A Christian project that has worked to reduce rising childhood food insecurity won the £20,000 Cinnamon Incubator Competition at St Peter's Church in Notting Hill last night.
Brite Box, run by the charity Voice of Hopes, took the top prize for its church-led recipe kit initiative, helping families eat well on a budget.
Founder Sarah Clay told Premier Christian News she felt “tearful, blown away and so grateful” after winning, and said the investment “means the world” after five years of hard work.
This award comes as The Food Foundation said over one in ten people in the UK were experiencing food insecurity, rising to almost one in seven households with children, and urged the government to halve levels in its upcoming Child Poverty Strategy.
Brite Box, which has provided weekly recipe kits through more than 30 schools has built confidence, reduced stigmas and brought families together through cooking.
Clay said parents “don’t feel embarrassed, they just love it”, adding that God had provided “at every single step of the way”.
The other finalists also joined Cinnamon’s two-year incubator. Last year’s winner, Brian Elliot from Starfish Alliance, told Premier: “It’s so much more enjoyable coming back after winning… last year I was a whole package of nerves.”
Garden Hope finalist James Baker said his project had become “a mission field”, adding that gardening gave space for people to encounter “hope and healing” in Christ.
Sian Edwards of Andrews Charitable Trust, who have backed the incubator project for many years, said her organisation supported Cinnamon because “our Christian ethos is essential to us, and we just knew we had to support them”.
Cinnamon Incubator said all finalists showed “extraordinary passion” in serving their communities through the local church.