Working towards a better future

PRIDE in Oldham nominee Nikki Davies, founder of IF Oldham, chairman of Oldham Food Network and member of the Real Junk Food Project Oldham

EMPOWERING the community and tackling food inequality are just some of the reasons that multi-talented Nikki Davies has been nominated for a Pride in Oldham award.

Nikki helped to found Incredible Futures Oldham (ifOldham) in July 2015, a social enterprise which helps local people take positive actions to improve wellbeing in neighbourhoods across the borough.

Not only that but the 41-year-old is heavily involved in The Real Junk Food Project Oldham, which aims to create zero food waste in Oldham.

Local organisations including stalls in Tommyfield Market and Morrisons supermarket donate surplus food to the project which cooks it up into nutritious meals that are sold on a 'pay as you feel' basis.

Nikki also led the hugely successful crowdfunding campaign which raised over £23,000 for a new community kitchen based at Oldham Foodbank for groups across the borough to use.

And she is the chair of Oldham Food Network, a partnership which co-ordinates food activity and supports local communities and increases food education and skills.

Dominic Coleman, principle policy officer at Oldham Council, nominated for all the work she had done and described her as an 'exceptional leader'.

He said: "Committed to making Oldham a better place, Nikki strives tirelessly to empower people to better help themselves. She works with residents, partners and organisations and has made a huge impact through her collaborative approach with ifOldham.

"She inspires confidence in others, nurtures ambition and passionately champions what she thinks is right - particularly around access to food and growing.

"Always one to focus on the collective effort rather than the individual spirit, Oldham would be a very different place without her determination to work together and the fantastic support from ifOldham."

Nikki, from Todmorden, said: "I don't know what to say! I'm shocked to be nominated, its a real team effort. This award is for all the staff, volunteers, volunteer directors and community groups across the borough that work so hard.

"Food poverty is on the up, but if we all ate healthily that would help to reduce it."