26.03.07
National recognition for Objective One projects

Two Objective One projects have won top accolades in a respected national newspaper's annual food awards.

Fifteen Cornwall was the winner of one award in the OFM (Observer Food Monthly) Waitrose 2007 Food Awards, with the Cornwall NHS Food Programme being runner up in another section. The awards were published yesterday (Sunday March 25th).

Fifteen Cornwall won Best Location Readers' Award and Cornwall NHS Food was runner up in the Ethical Contribution Judge's Award.

Carleen Kelemen, Director of the Objective One Partnership, said: "My warmest congratulations to all those who have made these ground breaking projects happen for Cornwall. These awards underline the fact that Objective One investment has created opportunities for high quality projects which are recognised nationally. This recognition highlights the ambition and distinctiveness that underpins the unique economic regeneration in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly."

Fifteen Cornwall has received Objective One investment from both ERDF and ESF (European Regional Development Fund and European Social Fund). The restaurant, which has a stunning view overlooking Watergate Bay, was set up along the lines of Jamie Oliver's successful Fifteen, in London. Each year young people from targeted wards are trained to become chefs. Fifteen Cornwall also sources more than 80% of its produce from Cornwall. All profits are reinvested into the Fifteen Foundation charity.

The Observer article said: "Teetering like a crow's nest high above the beach this has to have one of the best sea views in Britain. There is nothing between you, the beach and the pounding surf of the Atlantic, which provides the backdrop to the riotous exploits of the Extreme Academy situated underneath the restaurant.

"On a blustery winter day there this Christmas we had a fabulous long lunch … The atmosphere is relaxed. Booking is essential, although breakfast is first-come-first-served and very popular with surfers, who swagger in trailing sand behind them.

"Students wear white hats, qualified staff are in black ones, all scurrying around in the open kitchen. Food is sourced locally as much as possible and great emphasis is placed on recycling –lots of bins in the car park, a little pink wagon run on bio-diesel scoots about picking up, and the loos are flushed with rainwater."

The NHS Food Programme was set up by Cornwall Partnership Trust to bring local produce into hospitals, giving patients, visitors and staff healthy meals while supporting Cornwall's producers.

Cornwall Partnership NHS Trust Chair, Sandra Benjamin said: "We are delighted by the ongoing success of this programme. By working in partnership with the Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust we are ensuring that the local community and users of our service gain maximum benefit from the programme and the development of a food production unit."

The post for sustainable food procurement manager for the NHS Food programme, held by Roy Heath, received investment from the Organic South West Soil Association – a gateway fund for Objective One. The Objective One Programme also invested in a nine-month feasibility study to investigate and identify improved ways in which the Cornwall healthcare community can develop food processing and Organic South West Soil Association.

This programme is set to grow now that Objective One investment has been approved for a Central Food Production Unit that will serve all of Cornwall's hospitals.

The Observer said: "Hospital food in Cornwall has gone local – this NHS programme means much of it is sustainably sourced, with Cornish milk, fish, eggs, cheese and yoghurt on the menu, too."

John Watkinson, Chief Executive of the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust, said, "The Cornwall Food Programme has achieved a national reputation in leading the way in local purchasing and sustainability, supporting and encouraging local businesses. It is great to see that this work has once again been acknowledged. I was delighted that my first contribution on coming to Cornwall was to give the final seal of approval to the Cornwall Food Production Unit, which is a natural progression of the programme. It presents the opportunity to transform the way patient meal services are provided throughout the NHS in Cornwall, whilst maintaining the very high standards that have been set and benefiting the local economy."

Traci Lewis, Project Manager Soil Association Organic South West, said: "The whole public procurement process is very bureaucratic but the innovative partnership between the Cornwall Food Programme and the Soil Association is a model for how things can be made to work on the ground. Together we have succeeded in getting increasing amounts of fresh, local and organic food from small-scale producers onto hospital menus."

For further information contact Clare Morgan, Media Relations Manager for the Objective One Partnership on 01872 223439 or email cmorgan@cornwall.gov.uk.

The Objective One Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has invested in Fifteen Cornwall through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and European Social Fund (ESF), and in the NHS Food Programme through the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF).

Editor's notes:

The Cornwall NHS Food Programme is supported by all three of Cornwall's health trusts – Cornwall Partnership Trust, the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust and the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Primary Care Trust.

Soil Association Organic South West has received Objective One EAGGF (European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund) and is managed as a regional office of the Soil Association.

Clare Morgan
Media Relations Manager
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Mobile: 07973 813647
Telephone: 01872 223439

cmorgan@cornwall.gov.uk

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