Falkirk Food Futures builds on a wealth of long standing food and growing initiatives and is the outcome of a series of Falkirk Food Conversations which took place over the summer of 2022.

This food partnership is a legacy of the project Falkirk Food Futures, a partnership project funded by the UK Government through the UK Community Renewal Fund.

Forth Environment Link worked alongside community organisations, Falkirk Council, NHS Forth Valley, CVS Falkirk and local third sector partners to build a fairer, more resilient and sustainable food future for the region. Including a grant fund split over 20 community groups, Young Good Food Ambassador Programme, skills sharing, capacity building and wellbeing training for community organisers and volunteers. Funded projects include community learning spaces to develop cooking skills and eat together socially, food drop-in services, training kitchens to develop front of house and barista experiences, and outdoor growing areas.

Funded projects include community learning spaces to develop cooking skills and eat together socially, food drop-in services and outdoor growing areas.

During the summer 2022 we engaged our community in discussion around a number of food related topics, in our Falkirk Food Conversations. Inspiring speakers were invited into community settings to catalyse and gather discussion and interest guided by the Sustainable Food Places approach;

  • Food governance and strategy
  • Good food movement
  • Healthy food for all
  • Sustainable food economy
  • Catering and procurement
  • Food for the planet

Through our Falkirk Food Conversations we were able to engage with a further 13 organisations on top of our existing partnership, with interest in joining the Sustainable Food Places network. In addition through the project grants to 20 community-led food project activities in Falkirk were funded and further connected with the network, along with Good Food Ambassadors from two Falkirk High Schools.

With this momentum of support we are excited to be in the phase of actioning a membership application to Sustainable Food Places in the spring. We welcome any interest at this stage from our Falkirk Food sector and community, and move forward with ambition.

We hope you can enjoy some of the stories from Falkirk which have been huge motivators for Falkirk’s journey to becoming a Sustainable Food Place.

Sean and Steve from Sustainable Thinking Scotland stand in front of their solar powered log cabins at their site growing site in Bo’ness. They are holding their chickens, and smiling because they have been asked to pose.
A volunteer of TCV’s Growing Together project at Jupiter Wildlife Nature Reserve is working hard and concentrating on a patch of overhanging branches, chopping them with a pair of shears.
A member of the Rainbow Muslim Women’s Group is smiling, proudly showing her traditional stew in a pot, one of her own recipes which she is about to share with the other women in the group.
Someone is shopping at First Step Development’s, Falkirk Food Revolution Pantry within the Howgate Shopping Centre. The shelves are full and the person is looking and choosing items to add to their basket.
Brightly dressed children who are part of Larbert District Childminders, pose in front of their empty allotment plot ahead of having their polytunnel put up. One of the childminders is crouched down directing them to pretend to water plants in the prop planter in front of them.
Three students from Braes High School hold up bunches of beetroots above their heads. They have just harvested them from their school polytunnel and have taken part in The Falkirk Food Futures, Good Food Ambassadors programme. 

Forth Valley Sustainable Food Map

Discover what sustainable food work is already happening in Falkirk:

VIEW MAP HERE
Falkirk Food Futures builds on a wealth of long standing food and growing initiatives.