Taste of the West, the South West’s leading food and drink membership organisation, has today announced The Community Table Award, a new category launched in partnership with FareShare South West to recognise organisations giving back to their communities through food.
The award, co-sponsored and co-judged by FareShare South West, the region’s leading food redistribution charity, will celebrate charities, social enterprises, community interest companies and other not-for-profit organisations based in or operating primarily within the South West of England. Eligible initiatives include community larders and food banks supported by local producers, affordable community meal schemes for vulnerable or isolated people, cooking skills programmes, food surplus redistribution and waste reduction projects, and initiatives providing dignified access to quality food for those in need.
Entries are open to organisations themselves or may be nominated by a third party — such as a beneficiary, partner charity or local authority — with the nominee’s consent. There is no minimum scale requirement: a small but deeply impactful local initiative will be judged on equal terms with a large regional programme.
Entrants will submit a written description of their initiative (up to 600 words) together with evidence of impact, which may include testimonials, photographs, participation numbers or press coverage. Judging is entirely desk-based and will be carried out by a panel of three, including a representative from FareShare South West alongside food industry expertise, scoring entries against a published rubric covering community impact, connection to South West food and drink, sustainability, inclusivity and replicability. One Winner and one Runner Up will be selected, with the judging panel free to withhold the Runner Up title if no entry meets the standard.
Winners will be announced at the Taste of the West Awards ceremony on 2 February 2027.
Charles Baughan, Chair, Taste of the West says: “Great food in the South West is really about people — our places, our producers and the communities that hold everything together. Volunteers sit at the heart of that story, often giving their time quietly and without recognition. The Community Table Award celebrates them, and I’m delighted to congratulate FareShare South West for championing this work so powerfully. I hope it inspires others to step forward and play their part in keeping our region strong.”
Lucy Bearn, CEO FareShare South West says: “Every day we see the difference that good food, shared with dignity, can make to someone’s life. The Community Table Award gives proper recognition to the organisations building resilience across the South West, and helps connect them with a wider food and drink community that wants to support them.”
To enter, complete the entry form HERE. Entries are first come first served and are capped to a maximum of 50 or the closing date of the 21st October 2026, whichever comes first.
Taste of the West is the South West of England’s leading food and drink membership organisation, supporting micro and SME producers, hospitality and retail businesses across Somerset, Devon, Cornwall, Dorset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire. A Community Interest Company, it runs the region’s prestigious food and drink awards alongside training, sustainability support, food safety guidance and mentoring for its members, reinvesting any surplus into the sector it serves.
FareShare South West is part of the FareShare network, the UK’s national charity fighting hunger and food waste by redistributing surplus food to frontline charities and community organisations.
