Feeding Dorset Partnership latest to join the UK’s biggest growing movement for food systems change.
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 applying to join the network in May this year.
For DorsetCAN, ‘Climate Action’ means engaging people, campaigning for fairness, putting health and wellbeing first, building resilient communities and restoring nature, in a structured effort to face climate change. The fabulous ‘Feeding Dorset Partnership’ does all of those things and is an exemplar of what we can achieve if we work together. We are thrilled that it has joined the UK-wide Sustainable Food Places network. We will support the Feeding Dorset Partnership as it evolves and takes us forward as a county into a fair, sustainable and affordable food future.
Dorset Climate Action Network, July 2024
Through the Feeding Dorset Partnership, we hope 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.
We 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.
The Partnership is there to support and serve those who are already doing amazing work across Dorset in all these areas and to facilitate and empower them in their activities and ambitions through nurturing greater connections and building awareness.
The Partnership’s role is to adapt to support the stakeholders and enable people to work together, rather than create new demands. It welcomes involvement as and when people are able to participate, and it respects and champions the great work that is already happening across Dorset.
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 now in place on the #HelpAndKindness website helpandkindness.co.uk/feeding-dorset-partnership.
The Partnership connects all kinds of stakeholders, from small, local projects to Dorset’s NHS and local authorities.
Councillor Millie Earl, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Connected Communities, BCP Council said:
“We look forward to supporting the Sustainable Food Partnership to help build food resilience across the area.
“Our Access to Food partnership is a strong, resourced community food network based in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP), ensuring everyone has access to good, nutritious food.
“By bringing together partners from across the public, voluntary and community sector, we can work together to share best practice on all aspects of healthy and sustainable food across BCP and Dorset, and continue to make access to food a priority.”
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.
