to healthy and affordable food. This award recognises what we have done so far and helps pave the way for the next steps.’

As well as leading the way, we will support other universities in their commitment to the Right to Food by sharing the knowledge and expertise gained and rolling out a blueprint so that other institutions can embark on their own Right to Food journey.

Find out more about what the Right to Food is, what we’ve achieved so far and how you can get involved.