Congratulations to the research partnership between the University of Oxford and local community partners, for receiving highly commended at the Vice Chancellors Awards 2024. This nomination was for the Community Partnership Award, which recognises Oxford University staff who have partnered with others to make a positive difference locally, nationally or globally.   

The nomination focused on the partnership work between Oxford University, Good Food Oxfordshire, Oxfordshire County Council, Public Health and community groups such as the OX4 Food Crew, working together to improve childhood nutrition in Oxfordshire. As part of the celebrations, a showcase of the shortlisted nominations took place at the Weston Library on 7th and 8th May, ending in an awards ceremony at the Sheldonian Theatre.  

This partnership started by bringing stakeholders together on a series of roundtable meetings, to discuss child health and food in Oxfordshire, specifically drawing from those in communities around Oxfordshire with lived experience of food insecurity. The resulting report highlighted key policy recommendations and the need for a multistakeholder approach to improving childhood nutrition. 

These roundtable meetings catalysed other actions at a local level, informing both policy and practice. The researchers from the University of Oxford supported GFO and community groups to develop evaluative frameworks, building capacity to measure social impact. This resulted in the development of the Theory of Change that underpins Oxfordshire’s Food Strategy and local Food Action Plans. 

The research partnership also brought the University of Oxford together with OX4 Food Crew members Waste to Taste, Flo’s – The Place in the Park, and Oxford City Farm on a series of research days, including human centered design and workshops to develop research priorities. One example of success was the development of Starting Strong Together, a pilot programme seeking to improve babies' nutrition in the first 1000 days.  

We have seen immense benefits from this partnership approach, bringing policy makers, academics and community groups together to engage on local and national policy and advocacy dialogues around childhood nutrition. Well done to everyone involved!