Fariha Blockley, Network Builder and Facilitator at FoodFutures, explains why people might join the North Lancashire Food Champion Network and what they hope to achieve.
In recent years there has been a change in how people view society and their place in it. Rather than relying on governments and councils to bring about change, some people are becoming more active citizens and seek to play a direct role in bringing about the social changes they want to see in their communities. From setting up food clubs to community composting schemes and dealing with the food waste councils can no longer afford to collect, people are organising and setting up community groups to crack on and do things. The North Lancashire Food Champion Network seeks to support and connect these individuals and groups so they don’t feel isolated, and they can support each other’s work to thrive.
The Food Champion Network seeks to offer inductions, regular skill shares and socials to support Food Champions in finding their place in a Good Food Movement that aims to build healthy communities across North Lancashire.
Current Food Champions are working to raise awareness of food inequalities for disabled people in terms of access and preparation of food; they are promoting eating food with less packaging and sharing skills such as fermenting and cooking seasonal vegetables. They are also looking at how they can share their food stories through citizen journalism, magazine making, or by running skill shares. Some are already keen growers or composters, others are just starting to learn. Their main thing in common is wanting to make a difference while having fun.
By beginning to imagine a world where they are more than just consumers, Food Champions are exploring ways to engage with existing community growing projects like Claver Hill or to establish their own green and food growing spaces.
One Food Champion wants to look at setting up a low-cost herb clinic to break down the barrier of seeing a herbalist as a luxury. Another is discussing making reusable sanitary towels that could be donated to the hygiene bank.
What does this have to do with food you ask?
As Vandana Shiva once said, “Food is the currency of life”.
Food champions care about social justice and making healthy, locally sourced food available for everyone. This might mean helping set up a garden, or support people to reduce their bills on hygiene products or encouraging them to swap to low-cost, environmentally friendly alternatives such as homemade soap, reusable period pads, or teaching skills to repair clothes and household appliances.
If you would like to learn more about getting involved, why not come along to one of our network inductions and find out how you can get involved? The next induction is on 28 Aug 2024, at the Sustainability Hub in Lancaster, Lancashire.
FoodFutures runs regular inductions to the Food Champion network which can be found on the ‘what’s on’ page of their website.
