Gold award recognises city’s food achievements
BRISTOL has long shone brightly as a city that has taken good food and sustainability seriously but now it’s official.
Thanks to the work of a number of initiatives across the city, Bristol has been awarded the status of Gold Sustainable Food City.
Awarded by the UK partnership programme, Sustainable Food Places, the accolade recognises the positive work undertaken across the city’s food system, seeking to solve social, environmental, and economic issues.
Bristol is only the second city in the UK to achieve the status of Gold Sustainable Food City, with Brighton and Hove awarded it in 2020.
The winning application focussed on themes of reducing food waste, community action and growing Bristol’s good food movement, buying better, urban growing, eating better and food equality.
The award announcement follows the work of city-wide initiative Bristol Going for Gold, led by coordinating partners Bristol Food Network, Bristol City Council, Bristol Green Capital Partnership, and Resource Futures.
Examples of initiatives included in the successful bid included Grow Wilder, an education centre and growing site in Stapleton that empowers people to bring about positive change through sustainable food growing and wildlife friendly practices.
Other initiatives include The Children’s Kitchen, a programme established across the city to explore eating and growing fresh produce with children, and FOOD Clubs, which are a partnership project between Family Action, Feeding Bristol and FareShare South West, with 16 clubs across the city providing nutritious food to families at a fraction of the normal cost.
Also part of the Bristol Going for Gold application was the University of West of England and University of Bristol for taking action to transform institutional food culture, including sustainable sourcing, redistributing surplus food, plant-based menus and gardening projects.
Bristol’s Deputy Mayor Asher Craig was the chairperson of the Going for Gold Steering Group.
She said: “Bristol’s Gold achievement is a testament to the whole city rallying together and taking action, from citizens and organisations to policy makers.
“More than ever there is a collective energy calling for food that is good for people, communities and the planet to be available to everyone in Bristol. This award makes clear that Bristol is on the right path towards a better food future for all citizens.”
Bristol Bites Back Better is a prominent campaign established in the wake of the first Covid lockdown. It seeks to empower Bristolians together to create a food system that will nourish the city into the future and aims to draw out and amplify voices from the diverse communities within Bristol. The outcomes of that campaign so far, including 160 blogs and 8 short films from diverse voices across the city, formed a significant part of the application for Gold Sustainable Food City status.
Director of Bristol Food Network, Joy Carey, said the new Gold status reflected a city-wide effort of individuals, projects and initiatives to make a positive difference.
She said: “Since achieving silver status in 2016, we’ve been determined to support and uncover more individuals, projects and initiatives that are
contributing positively to a fairer, healthier and more sustainable food system for the city and its citizens.
“Bristol is brimming with people who are passionate about doing better when it comes to food and it has been our job to capture their stories and impact, whilst doing all we can to support a joined up and holistic approach to food in the city.
“How we produce, trade, eat and waste food influences the most pressing issues facing us today: from climate and ecological breakdown to human health and well-being, from poverty and justice to animal welfare. This is why food matters and we’re delighted that this work has been recognised at the highest level.”
One of the initiatives involved in the bid for Gold Sustainable Food City status is FOOD Clubs, which stands for Food On Our Doorstep.
The clubs provide good quality, affordable food, whilst reducing food waste.
Simon Green of FOOD Clubs said: “We work with Feeding Bristol and FareShare South West - who redirect good quality surplus food to us - and that partnership means we now have 16 operating clubs across the city.
“The clubs have become about so much more than just providing food. What began as weekly food offering has become a thriving example of how partnerships can create a sustainable, resilient and, dare I say, sometimes radical and disruptive food programme.”
Chef Jo Ingleby is the driving force behind The Children’s Kitchen, which works within nursery schools with children under five in areas of the city where families are most at risk of food
insecurity.
She said: “The Children’s Kitchen is focused on establishing partnership work across the city between food charities and organisations and Early Years settings.
“Partners include Incredible Edible Bristol, 91 Ways, the Square Food Foundation and The Travelling Kitchen, who each bring expert knowledge and experience to young children and their families, and help develop the food skills of practitioners to build on what children learn about food and growing.
“The settings I work in are also FOOD Club venues or are close to one. The project builds children’s familiarity with fresh, healthy food by exploring in a multisensory way, rather than following recipes, and part of the programme is growing fresh fruit and vegetables onsite.”
Bristol Food Network’ Joy Carey said that whilst the Gold status is a moment to be celebrated, it’s not the end point and there is much more work to do.
“We’re gearing up to start work on the Bristol Good Food 2030 action plan, which will see a more joined up approach to tackling issues such as food insecurity, access to land for growing and food waste, as well as finding better ways to empower Bristolians to create a healthy, accessible and diverse food system fit for the next decade.
“It’s so important that this plan is framed around the real needs and hopes of our city’s people and communities, and that’s why we’re asking everyone to ‘Join the Conversation’ to share their vision for food in Bristol.”
Bristol is brimming with people who are passionate about doing better when it comes to food
Joy Carey, director of Bristol Food Network