At the Blackburn with Darwen (BwD) Food Alliance, we work on the principle of people-powered change. We believe we can collectively transform the way Blackburn with Darwen residents think, feel, and behave around food. We also aim to improve the health and wellbeing of our residents through promoting healthy eating.
Blackburn with Darwen Food Alliance: So Much More Than Healthy Eating
Having a healthy, balanced diet is a key aspect of leading a healthy lifestyle. However, we understand that there are several factors preventing the residents of Blackburn with Darwen from achieving a healthy lifestyle.
For example, foot poverty and lack of health education are just two of the significant issues our residents are facing. The Blackburn with Darwen Food Alliance aims to ensure that every resident has access to nutritious foods and has the support needed to establish healthy eating habits.
We aim to:
- Tackle food poverty more effectively as a community;
- Promote healthy and accessible food to our residents;
- Build community food, knowledge and resources
- Reduce food waste and use surpluses locally.
We will bring together community, voluntary, faith, third, and public sector organisations to ensure that every resident of BwD has access to healthy, nutritious, and sustainable food.
If you would like to find out more about the work of the Food Alliance or become a member, please contact info@alliance.org.
“The Food Alliance is a great tool for us as a community. There’s a lot of people in the Alliance that work on different aspects of health and wellbeing – this has really made me more aware of the health inequalities faced across the borough“
Martin Payne, Former Health and Wellbeing Officer at Blackburn Rovers Community Trust
Our Food Charter sets out the ways we will achieve this:
1. Good food for all every day
We will work together to tackle food poverty, providing food and support for those in crisis or significant poverty – food banks, community kitchens, holiday clubs, benefit and financial advice.
2. Understanding of our whole food chain
Healthy accessible food is a right for all our residents and we will work together to ensure policies and resources benefit the health and wellbeing of our residents.
3. Create good food places and spaces
We will promote opportunities to grow, cook and eat good food. We will also support, promote and protect breastfeeding as a healthy start in life, building on our role as a Unicef Gold Award winning ‘breastfeeding friendly borough’.
4. Zero Tolerance of Food Waste
Zero tolerance of food waste to ensure our commitment to the climate emergency is fulfilled. We acknowledge how food waste contributes to CO2 emissions. All food produced should end up being part of providing good food daily for all.
Sign our Pledge!
Download and sign the PDF and pledge to achieve the 4 aims of our Food Charter.
Please send to info@alliance.org
Follow the BwD Food Alliance on Facebook
Find healthier swaps with the Food Scanner App
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