15 community organisations in Brighton, Hove and East Sussex are celebrating securing 4-year funding of £1.21m. The funding comes as part of The National Lottery’s Community Fund, the largest community funder in the UK to build ‘Food Use Confidence’.
The funding extends an 18-month pilot project called ‘Food Use Places‘, coordinated by the Brighton and Hove Food Partnership, aiming to build ‘Food Use Confidence’ in communities across the region to support work tackling food waste and engaging communities in climate action.
Expertise of community organisations to pave the way
The groups involved already engage with diverse communities, including demographics often underrepresented in climate action. By involving people across age, ethnicity, and social backgrounds, the project aspires to cultivate a culture of environmental stewardship for generations to come.
Starting in July 2024, the project is organised around 8 themes. Each will have a ‘beacon’ project, leading the way through the development of the project.
Learning for everyone
Real Junk Food Project with the support of Brighton Table Tennis Club, will work in Schools and run After School Clubs to inspire a new generation of Food Use Activists.
“We are delighted to be part of the citywide team being awarded a full grant by TNL. We will be engaging with schools to increase awareness of the issue of food waste as well as developing further the after-school cookery sessions we run with Brighton Table Tennis Club to enable young people who receive free school meals to play sport and learn to cook.”
Turning trash into treasure
The project will increase the number of community venues using onsite compost tumblers to turn their food waste into compost.
We will expand over the lifetime of the project and aim to divert around 135,000 tonnes or 1,800 wheelie bins of waste per year by the end of the project.
“Working together to turn food scraps into compost for our community garden has become a rewarding routine. Initially daunting, it’s now a natural part of our day. Partnering provides comfort; we have a network for support and sharing knowledge as we continue to learn.”
From waste to full of taste
Food Use Places will also contribute to the circular economy approach by creating new products from surplus foods whilst creating jobs and providing nutritious food for their community.
Supporting communities to be environmentally sustainable is one of The National Lottery Community Fund’s four key missions in its 2030 strategy, ‘It starts with community’.
“We’re delighted to support the Food Use Places project through our Climate Action Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, this terrific initiative will help address food waste across East Sussex, and both engage and educate the community in sustainable food practices.”
The project will collaborate with Brighton & Hove City Council/ Lewes District Council to engage residents in food waste reduction /recycling and with Sport England to share learning with sports clubs across the UK.
“Thank you to the National Lottery Climate Action Fund for supporting Food Use places. BHCC look forward to working with the partnership of 15 community rooted organisations. In particular, we welcome the focus on engaging people that are currently under-represented in climate action.”
Together we will create a legacy of food use confident communities with positive change surpassing the life of the 4-year funding.
