As we wave goodbye to 2021, It’s great to reflect on the amazing things we’ve achieved as an organisation in what has been a testing year for the world. We also wanted to let the people of Sheffield know what our steps in 2022 will be to make sure everyone in our city is well-fed with local, sustainable food that doesn’t cost the earth and boosts the local economy!
ShefFood In 2021
In 2021, we carried on our work, organising regular online meetings, email bulletins and social media posts throughout the CV19 crisis to connect & support food system organisations, share best practices and coordinate activity. Most importantly, with the help of our partners, anchor institutions and organisations throughout the city, Sheffield was able to achieve the Sustainable Food Places Bronze Award.
The Sustainable Food Places Award is designed to recognise and celebrate the success of those places taking a joined-up, holistic approach to food and that have achieved significant positive change across six key food issues. The award is open to any place that has an established cross-sector food partnership in place, is a member of the Sustainable Food Places Network and is implementing an action plan on healthy, accessible and sustainable food. The award is a fantastic achievement and recognises our collective progress towards creating a fair food system for all in the Sheffield city region.
Partners & Projects
Our partner organisations have been incredibly busy throughout 2021 too. They are the organisations that are really pushing the boundaries of farming, community support and food for all. All of our partners have organised events, created campaigns and helped make good food accessible to more people in Sheffield. As part of this drive, we’ve worked with our local partners, anchor institutions and UK wide organisations to bring several large scale projects to life in 2021.
- Fringe Farming Project – As part of the UK-wide Fringe Farming project, ShefFood worked with Sustain and Shared Assets to explore and understand the barriers and opportunities for agroecological peri-urban farming in the Sheffield region. We presented the research at our Fringe Farming Event in July and developed an action plan to make this vision happen.
- Urban Agriculture Consortium – ShefFood helped support the growth of the Urban Agriculture Consortium in 2020 and continues to support its efforts to create the conditions for urban and peri-urban agroecology to thrive, as part of an integrated, resilient, & just food system for the UK.
- Food Resilience project – funded with SFP grant, delivered by Food Works, with support from Regather, Sheffield Organic Growers, Wortley Hall Walled Garden and Moss Valley Market Garden.
- Little Sheffield Feast – Held in September 2021, the Little Sheffield Feast was a free street party to celebrate local food, drink, music and history. An amazing day and joint effort from Food Hall, Food Works, ShipShape Health and Wellbeing, Yes2Ventures, Regather and ShefFood.
ShefFood in 2022
Sheffield was awarded the Sustainable Food Places Bronze Award in 2021, and now ShefFood is working towards helping Sheffield achieve the Silver Award within the next few years. Some of the actions we are focusing on include:
- Increasing our capacity as an organisation to reach more local people, support more partner organisations and run more events.
- Partnering with anchor institutions in Sheffield, including The University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University.
- Working with Sheffield City Council to strategise and implement sustainable food systems as well as bolstering the local economy.
- Applying for funding through grants and campaigns that focus on building better food systems for all.
- Setting up a dedicated steering group to focus our mission.
- Creating a range of themed working groups for specific areas of development in an overarching food strategy for Sheffield
How you can help ShefFood in 2022
This year we are looking forward to tackling food provision, food waste and the climate crisis head-on! Join us this year to make a difference by:
- Following us on social media. We are on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @sheffoodsocial
- Attend our events and our partners’ events.
- Get involved with local organisations and our partners, whether that’s through volunteering, purchases or supporting their work.
- Help us spread the word about food in Sheffield by sharing our social media and website with friends and family.
If you would like to contribute your food sector expertise to the partnership or become a partner organisation, please get in touch.
