Bristol Local Food Fund’s campaign backed by Bristol food businesses
Bristol Local Food Fund (BLFF), a voluntary initiative raising funds for community food projects, is campaigning to raise £150,000 by the end of 2024 to help tackle rising food insecurity in Bristol. With 1 in 12 Bristolians experiencing food insecurity, the issue affects people from all walks of life across the city.
Unlike other funders, BLFF hands all decisions around funding to a Citizens Panel, made up of people from across Bristol with lived experience of food insecurity. Organisers of the project believe this approach, known as participatory grantmaking, is a more inclusive and effective way to empower local communities to tackle inequality.
With £100,000 raised by the Anti-Banquet event in February soon to be distributed, BLFF now aims to step up its impact and grow its network of supporters. To entice Bristolians to join the movement for food justice, BLFF has teamed up with some of Bristol’s best independent food businesses to offer foodie rewards as an added incentive.
Supporting businesses include Hart’s Bakery, Nadu, Kal Dosa, Pizzarova, Hugo’s Greengrocers, Gingerbeards Preserves, Ah-Mas Dumplings, Better Food, Eatchu, Forest Bakery and KASK Wines.
Anyone who becomes a regular support of Bristol Local Food Fund with £10 or more per month can choose from one of the many rewards on offer. These include: KASK, a £10 voucher (14 available); Hugos Greengrocer, a £10 voucher (10 available); and Yafo, a £10 voucher (10 available).
Laura Hart, Owner of Harts Bakery, said: “We are really excited to be working with the Bristol Local Food Fund. We are always looking for projects to support and this gives us confidence the funds are going where they are needed the most. With lots of small businesses working together we can join forces and make a real difference.”
Bristol Local Food Fund was established in 2020 during the Covid19 pandemic to support community food projects addressing a lack of access to nutritious food experienced by thousands of people across Bristol.
In 2022, the project crowdfunded and distributed £60,000 to support 18 community food projects, including St Pauls Adventure Playground in St Pauls, Lush Greens CIC in Hengrove and Travelling Kitchen CIC in Southmead. However, in 2024, the need has never been greater. The economic and social impact of the cost of living crisis has only exacerbated the challenges vulnerable populations face in accessing affordable, nutritious food.
£5,000 of funding enabled Lush Greens in Hengrove to grow 5,431 portions of fresh veg (or 1,713 kg) which was donated directly to two local food banks throughout the year, increasing access to local grown vegetables for service users.
Speaking in BLFF’s new campaign video, Jimmy Thomson from Lush Greens said: “If the opportunity came up we would expand the delivery of food to food banks. We’d really like to offer a greater diversity to people, over a longer period of time.”
Michael Lloyd-Jones, Founder and Project Lead of Bristol Local Food Fund said: “No one in our city should have to worry about where their next meal is coming from. By supporting community-led solutions, we can build a city of food justice that leaves no one behind. Our new campaign aims to grow our individual supporter base to raise crucial funds to empower local groups to continue and expand their critical work.”
To become a regular supporter of Bristol Local Food Fund, visit: www.bristollocalfoodfund.com/donate and to find out more about the project, get involved or follow its progress, go to: www.bristollocalfoodfund.com