University of Kent

Kent stands for the Right to Food

Universities are not just places of learning; they are also places where we teach, work, live and eat together. How we do these things tells us something important about who we are and what we value.

The Right to Food has become a central mission for the University of Kent both as a place of learning and as an anchor institution in a region committed to the care of its citizens and their futures. At Kent we want to see a world where no one goes hungry, where we develop sustainable food sources, and where healthy, affordable and nutritious food is accessible to everyone, wherever they are and whatever their means.

This is why we have committed to become a Right to Food University.

Working in partnership with The Food Foundation, the University has adopted measures to protect its students, staff and the wider Kent region from food insecurity. Its Canterbury and Medway campuses are places where we strive to realise the right to food in practice - in student kitchens, canteens, the university estate, the courses on offer and through research collaborations.

The Right to Food University is not a destination but a journey and a commitment; to support other institutions in becoming right to food universities we have developed a blueprint as an invitation and a tool to support and welcome other universities on this journey. 

What the Judges Thought

A very well thought out and planned programme, addressing a critical societal issue at present. The judges felt that this stood out as being innovative and having a significant benefit to society. Right to Food standard has developed as a blueprint for other universities. Students can benefit in a variety engaging on the project. This is something we could all do and should all be doing. 

What it Means to Win

“The University of Kent work as a community, collaborating with partners for positive change. Our mission on Right to Food is integral to our ethos, woven through pedagogy and civic work. This award will accelerate the impact on the creation of healthier, more environmentally sustainable, and democratically accountable societies.”

Professor Georgina Randsley de Moura, Interim Vice-Chancellor and President

Top 3 Learnings

1. Food unites us all and can be used to engage on a range of seemingly disparate topics.
2. Maximum impact can be gained when taking a ‘whole university’ approach to civic engagement.
3. The Right to Food blueprint can be easily adapted to be relevant for other institutions in areas with different civic challenges.