Help and Kindness and Dorset Climate Action Network are delighted to announce that the Feeding Dorset Partnership has been welcomed into the network of Sustainable Food Places across the UK.
A huge number of people, groups, and organisations work tirelessly to feed everyone who lives in Dorset. These include people growing food, making food and selling food. It includes those who offer training in skills to grow and cook food or run projects offering affordable and emergency food when its needed. There are also those who advocate and work for more sustainable growing practices and urgent responses to the climate emergency. Others promote a better understanding of nutrition and health through diet. There are those who run networks to support the people in these different areas of work.
It is from lengthy consultation with this network of stakeholders that the desire to become a Sustainable Food Place arose, resulting in the new Feeding Dorset Partnership which applied to join the network in May this year.
Through the Feeding Dorset Partnership, we aim to be able to build a better understanding of the scale and scope of this web of food projects, businesses, and networks that exist across Dorset and to identify any gaps in the webs as we move towards a more resilient, sustainable and affordable food future.
They will be using the six areas of focus for a Sustainable Food Place to structure conversations and build connections between people and organisations.
- Food Governance and Strategy: Taking a strategic and collaborative approach to good food governance and action.
- Good Food Movement: Building public awareness, active food citizenship and a local good food movement.
- Healthy Food for all: Tackling food poverty, diet related ill-health and access to affordable healthy food.
- Sustainable Food Economy: Creating a vibrant, prosperous, and diverse sustainable food economy.
- Catering and Procurement: Transforming catering and procurement and revitalizing local supply chains.
- Food for the Planet: Tackling the climate and nature emergency through sustainable food and farming and an end to food waste.
Help and Kindness will be sharing additional information and resources to support this new Partnership on their website. There you can follow the Partnership’s progress and find out how to get involved and add your ideas and input to the discussions and activities that are happening all over the county. You can find the Feeding Dorset Partnership page on the #HelpAndKindness website www.helpandkindness.co.uk/feeding-dorset-partnership.
Cllr Ryan Hope, Dorset Council Cabinet Member for Customer, Culture and Community
Engagement said:
“Food is a fundamental part of our health and wellbeing. It provides essential nourishment, enjoyment, and important opportunities to connect with others. Since the pandemic, we have collaborated with a wide range of partners, and this is a fantastic opportunity to further explore what we can do together for most impact.
“The news that the Feeding Dorset Partnership has joined the Sustainable Food Places Network is truly fantastic. It is a great example of what can be achieved when partners from the public, private, and voluntary and community sectors work together for the benefit of local communities. We are committed to continue building on this success.”
The Feeding Dorset Partnership is joining the Sustainable Food Places network alongside Bridport Food Partnership who are now a Sustainable Food Town. We are looking forward to continuing to work closely with them in this joint endeavour. Collectively, we aim to continue to make healthy and sustainable food a defining characteristic of Dorset and nurture a culture that promotes safe, affordable, accessible, and sustainable local food that supports the environment.
Discussions about food resilience and food networks in Dorset at the Feeding Dorset Two event in 2023