Growing Communities In England

Growing Communities in England is a new and unique project from FCFCG that will help community groups throughout England to grow food sustainably.

Funded by the Local Food Programme from the Big Lottery Fund, Growing Communities has been developed following a sharp rise in interest from community groups seeking land and specific advice for community food growing, including those on city farms, community gardens, orchards, allotment projects and school gardens.

Running for three years, Growing Communities will have a number of direct and indirect benefits linked to the important role that community food growing groups play in addressing issues surrounding food poverty, food provenance, health and wellbeing, nutrition, access to green space, climate change, biodiversity, sustainable living, engaging with minority ethnic communities and community cohesion.

How the project will suppport new and existing groups:

Growing Communities in England will provide one-to-one advice, training and networking, specialist support and information services to new and existing community groups that wish to establish local food growing initiatives. FCFCG has nearly 30 years experience in the sector and is well-placed to offer co-ordinated support to these groups, at local, regional and national level.

The project team includes four new regionally-based Local Food Development Workers working alongside our existing development staff.

In addition, the project will work with other sector organisations to research new and emerging trends in community land management and food-growing. In this way it will promote collaborative working and helping to ensure the effective use of resources across the sector.

See below for details of your nearest Local Food Development Workers:

London
Kirstie Mogilner, London Development Worker
email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Tel: 0207 485 5001
PO Box 25359, London NW5 4ZN

Midlands
Marie Wellings, Midlands Development Worker
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Tel: 02476 675 211
Room 16, Koco Building, The Arches, Spon End, Coventry CV1 3JQ

North
Helen Meade, North England Development Worker
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Tel: 0161 275 9725
MERCI, Bridge 5 Mill, 22a Beswick Street,Ancoats, Manchester, M4 7HR

South West
Sara Melendro, South West England Development Worker
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1st Floor 6 Mannamead Road, Mutley, Plymouth PL4 7AA

Local Food Programme

For details of the England-wide £50 million, Big Lottery Funded Local Food Programme, visit our Local Food page.