Food of love ... community groups given over £104,000

ACTION Together has awarded more than £104,000 to 27 community groups and organisations to support their amazing work addressing food insecurity across the borough.

Thanks to funding from Rochdale Borough Council, the group offered investment through Food Solutions Grants to help voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise groups provide emergency and immediate food offers, as well as investing in supporting the longer-term sustainability of Rochdale borough’s food providers.

The grants, totalling over £104,000, are set be used to provide a range of services, including: Emergency food parcels and meals, food banks and pantries, community kitchens and cooking classes, food delivery services for vulnerable people, support for people to grow their own food, and much more.

The funding has been awarded to a unique and diverse range of groups, including food banks, community centres, religious organisations, and social enterprises.

The groups, all located across the Rochdale borough, serve a wide range of people, including children, families, older people, and people with disabilities.

The successful funding applications for these projects come at a time when food insecurity is on the rise in Greater Manchester. A recent study by Rochdale Borough Council reported that 4.7% of households in Rochdale experienced hunger in 2022, and 12.2% of households struggled with food insecurity.

A spokesman said: “Action Together’s grants are making a real difference to those families and individuals in Rochdale who are struggling to afford food.

“Thanks to the generosity of donors, Action Together can support the work of voluntary and community groups that are providing vital services to people in need and this funding will help to ensure that people across Rochdale borough have access to the food they need.”

Here is just a small snapshot of how the grants are being used already:

Rochdale, Middleton & Heywood Foodbanks

are using their grants to ensure the borough’s Emergency Free Food Offer is supported throughout the Winter months.

Nigeria Community Association, Wonderfully Made Woman and CCC House of Praise

are all using their grants to ensure there is access to a culturally appropriate food offer across the borough.

Rochdale Connections Trust, Deeplish Community Centre and Hebron Church are using their funding to provide free cooking classes and meals to people on low incomes.

Kirkholt, Smallbridge, Freehold and Back of the Moss Community Centre Pantries are ensuring their community pantry offer provides free, or low-cost, food to vulnerable children and families in Rochdale.

Petrus is using its grant to provide seeds, tools, and training to people who want to grow their own food.

Many of these groups are members of Action Together’s Food Solutions Network, a network comprising more than 30 voluntary organisations, statutory bodies and Action Together, working together to tackle food poverty, the stigma and shame around food poverty, and ensure access to appropriate food for people, families, and those isolated in Rochdale.

If you, or a member of your organisation, would like to become a member of the Food Solutions Network, please contact Action Together’s Community Development Worker Julie Durrant, julie.durrant@actiontogether.org. uk for more information.