Start a community food project
Everyone is interested in food. It’s a basic human requirement, but more than that, it’s a delicious way of connecting with other people in our communities. As we all know, good food brings people together.
What is a community food project?
Community food projects are a great way to get people to learn about food, nutrition and cooking, whilst also making the most of local produce. Many of them also aim to improve the community and the environment.
Community food projects are all about allowing local people to take control of where their food comes from and connecting them with each other and where they live. A food project gets everyone involved, brings communities together, and creates a sense of local pride.
Innovative food project ideas
There’s lots of ways you can set up your own food bank, and you can find a method that works best for your community.
- Community food gardens or community orchards
- Community fridges
- Allotments
- Wild food and foraging
- Community shops
- Making use of food waste
- Food swaps
- Supper clubs
How to start a food bank
If you want to know how to set up a food bank, you’ve come to the right place! Setting up a food bank isn’t for everyone as it requires a lot of work, but it can make a huge difference to your community. Basically, you will need food, money and volunteers to do it – see below for our advice on how to make those things happen!
The basic steps are organising a space, where/when/how you will get donations and how everything will be transported. You can get support from existing food bank networks such as the Trussell Trust.
Spread joy this winter
Join us and keep our communities connected and cosy over the darker months. We’ve put together some winter warming ideas to help you spread the joy!
Useful resources
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The Coronation Food Project
His Majesty King Charles III has officially launched the Coronation Food Project, which coincides with his birthday on 14 November. The project aims to increase capacity of existing networks to provide 200 million meals a year.
The project will work by helping to rescue surplus food from growers, manufacturers and retailers and redistribute it organisations and charities across the country who can get it to those who need it most.
Community is how we create the future we want. There are so many people with so many skills and so much knowledge to share. Community means coming together to try and make something better and to share love and food and expand your family to include your neighbours.
Success stories from our network
Reducing waste with the Cherwell Collective
Emily Connally is the founder of Cherwell Collective, a community interest company using the principles of a circular economy to empower local people to…
How volunteers keep their community nourished at Wigton Food Pantry
Diane Blackburn is a volunteer at Wigton Food Pantry, a food project and charity that has inspired a group of local people to keep…
How we brought isolated people together — with coffee and a caravan!
Ann Osborn is the Director of the Rural Coffee Caravan in Suffolk. The mobile community cafe and information centre helps to alleviate isolation in…