South Eastern Regional College (SERC) is calling on the local community to support an innovative food growing project after being shortlisted for a Lidl Plus Green Fund grant in County Down.
Lidl's expert panel selected SERC’s Seed to Plate Project to progress to the public voting stage from 15 – 21 October, when Lidl customers will get the chance decide which of two projects receive funding through the Lidl Plus app.
SERC’s Seed to Plate Project unites students from Culinary Arts and other disciplines at Bangor Campus to create a complete “seed-to-meal” pathway. The initiative will deliver nutritious meals to local foodbank users, while equipping students with valuable skills and advancing sustainability.
Building on SERC’s initiative—funded by Live Here Love Here—which laid the foundations and learning for the college’s current efforts, this new project will take a significant leap forward. It will enable SERC to expand its impact all year-round at the Bangor Campus, providing regular fresh produce and nutritious frozen meals for local families, while also embedding horticulture, sustainability, and employability skills into the curriculum.
Vegetables cultivated by students will then be cooked up by Culinary Arts students to create healthy meals for individuals and families experiencing food insecurity across the local area.
Paul Mercer, Principal Lecturer & Commercial Hospitality Manager at SERC said, "We are delighted to have been shortlisted for the Lidl Plus Green Fund and proud that our project has been recognised for its potential to make a meaningful difference in our community. “This initiative is about much more than growing vegetables. It creates opportunities for our students to develop confidence, independence and practical skills, while giving Culinary Arts students valuable industry experience. Together, they will help provide nutritious meals for local families and contribute to a more sustainable food system.”
Paul concluded, “We would encourage everyone to support the project by voting through the Lidl Plus app and help us turn this vision into a reality."
How to Vote
Public voting opens on 15 October and closes at midnight on 21 October 2026.
Lidl customers can vote by scanning their Lidl Plus card in-store. Each eligible customer will receive a digital stamp card within the Lidl Plus app, allowing them to cast a vote for SERC.
As one of only two shortlisted projects in County Down, SERC is encouraging staff, students, alumni, partners and the wider community to get involved and help secure funding for this innovative community project.
