Camden Food Partnership

The Camden Food Partnership (CFP) formed in 2020 in response to the pressing need to address food security issues in Camden. While initially focusing on alleviating food poverty, the CFP now aligns with the broader Camden Food Mission that by 2030, all residents will eat well every day with nutritious, affordable, and sustainable food.

The CFP is an independent collaborative network of over 80 members consisting of voluntary and community sector organisations, surplus food suppliers, Camden Council and Public Health, and local businesses. It is currently coordinated by Camden Council.

The Partnership members regularly meet to share knowledge, challenges and offer support. Throughout the year, they host open discussions, forums and workshop events to collaborate on action plans and present progress. Steering Group members meet every eight weeks to discuss the partnership’s strategic direction and progress of the key working groups leading the action plan projects.

We were delighted that Camden was recognised in Sustain’s 2024 Good Food Local London report as showing leadership in joined up action on food and tackling food poverty. Camden became a member of the Sustainable Food Places network in June 2024. The Network brings together pioneering food partnerships from towns, cities, boroughs, districts and counties across the UK that are driving innovation and best practice on all aspects of healthy and sustainable food. Sustainable Food Places is a partnership programme led by the Soil Association, Food Matters and Sustain: the alliance for better food and farming.  

Here are some of the key outcomes and projects the partnership has achieved:

• Defined the Camden Food Partnership’s guiding values and Good Food Principles for local organisations providing food support to sign up to or request support to them achieve
• Grew the partnership to over 60 member organisations as of 2024
• Created the CFP Steering Group and Terms of Reference, bringing together a diverse representation from across the borough with meetings every eight weeks
• Developed the CFP website and introduced monthly newsletters
• The CFP and Camden residents came together at a summit in 2023 to codesign an action plan of priority areas to collaborate on
• Introduced Open Discussions in September 2023, providing a space for organisations in the network to discuss challenges, learnings and best practice every six weeks
• Brought together the Camden food and advice networks in regular monthly ‘Tackling Poverty’ meetings to support partners in referring and signposting
• Created Find Food Support in Camden, an online public directory of food support available to Camden residents
• Increased contact with food surplus providers to ‘check the temperature ‘ of food provision and identify trends, trends and solution
• Conducted site visits to partners to develop a clear picture of what is available within the borough and what challenges they face
• Producing a shared learning video and report showcasing successful approaches and common challenges faced by VCS organisations within the network
• Joined the Feeding Britain Network
• Joined the Sustainable Food Places network 

Find out more by visiting the Camden Food Partnership Website, sign up to the CFP Newsletter or email rose.alexander@camden.gov.uk.