Feeding Britain’s latest report was published last week, highlighting that Affordable Food Clubs (social supermarkets, pantries, larders, food buses etc.) are not only essential providers of affordable, nutritious food to those who need it, but they are also vital community spaces that help foster connection, financial resilience, and sustainable solutions to eliminating hunger in the UK.
You can read the full report here.
Delivering food education is still Hastings Food Networks’ most popular and impactful service. We are currently involved in the delivery of a packed programme of cookery workshops and other food related initiatives across Hastings and St Leonards, involving wrap-around support from other local organisations such as HARC, Active Hastings, One You, Health in Mind and more.
The planned programme includes cooking for men; life skills cookery; cooking skills for young people leaving home; bringing communities together over food to reduce loneliness; intergenerational food projects.
‘Eat Well Age Well’ – a series of older people’s healthy eating and nutrition workshops - have been particularly successful, with workshops filling within hours. Other health-focused activities and follow-up workshops have been the legacy from these.
Our latest plans include development of a new workshop focused on ways to reduce childhood obesity. This will be piloted in specific areas shortly.
The power of food to connect communities has been evidenced in so many of the conversations we have had over the last year. Our work with the ESCC Tackling Loneliness programme, alongside funding from them, is enabling us to create a Warm Welcome space at Central Hall over the Winter months, run cultural events sharing food with a range of different community groups, and a planned food festival in October at the Stade Hall.
For more information about any of the upcoming Food Network activities, email [email protected] or [email protected].
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