“Food justice is not just about feeding the hungry; it’s about empowering communities and lasting change.”
— Leah Penniman
Food justice means ensuring everyone has access to nutritious, affordable food – no matter their income or where they live. Across the UK, communities are working together to create a fairer food system. You can get involved in a range of practical, local actions to help make this happen.
Get Involved in Local Food Projects
Food Co-ops
Food co-operatives are run by members who work together to choose what food to buy and how it’s distributed. These not-for-profit projects are designed to meet the needs of the community and are open to all.
Cooperation Town is a growing network of neighbourhood food co-ops that can be set up on any street or estate. They offer a starter guide to help you set one up in your area. Find out more in this short video.
Membership Organisations
Food and Solidarity is a membership co-op tackling food and housing insecurity through collective action. Volunteers help with their weekly food parcel distributions.
Food Advocacy Campaigns
Several national organisations are campaigning for long-term solutions to food poverty:
Feeding Britain works to eliminate hunger through research, action, and advocacy. [Join their network.]
The Trussel Trust campaigns for a future where no one needs a food bank. [Support their campaigns.]
Free School Meals For All focuses on ending child hunger in schools.
Sustain runs campaigns to improve food systems at a national level. (Support the Yes to School Food For All Campaign)
The Food Foundation offers volunteer roles for young people and adults to become Food Ambassadors, campaigning for fair, healthy and sustainable food systems. They also provide a Food Activist Toolkit to support local campaigning.
Social Supermarkets
Social supermarkets offer affordable groceries and fresh food to people experiencing food insecurity. In North Tyneside, you can volunteer with:
Nourish Store (Cedarwood Trust)
The Bread & Butter Thing (Howdon Hub)
The Pop Up Pantry mobile food shop
Food Banks
Food banks play a vital role when people are in crisis. Opportunities to volunteer include:
Tin on a Wall monthly doorstep collections across Newcastle and North Tyneside
Cooking and Eating Together
Sharing food helps build connection and tackle loneliness:
- Foodcycle – volunteer to cook and serve meals using surplus food
Men’s Pie Club – supports men to cook and connect over pie-making
Project BIND / The Magic Hat Café – help reduce food waste by turning surplus food into daily menus
Nourish Food School – assist with cookery classes tackling food-related health concerns and food insecurity
The Big Lunch – take part in a national day of community meals. [Download a free Big Lunch pack]
Soil Association’s Food for Life – take part in ‘Plant and Share’ or ‘Cook and Share’ events. [Sign up for a free resource pack]
You can also volunteer with one of the community cafés across North Tyneside, including:
Community Growing Projects
Community growing projects aim to increase access to locally produced, healthy food, increasing food sovereignty. North Tyneside has several local projects offering volunteering opportunities. [Find out more here.]
Take Action for Food Justice
Whether you want to volunteer, grow food, collect donations, or join a campaign, there are lots of ways to take action locally for food justice.
Further Reading
Explore the history of food solidarity through Foodbank Histories: Solidarity and Mutual Aid in the Past and Present – an oral history project by Alison Atkinson-Phillips, Silvie Fisch, Graham Smith and Jack Hepworth.
