Coeliac UK Awards 2011

Eating out gluten-free

David Scrace on behalf of WAGFree bakery, café and deli

WAGFree bakery, café and deli opened in Brixton indoor market last year. Owned by David Scarce, it shows that it is possible to offer a great range of fresh glutenA protein that is found in the cereals wheat, barley and rye. -free baked goods on high street.

Not only is David and his team commended for having “cracked pastry” and making fantastic fresh bread, but also for coming up with increasingly innovative and much loved products. For those who thought they could never enjoy a bakewell tart, chocolate éclair, jaffa cake or just a fresh sandwich at lunchtime again WAGFree bakery and café is out to prove them wrong through their range of delicious and high quality products.

Eating out gluten-free is a key concern for many of the Charity’s Members. We know how hard it can be to find a place which tackles concerns over cross-contamination and offers good choice. WAGFree bakery, café and deli does just that however and we are delighted to announce them this year’s winners of the Eating Out gluten-free Award.

Outstanding Achievement

Dr Dai Lloyd

Dr Dai Lloyd became a Member of the National Assembly for Wales in 1999, representing constituents of South Wales West for 12 years. He became involved with the Charity initially as Chair of the Coeliac UK Swansea Local Voluntary Support GroupA local Group where Members of Coeliac UK can meet and they often organise events. .

In 2008 Dai played a key role in getting coeliac diseaseA condition where a person is unable to eat gluten as it makes their body attack itself. on the Senedd agenda helping to set up the Welsh Assembly Cross Party GroupCross Party Group on coeliac disease and DH in Scottish Parliament and also the Welsh Assembly is a special interest group which MSPs and WAMs can join. We are on this Group as a means of exerting pressure on Parliament. on coeliac disease, which he went on to lead as Chairperson of the Group. A GPGeneral Practitioner, or local doctor by profession he is well versed on coeliac disease and the NHSNational Health Service and has used his knowledge and position as an Assembly Member to pose frequent questions to the Minister of Health and to raise the level of conversation amongst healthcare professionals and politicians in regard to the management and diagnosis of coeliac disease.

The support he has given to people with coeliac disease at both the local and national level in Wales is nothing short of outstanding and we are delighted to present him with his Award today.

Outstanding Achievement

Jim Tolson

Jim Tolson, a Scottish Liberal Democrat, was elected as a Member of the Scottish Parliament in 2007, representing constituents in Dunfermline and West Fife for four years. In his position as MSP, Jim kept the issues faced by people with coeliac disease at the front of people’s minds by posing questions, lodging Motions and hosting events at Holyrood to further raise awareness of the condition. He was also Conveynor of the Cross Party Group in the Scottish Parliament which provided an important forum to help raise the level of conversation amongst healthcare professionals, politicians, manufacturers and caterers in Scotland.

Outside of Parliament, Jim continued to raise the flag for people with the condition participating in a range of media activity and supporting a number of external events held by the Coeliac UK, the Local Groups and other organisations.

You have provided the Charity and patients with coeliac disease in Scotland with a strong foundation, showing outstanding support and commitment throughout – our thanks to you.

Supporting a Member

Adrian Benson, Group Organiser for Hull and East Riding Local Voluntary Support Group

The Coeliac UK Local Voluntary Support Groups provide a valuable service to Members in the local area.  And the work of Adrian Benson, Group Organiser for the Hull and East Riding Group has not gone unnoticed with a number of Members writing to tell us about the fantastic strength, friendship and care Adrian offers to Members across the region.

One of the Charity’s long standing Group Organiser’s Adrian has not only lead the Hull and East Riding Local Group but he has played a valuable role in getting a number of other Local Groups in the region up and running. He provides a packed agenda for Members throughout the year with meals out, quiz events, talks and events for children. And on top of all this he is the chief organiser of the annual York Food Fair, one of the largest Food Fair’s running with around 1,000 visitors through the door.

Adrian’s commitment, kindness and support has not gone unobserved and whilst he will humbly say that he couldn’t do it without his team we know he plays a leading role. The judges were unanimous in their recognition of his efforts.

Awareness Raising Champion

Barbara Kirkham, Committee Member for the Cheshire Local Voluntary Support Group

Barbara Kirkham is a committed volunteer for Coeliac UK, providing fantastic support for Members in her role as Group Organiser for the Cheshire Local Voluntary Support Group. However, it is down to her work opposing the prescription cuts in Stockport over the past six months that she has been chosen as this year’s Awareness Raising Champion.

Coeliac UK has been working closely with healthcare professionals and NHS managers across the UK as they review their policy on gluten-free prescribing. In the majority of cases it is a good news story, however there have been several areas where restrictions have been more severe, including Stockport.

As a local representative of the Charity, Barbara was quick to start a campaign against the new policy. Working with Coeliac UK, she bought the issue to the attention of her local MP and secured meetings with NHS Stockport and Stockport District Council Health Scrutiny Committee, ensuring that patients’ views were represented, heard and responded to.

Unfortunately today clashes with a long awaited hospital appointment so Barbara isn’t able to collect the Award in person.

Healthcare Professional Award

Dr Janet Goodman

Dr Goodman is a partner at Red House Surgery in Milton Keynes. There she has shown herself as a very thorough, considerate and caring doctor to all her patients, delivering an excellent standard of care throughout.

Concerned by a patient’s seemingly random bouts of anaemia she followed up and quickly diagnosed coeliac disease – a condition the patient herself had never heard of. Not only was her determination to get to the root of the problem unwavering but her follow up support has been the same. From providing advice to talking through the products available on prescription to ensuring bone scans and dietetic appointments were booked and followed up.

Coeliac UK hears all too often from people struggling to get diagnosed and those who feel unsupported once they have. It is great to hear reports of doctors like Dr Janet Goodman.

Youth Champion

Felicity Hitt and the catering team

Watching your child start school can be a nervous time for any parent, all the more so when they have coeliac disease and the school has no experience of the condition.

However, the parents of Ewan Ridge had no reason to be concerned when their son started at Lawn Primary. The catering team led by Felicity Hitt have ensured Ewan’s condition doesn’t leave him feeling different, fussed about or exposed.  With freshly cooked meals every day, cross-contamination carefully avoided and the kitchen ordering in a range of gluten-free alternatives from pastas to sausages, they have gone from knowing nothing about the gluten-free diet to getting requests from Ewan’s mother for recipes to his favourite meals! 

Felicity and the team have made what could have been a very difficult experience hassle free. Their generous nature and committed attitude makes them clear winners of the Youth Champion Award.