Other key resources

Several useful resources for community food projects already exist, which we do not aim to replicate, and will signpost to throughout the toolkit. Please also see our case studies page for a variety of examples of community food enterprises across England.

Some key resources include:

Feeding Britain

Feeding Britain are a national network organisation, combining policy and research with practical action to tackle hunger and end the need for foodbanks. They support a network of over 350 affordable food clubs, pantries and social supermarkets. Their role includes sharing practice through webinars, toolkits and working groups; brokering discounted arrangements with food suppliers; supporting the provision of holistic wraparound services within these food projects; and providing funding and other resources. It is free to join the Feeding Britain network and access these resources. To find out more email info@feedingbritain.org

You may be interested in their recorded webinar on the topic of food banks establishing affordable food models.

Pathway to Pantry

Bury Food Partnership in partnership with Trust House Bury put together a series of resources called Pathway to Pantry to help others set up a food pantry. This includes a video about their journey, and resources including information on setting up a pantry, partnerships, and case studies.

Building a Community Food Retail Project

Food Cardiff, together with Cardiff University, Cardiff Business School and the Economic and Social Research Council produced a guidance document called Building a Community Food Retail Project based on their experience in Wales to help others set up community-based retail projects with social values. 

Food Cooperatives

For information on setting up a food cooperative neighbourhood buying group, Cooperation Town have produced a starter pack full of useful information, and you can contact them for more information.

Additionally, you can access Sustain’s Food Coops Toolkit, which includes information on different types of food coops and how to set these up.

The Real Farming Trust

The Real Farming Trust work includes supporting grassroots organisations exploring issue of food justice. Their food justice reports and resources offer a host of useful videos and written resources to help community food projects.

The Food, Farming and Countryside Commission

Food, Farming and Countryside Commision’s Beyond Charitable Food Aid report explores how can funders and communities work together to create thriving local food systems, and includes useful recommendations for funders and investors working with community food projects.

Real Bread Campaign

Run by Sustain, the Campaign has produced the Real Bread For All guide. It includes advice to help and encourage small, independent bakeries explore ways of bridging the gap between what it costs them to make Real Bread, and what people in their communities on tighter budgets can afford. One of the suggestions is partnering with a local organization that works with people experiencing poverty.

CAVEAT

CAVEAT is a useful toolkit for voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations working with older people to measure and evaluate activities and impact. The toolkit is free to use but you will have to register to access the resources.

The School for Social Entrepreneurs

The school for social entrepreneurs offer resources and courses to empower and equip people with entrepreneurial skills in order to sustain a successful business as well as a social impact.