Member Article

Food Nation cooks up funding for Newcastle food initiatives

More residents of Newcastle are set to grow their own fruit and vegetables and learn about cooking affordable, healthy food, thanks to local activities funded by the Community Food Grant Fund.

The scheme, which is managed by Byker-based Food Nation, is now open for applications for the 2014-15 round of funding.

Last year, the fund provided Youth Voice - run by the Young People’s Service at Your Homes Newcastle - with £2,499 for the launch of their Good Grub Club.

Youth Voice’s Good Grub Club was set up for 16-25 year olds who had previously been homeless, suffered family breakdowns, lived transient lifestyles or had lived within the care system. The project aimed to develop and enhance young people’s healthy, independent living skills through teaching cooking, food shopping and budgeting skills, and improving dietary knowledge.

Through the six weeks of the programme it helped 118 young people to make positive lifestyle changes and use cooking as a social occasion, in turn increasing self esteem.

Food Nation’s Nicola Cowell, community food initiative coordinator, said: “We’re so pleased to be able to support a range of exciting food projects throughout Newcastle, thanks to the Community Food Grant Fund. We’re there every step of the way to assist with the projects and we’re always thrilled to see the inspirational outcomes of this grant for local communities every year.

“Our focus is very much on affordability and access to healthy food, which applies to everyone – from babies and toddlers to elderly residents. If a group has researched a concept for a local food project that they want to put into motion, then this is the ideal opportunity to make it a reality.”

Kerry Irvine, peer education coordinator for the Young People’s Service at Your Homes Newcastle, said: “The Food Grant from Food Nation has hugely supported us in being able to deliver our successful Good Grub Club. It simply would not have happened it if wasn’t for this funding, and it has created an opportunity for young people from across our service to consider a healthy balanced diet and understand the importance of thinking about what we eat.

“To anyone thinking of applying for the funding this year, I would say go for it. The Food Nation team are incredibly helpful at thinking of extra tips and hints for delivery, and they create a very welcoming relationship. Nicola Cowell quite clearly has a passion for food and healthy lifestyles and is great at encouraging the work that we do.”

Food Nation is now encouraging organisations to apply for a slice of the £10,000 Community Food Grant 2014 fund, which has operated for more than ten years and is financed through Newcastle City Council Public Health. The grant is open to organisations throughout the city, who can apply for up to £2,500 each before the closing date at midday on Wednesday, May 21.

Successful projects will launch in September following attendance at delivery and evaluation support sessions provided by Food Nation, and groups will receive ongoing support throughout the life of their schemes.

For details about how to apply, visit www.foodnation.org/community-food-initiative, call Nicola Cowell at Food Nation on 0191 276 0595 or email nicola@foodnation.org

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