MindFood Celebrates Gaining The King's Award
Ealing-based charity holds garden party for 150 supporters
Richard Kornicki CBE DL presented the award on behalf of the King with Mayor Yvonne Johnson in attendance, as well as Deirdre Costigan MP
May 1, 2025
Ealing-based mental health charity, MindFood has held a garden party to celebrate gaining The King’s Award last year.
On Saturday 26 April,150 supporters including the charity’s dedicated team and volunteers, assembled at Horsenden Farm.
Deputy Lieutenant Richard Kornicki CBE DL presented the award on behalf of the King with Mayor Yvonne Johnson in attendance, as well as Deirdre Costigan MP, and several councillors including Polly Knewstub (Cabinet Member for Healthy Equal Lives) and Paul Driscoll Cabinet Member for Climate Action).
During this informal outdoor celebration of everyone’s volunteering efforts with the short presentation ceremony, guests took the opportunity to visit the charity’s growing spaces, admiring its collection of over 1000 of young veg plants, grown especially to donate to local primary and SEND schools as part of its annual Grow Some Share Some giveaway. This community effort seeks to support a new generation of food growers, connecting them with nature and encouraging their first hopeful steps towards climate engagement and action.
The weather was kind, and Horsenden’s new all-weather shelter, built using trees from Horsenden Hill, and opened on the day by the Mayor, provided the perfect backdrop for festivities and plenty of cake.
The King’s Award for Voluntary Service was given to MindFood in November last year 2024. This is the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK and is equivalent to an MBE.
MindFood supporters at the garden party
MindFood supports people struggling with stress, depression, anxiety and isolation, by teaching them food-growing, as well as sharing tips & techniques to nurture better mental health.
MindFood delivers gardening and other mindful nature-based activities throughout the week at 2 growing sites in Ealing: Cleveley Crescent Allotments near Hanger Lane and Horsenden Farm in Perivale. It also runs dedicated sessions for selected support groups at Chiswick House.
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