First launched in 2016, the Annual Awards highlight the importance of catering well for older vegetarians and vegans. We recently surveyed 1,000 care homes to find out how many residents are vegan or vegetarian. Since the survey was last commissioned in 2014, the number of vegans in residential care has increased by a whopping 167%!

With growing numbers of vegetarians being supported by the care sector, it is no surprise that news of the awards has been positively received by care organisations. Articles about the awards have been published by the NACC, Care Home Catering, Hospitality Assured and more.

It’s becoming impossible to ignore the demand for top-notch veggie care catering.

We’re excited to announce that nominations for VfL’s 2020 Awards for Excellence in Vegetarian Care Catering are now open!

We want to celebrate the individuals and establishments that have really gone the extra mile in the last 12 months. Do you have a vegetarian or vegan resident that you have gone out of your way to cater for? Perhaps there’s an new vegan option on your menu that just can’t be resisted?

Whatever it is, we want to hear from you. This year’s awards ceremony is shaping up to be an unforgettable event. So enter today to put yourself forward as a 2020 ‘Veggie Hero’.

The categories for this year’s awards are:

• Veggie Care Chef of the Year. We want to find the care chef who is making the tastiest meals for older vegans or veggies.

• Veggie Wholesaler of the Year. Meals on Wheels? Food delivery service? Retailer supplying the care sector? Let’s celebrate that company that makes veggie meals easy and practical for everyone.
  

• The Beulah Charity Trust Special Recognition Award. This is for that special someone who strives to make the UK a better place for older vegans and vegetarians. This could be a volunteer, a resident, a staff member or anyone pursuing this objective.

• Most Innovative Veggie Dish. We want someone to send us one magnificent recipe – something that is original, and that we can recommend to care caterers around the UK.

All that we need from you is a quick and easy 200 words telling us who you are nominating and why, to be emailed over to: veggiehero@vegetarianforlife.org.uk.

Be quick though, because the deadline for entries is fast approaching. We need all submissions by Sunday 11 October 2020.

All winners will be announced in a virtual awards ceremony on Thursday 3 December 2020. The awards will be presented by English comedian, actor, writer and film producer, Dave Spikey.

See our Veggie Heroes Past Winners page to see who has been honoured since the awards were first launched.