Glasgow Community Food Network is delighted to have been awarded continuation funding from The National Lottery Community Fund’s Climate Action Fund to push forward with the Food and Climate Action project across Glasgow.

The project works in partnership with 6 organisations across Glasgow (The Space in Glasgow East; St. Paul’s Youth Forum in Glasgow North, Central & West Integration Network in Glasgow Central; Urban Roots in Glasgow South and; Glasgow Eco Trust in Glasgow West) to work with local communities to promote healthier food options for people and planet.

Not only will the funding allow the project team to continue to deliver activity from food growing workshops to cooking groups, it also allows for delivery of brand new content including the free train the trainer sessions, Climate Crumbs. These 1-off sessions will support people working with community and educational groups to integrate climate conversations into their growing and cooking activities.

Feedback from those Climate Crumbs sessions already delivered has been positive, with participants already pledging to integrate climate actions into their own lives and their training sessions. 

Anonymous feedback and pledges from participants at Climate Crumbs sessions to date includes:

• "Eat more seasonal foods! Less meat, but also discuss food & climate action with more people. Get them on board"
• "Never shop on an empty stomach"
• "I learned that 70% of the UK's land is used for farming"

The Food and Climate Action project will continue to build upon its success from the previous two years, nourishing and strengthening relationships with individuals, groups and organisations involved with Glasgow’s food system at all levels. 

If you’re interested in finding out more about growing food and cooking with health and sustainability in mind, composting and soil health, or fermentation and foraging, then make sure to follow Glasgow Community Food Network on social media and sign up to the monthly newsletter:

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Vivan Opiolka, Development Worker at Central & West Integration Network said:

“At CWIN we are very happy that the Food and Climate Action Project has managed to secure extended funding… We know that we need to grow more food locally in order to slow down climate change. There is no way that our community members could become involved with food growing without the work of the Food and Climate Action Project, so we are very happy to see it continue. Life is stressful for the people who we support, most of them are asylum seekers, and climate action is not one of the priorities for most of them. The growing work is great also, because it helps people to get active, improve mental and physical health and speak English in an informal setting.”

Anonymous participant, Food and Climate Action Fermentation group in Glasgow South said:

“I had never done any fermenting before, and wasn't sure how to begin. I grow veg and wanted to learn how to preserve and make better use of the gluts you get, so this group has really helped break through with knowledge and skills, in a really welcoming and friendly manner.  It has also opened my horizons on the possibilities for making your own food, the different traditions across the world, and how it resonates with issues such as sustainability, health, & community. Its a group where anyone can bring something to the table!”

Kate Still, Scotland Chair at The National Lottery Community Fund, said: 

“We’re delighted that, thanks to National Lottery players, Glasgow Community Food Network will be able to implement an integrated and sustainable food system across the city, building on what has already been achieved. Over the last couple of years the project has been growing its networks and this new funding will help build on this momentum to ensure that this transformation is driven by the communities it affects and also connects to the wider Glasgow City Food Plan.”