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From 'community spaces' to low-cost food hubs, a range of support remains available for residents across the Borough struggling with the cost-of-living. The help on offer from Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council is part of the authority's 'A Fairer Stockton-on-Tees' (FSOT) framework, launched in 2021. And a meeting of the Council's Cabinet on Thursday (May 16), heard how in addition to the long-term vision of reducing inequalities, there's also more short-term focus on guiding residents through the current economic climate. This has led to a number of avenues of help for residents, accessible by visiting the 'here to help hub' web page (https://lnkd.in/eSgPihnj). "We know that there are a number of residents who continue to feel the wide-ranging effects of the cost-of-living crisis, but thankfully there is lots of help at hand," says the Council's Leader, Councillor Bob Cook. "For example, the 'community spaces' initiative now has more than 70 venues signed up, which goes well beyond just providing a warm space and has a broader offer to include things like learning and skills courses. The number of residents who have utilised a community space now stands at nearly 3,000 over the last 12 months. "The Bread and Butter Thing low-cost food hubs, ran by the brilliant local volunteers, have proven to be very popular for residents and are a vital lifeline for close to 400 families each week. In total, more than 6,000 people have accessed the offer, which is very heartening indeed. "We also held 'here to help' events across a range of venues and they were attended by a number of partners such as Moneywise and Cleveland Fire Brigade. Look out for more of these events to come soon. "And this outstanding work alongside our partners comes at a time when our 'Powering Our Future' programme ramps up across the Council to ensure we're fully utilising the potential of our communities and voluntary sector to provide better outcomes for our residents." You can find out more on FSOT by visiting www.stockton.gov.uk/fsot, or by emailing fsot@stockton.gov.uk. #CostofLiving #StocktonCouncil #FoodHubs #CommunitySpaces

I am pleased and excited to be able to share this with you. It's a brilliantly presented and readable summary version of the evaluation recently completed by the University of Essex, on the impact of the first two Community Supermarkets to launch in Essex. Undertaken over the course of the first year of delivery from their opening in 2022, the research included a range of qualitative measure to understand the difference these affordable food programmes have on addressing food insecurity, emotional and mental wellbeing, and community cohesion. The headline is that for every £1 invested in the programmes an incredible £15.77 was generated in Social Return on Investment. An amazing figure but the real impact of the report comes in the form of the lived experience captured and the true difference this work makes to people living in Essex. Thanks to the University team who undertook the work, and to the teams at Brooklands Community Shop, Jaywick, and Laindon Community Supermarket, Basildon for enabling the research to take place. Have a read and please do share as widely as you can. #Research #Affordablefood #Communitysupermarket #Foodinsecurity #Community #Basildon #Tendring #UniversityofEssex #EssexCountyCouncil #FeedingBritain

A fantastic report from University of Essex researchers who conducted research at the two Community Supermarkets between May and December 2023, during the first year of their operation: one in Jaywick and one in Laindon. Findings from the report show improvement's in resident's: (1) health and wellbeing, (2) community building and community resilience (3) increased agency and independence. Social value was also high, showing that "every £1 invested into the two Community Supermarkets has generated a social return of £15.77 to local residents, communities, and the state."

If you want to run a pantry or are just interested in how it works, download and read this best practice guide.

15 repair cafe locations have received financial support through the scheme in its first 12 months. Launched in March 2024 by waste operator enfinium, the Repair Café Support Fund will run for three years, during which time it will invest £60,000 into circular initiatives across the #UK. In the inaugural year, 15 cafes across #England and #Wales have received money to cover operating costs, rent, new equipment, or training. Schemes that support and raise awareness, particularly among young people, have also been given support. Collectively, 758 items have been saved from landfill through the chosen cafes. These include a 60-year-old carriage clock and radar gun, among many others. Now closed for the festive break, the Repair Café Support Fund will reopen for funding applications on 1st January 2025 and run until 31st May 2025. To be eligible for support, cafes need to be in a 30-mile radius of enfinium facilities in in #Kent, #NorthWales (applications welcome from the regions of; #Conwy, #Denbighshire, #Flintshire, #Gwynedd and the Isle of #Anglesey), #WestYorkshire, or the #WestMidlands. Each cafe is entitled to up to £1,500 per year. ‘The support from enfinium’s Repair Café Support Fund has enabled us to make improvements in our Repair Café that we wouldn’t have otherwise been able to afford ,’ said Jon O’Connor, Chair of Trustees at the #Folkestone Repair Cafe. ‘This funding has allowed us to offer a better service, providing our community with even more efficient and effective repairs. It’s been a huge boost, enabling us to reach more people, reduce #waste, and strengthen our role in supporting a more sustainable and connected local community. We would encourage any repair cafés considering applying to absolutely do so.’

Meet our Industry Member Plate it Forward Plate It Forward is a for-purpose hospitality group that seamlessly blends premium dining experiences with sustainable social impact models to serve the Sydney community. With a mission to provide food relief, training, and employment opportunities to marginalised and underserved communities, Plate It Forward operates three restaurants—Colombo Social, Kyiv Social, and Kabul Social—alongside a catering and events business. Plate It Forward has become a beacon of hope and change, creating pathways for those most in need by converting potential food waste into nourishment for the vulnerable and crafting employment opportunities that offer a lifeline. Plate It Forward has donated over 560,000 meals and provided employment for over 200 individuals from marginalised backgrounds, embodying their core values of Food Security, Training & Education, Employment, and Connection. Beyond job creation, they invest in the potential of every individual, offering not just employment but also a chance for personal and professional growth. Plate It Forward demonstrates how every meal, job, and connection can drive positive change, with patrons contributing to a movement that goes beyond the culinary and to creating a more inclusive and passionate world. Find more great social enterprises in our Industry Member Directory at https://lnkd.in/g7Mc5paf #SECNA #socialenterprise #businessforgood #peopleandplanetfirst #members #memberspotlight

How can public budgets create healthier, greener communities? Food is a great place to start – and this latest Surrey research shows how councils, housing associations and funding bodies can make a real difference to community gardens, pantries and food networks. #sustainability #food #community #localgovernment #procurement #SDG https://ow.ly/yG8x50SQVVY

Healthy Food Access: Solutions for Toledo On October 30, 2024, The Fair Housing Center’s George Thomas presented to the Housing & Community Development Committee about the urgent need to address food deserts in our community. During the presentation, George shared: ✔️ How food deserts stem from historical economic disinvestment in communities of color. ✔️ Their impacts on health, education, and economic growth. ✔️ Actionable solutions like zoning changes, grocery store incentives, and equitable policies to improve access to fresh, affordable food. Key Takeaway: Food deserts harm community health and economic growth. Reversing disinvestment and implementing sustainable solutions can help create vibrant neighborhoods where everyone has access to fresh, nutritious food. 🎙️ Want to learn more? Listen to the recording of the meeting to hear how these solutions can create a healthier Toledo for all. 📢 Click here to access the recording: https://lnkd.in/g5mAKq73 #FairHousing #HealthyFoodAccess #EndFoodDeserts #CommunityAdvocacy #ToledoSolutions

The violence of the past few days has been disturbing and intimidating often fuelled by inflammatory language from those who should know better. There are a lot of angry people in the UK and there are also far too many impoverished and dispossessed communities for a nation with so much wealth and resources. The power of food to connect, to heal and to bridge divides is well documented. It’s not the answer to what we have seen on our streets recently but it can be part of the answer. Something as simple as a shared meal may not make people agree with each other but it can stop them wanting to harm each other. Sustainable Food Places connects communities in over 100 localities across the UK by tackling food poverty, ensuring food justice, cooking, growing, supporting local food businesses and simply sharing good food together. Food can connect where economic injustice, misinformation and hopelessness is seeking to divide. See the impact Sustainable Food Places network, family and movement. Whoever you are in these cities – take a breath, take a look at this work and look to what makes us all human – the love of good food. Below are just three of many, many examples… In Hull ‘Scran! Kitchen’ at the Warren is a young people’s resource centre based in the centre of Hull. It has a strong philosophy of youth empowerment and democracy. Scran! provides training and support around cooking, growing and eating better food. https://lnkd.in/dfmr-d2z Rotherham Food Network is an inspirational example of how local communities, businesses and the Council can work together to make affordable good food a defining characteristic of that city. https://lnkd.in/debmPBUW Food Plymouth’s has its FoodSEqual project that ensures everyone in the community can eat well with summer holidays offers for families and breakfast meet-ups for all. https://lnkd.in/dc_-PCyZ https://lnkd.in/dXHCWJQh

Anyone can be an neighbour organiser in Cooperation Town! That’s the central message from  “Cooperation Town”, a movement of food co-ops, which gives neighbours the tools to build collective power and buy affordable food. Cooperation Town’s model is built around the idea that anyone can be an organiser. In their article -see link – they say:- “We have a lot of people who say ‘But I’m just a mum’, which is crazy to them because nobody’s ‘just a mum’. Mums are organisers, without mums there’s no community they rightly claim. Set up to build a network of food cooperatives in London and across England, Cooperation Town gives groups of neighbours the means to organise together to buy groceries that are sourced in bulk, and distributed at a very low cost. And  venues in Cooperation Town have included a:- ·        Community centre ·        Mosque ·        Church ·        Library and even the lobby of a GP practice! Find out more about Co-operation Town from the link below. It tells you more about their work, funded by the Joseph Rowntree Trust, with the option to sign up for a free regular newsletter. There are links to the Rowntree Trusts other work and resources through this same link. These throw a spotlight on a huge range of other case studies from organisations that seek to help those who need support, information and justice. https://lnkd.in/eBfqejgu #neighbourcoops #foodbanks #communitypower #workingtogether