Council's Veggie Run app tastes success at London food awards
Havering Council's Veggie Run Campaign has been successfully recognised as the Veg City Champion of London, at last night's Urban Food Awards held at City Hall.
This award highlights the borough's effort to encourage more children in the capital to eat increased amounts of vegetables.
The awards are endorsed by The Mayor of London and London Food Link to recognise the enterprises, initiatives and organisations bringing good food to London's table.
Since HES Catering Services launched Veggie Run across Havering primary, infant and junior schools in April 2018, healthy school catered meal uptake has increased by 14 percent throughout the borough, which has led to approximately 300,000 fewer pack lunches being consumed.
The Veggie Run app has now been downloaded over 22,000 times.
Cllr Robert Benham, Children's Services, Learning and Education, said:
"The continued recognition for Veggie Run is a great achievement for Havering Council. To be recognised at a London-wide awards and by London Food Link who are successfully encouraging more children to eat increased amounts of vegetables, is a great accomplishment.
"Veggie Run has seen more parents opting for healthy school meals for their children in our primary and secondary schools. With the help of our sporty partners such as West Ham United Foundation, Stubbers Adventure Centre, Everyone Active and Quorn, we have also been able to provide pupils in Havering with increased access to sporting opportunities."