The Brighton & Hove Food Partnership started life in 2003, born out of an idea to create a strategic approach to food work in the city, bringing together community organisations, statutory agencies, local businesses and individual residents. We are aiming for a sustainable food system – one that is healthy, respects environmental limits and supports a vibrant farming and food economy. Download a history of the Food Partnership (pdf, 81Kb).

The Food Partnership is a not-for-profit organisation with members from across the city.

In particular, we want to see:

• More locally produced food
• Better access to affordable, fresh, seasonal food
• More opportunities for people to learn to cook and grow food
• An increased understanding of the links between food and health
• A better understanding of where our food comes from
• An increased enjoyment of and respect for food.

The choices we make about food are important because they affect our health and the condition of the environment. The main activities of the Food Partnership focus on raising awareness of food issues, educating about food and health, promoting local food and creating better access to good food for all residents.

We do this in many ways:

City Food News We produce a quarterly newsletter which reports on current food, health and environmental issues, as well as local food work, events, courses and more. All Food Partnership members receive a free copy.

Community Cookery Project We want people to know how to cook healthy, seasonal, affordable food. Our community cookery team works with individuals and groups to give people the skills and confidence to do this.

Harvest Brighton & Hove We are the lead partner on Harvest Brighton & Hove, a project that aims to prove that a city can grow more of its own food by encouraging more growing on allotments, gardens, parks, in vacant land around public buildings and on housing estates. We run courses on growing at home and support volunteering on growing projects.

Community Nutrition Service We deliver a range of community-based healthy living programmes, including weight management for adults and children. We run a healthy weight referral service used by GPs and other health and social care professionals. We also deliver training on food and nutrition and obesity awareness. 

Local food We promote opportunities for people to buy local food and support the development of more local food businesses.

Community food projects Brighton & Hove is home to many community food projects and we believe they are a vital part of our city. We support them with advice, information and networking opportunities. We also run a small grants scheme to support projects that promote healthy eating, cooking and food growing.

Healthy Choice Award This scheme assists restaurants, cafes, nurseries and care homes in making healthy options available on their menus and helps customers make healthier choices.

Sticky Fingers Project We work with primary school children in East Brighton, taking a plot to plate approach in educating about food growing and cooking.

Lobbying and campaigning We run campaigns at a local level and support national campaigns. We also sit on city-wide partnerships to promote the importance of a sustainable food system.

To be kept in touch and support our work for a sustainable food system for Brighton & Hove, join the Food Partnership.