The 2024 Food Summit: A catalyst for change

"Lincolnshire’s food crisis is not an isolated problem. It’s part of a broader network of issues that demand immediate attention. As one attendee noted, “Every international movement started as a local movement”. The work being done by grassroots organisations, charities, and volunteers is nothing short of heroic. But it shouldn’t fall solely on their shoulders. Why is it left to volunteer-led initiatives to scrape together funding to tackle such an urgent issue?"

So writes Alex following his time at the Greater Lincolnshire Food Partnership's Food Summit for 2024. It was an event that saw 70 or so busy people in one room all day. That's 70 days out of the office spent on the Food Summit. It matters. But why is it left to the Food Partnership to scrabble around for funding and volunteer-led organisations to keep driving change?

So writes Alex following his time at the Greater Lincolnshire Food Partnership's Food Summit for 2024. It was an event that saw 70 or so busy people in one room all day. That's 70 days out of the office spent on the Food Summit. It matters. But why is it left to the Food Partnership to scrabble around for funding and volunteer-led organisations to keep driving change?

It's something the team has seen time and time again, as most of us in the wider world will have. The work being done by grassroots organisations, charities, and volunteers is nothing short of heroic. But it shouldn’t fall solely on their shoulders. Why is it left to volunteer-led initiatives to scrape together funding to tackle such an urgent issue?

It’s time for leaders, policymakers, and businesses to step up and support the incredible groundwork already being laid. It’s time for the many, not the few to make change happen. Whether through policy changes, increased funding, or simply amplifying the voices of those on the frontlines, we all have a role to play in building a future where no one has to choose between food and survival.

Organisations like the Greater Lincolnshire Food Partnership underpin thriving communities, we know how important they are to areas like the Energy Estuary, that are on an upward trajectory of inward and internal investment but that doesn’t always filter down to the people who need it most.

The Food Summit was incredibly eye opening in a way that Alex wasn’t expecting, "Even though we’ve worked with the Food Partnership for a couple of months and I’ve come to understand why they exist, I was still pleasantly surprised by the can do attitude on display at the Summit. Not only did it give me a chance to reflect on the importance of food in this most agricultural of counties, but also it made me think about similar organisations with whom we’ve worked over the past few years".

From education establishments the team has supported over the years with talks, work experience opportunities and workshops to website revamps, such as PAD-CIC, whose site we revamped to help them continue to do their planet and community-positive work in Humberston, and PR and comms projects, lending the team's expertise to support work that really matters makes it all the more worth while in our eyes.

Active Lincolnshire and Scunthorpe Tomorrow are a couple of recent projects that have seen the team dig into supporting organisations 'spread the word'. PR and comms have been the main focus of the work we have done with these two. And much like how we've been working with the Food Partnership, exposure and awareness around key events - namely Active Lincolnshire's Sport and Physical Activity Awards 2024 and Scunthorpe Tomorrow's Place Lab - to drive the right people to attend as well as garner some excitement and coverage around them has been the focus. Not only to see lots of bums on seats but the right bums on seats.

In a similar vein, there are two new(ish) projects that are kicking off that hold so much promise. Firstly with The Culture House GY to help raise the profile of the arts and culture programmes they run in NEL, and secondly with LRSN, to create a digital presence that takes them into the next phase of their existence, the next 25 years; one that is pretty close to the heart of our Head Honcho, Alex.

Throw various other volunteer roles into the mix - with Alex volunteering as a director at Caistor Arts & Heritage Centre, a role he has held since 2016 to help ensure a vital community asset has a bright future; Rob acting as one of the Friends of Study United, giving opportunities to young people across North Lincolnshire; director Louise’s involvement in the set up of the Lincolnshire branch of the IAgrM, before handing over the role to her twin sister, Clare to carry on the good work; Jo's new position on the HEAT steering group to support Lincoln College and the work it is doing with the hospitality, events, arts and tourism students - and we're privileged to have plenty of opportunities to get stuck into supporting organisations that simply don’t get enough coverage on a wider scale but do awesome work none-the-less.

Read the full article Alex put together following his time at the Food Summit, and get stuck into Alex's full takeaways.

Need to get the word out about your event, campaign or initiative? From PR and comms to getting the right people in the room for you, if you need some support, get in touch with Alex and the team today.