Jo Haughton from LESS CIC explains how you can help build community resilience and connection to the land through a monthly lottery scheme…
An innovative small-scale lottery scheme is giving the North Lancashire community six chances a month to win vouchers for a range of local eating and food shopping experiences!
This lottery won’t be making anybody rich – but you could argue that the scheme, called FoodFriends, is definitely bringing wealth in terms of community resilience and connection to the land and each other.
Most importantly it is not only supporting local businesses, but is providing vital support to grow access to local, healthy food.
A report by Sustain showed that every £10 spent with a veg box scheme results in total spending of £25 in the local economy compared with only £14 if the same amount was spent in a supermarket. Keeping money local means communities and individuals are more likely to benefit directly through a positive ripple effect.
FoodFriends is a project by LESS CIC and raises critical funds for local small-scale farms and farmers to help them build capacity for the future – making local, nature-friendly food more accessible and more resilient to global shocks.
For just £5 each month, whether you win a voucher or not, members know they are helping improve the resilience of their community and that local businesses are being supported.
We’ve now moved the monthly draw online to announce the winning numbers so more people can join in.
We’ll be highlighting the businesses taking part – whether that’s a dining experience in a grade 2 listed Georgian building, or shopping for local, ethical, organic food, discovering award-winning gin, or tasting wild, foraged foods – there’s so much on offer locally and by buying from them, we are helping bring about a brighter future!
By becoming a FoodFriend – not only will you have the chance to win local food vouchers every month, you will be part of a community stimulating real change and creating hope.
Find out more and sign up to be a FoodFriend here: www.foodfutures.org.uk/foodfriends
Currently the FoodFriends scheme is supporting The Plot, a market garden with two sites at Summerhouse Community Farm and White Lund in Morecambe.
FoodFriends partners include: Single Step, Cockerham Boers, Goosenargh Gin, Claver Hill, Pure Vegan, Tuck Cafe, The Old Gun Shop, Land and Sea and The Quarterhouse and The Fig Tree.
