Category: News

Feeding Gloucestershire and Healthwatch Gloucestershire awards winter Homelessness Support Fund grants to two local projects

Feeding Gloucestershire, in collaboration with Healthwatch Gloucestershire, is pleased to announce the two successful projects awarded funding through the Homelessness Support Small Grant Fund, supporting community initiatives to help people experiencing homelessness and food insecurity across Gloucestershire this winter.

The £5,000 fund was created to help provide dignified support for individuals who may fall through the gaps of formal systems during the colder months. Following a careful shortlisting process, and with applications exceeding ten times the available funding – reflecting both the scale of need and the commitment of community groups across Gloucestershire – two organisations have been selected for their strong community reach, clear evidence of need and meaningful potential impact.

“This fund reflects our commitment to ensuring that everyone in Gloucestershire has access to nutritious food,” said Joanna Scott, Programme Director at Feeding Gloucestershire. “The quality of applications we received showed just how much dedicated, compassionate work is happening across the county. While we wish we could support more organisations, we are proud to support these two projects which will make a real difference for people experiencing homelessness this winter.”

Lucy White, Healthwatch Gloucestershire Manager, added: “We are delighted to support this fund in partnership with Feeding Gloucestershire. Our recent project to understand people’s experiences of hidden homelessness in Gloucestershire highlighted that homelessness is much more prevalent than official statistics suggest. We therefore recognise the amazing work being done by organisations across our county supporting people experiencing homelessness, not just over winter but all year round. The efforts being made to reduce social stigma and loneliness, provide warm and safe spaces, and overcome food insecurity are vitally important so we are really pleased that this fund is supporting these community initiatives. 

One of the successful recipients is The Marah Trust, who will use the funding to continue running and strengthening its drop-in sessions in Stroud, responding to increasing demand over the Christmas period. Marah supports people on the margins of society who often feel excluded and isolated, including those experiencing homelessness, insecure housing, addiction, mental health challenges and long-term health conditions. As well as providing access to good quality, cooked food to eat on site or take away, Marah offers a welcoming, inclusive space where guests can connect, feel part of a community and access vital support services.

“This funding will allow us to continue meeting people where they are, especially during the winter months when isolation and hardship can feel overwhelming,” said a spokesperson from The Marah Trust. “Our drop-ins provide more than just food – they offer warmth, dignity, connection and hope. For many of our guests, this is the one place they feel safe, welcomed and understood.” 

                                                                         

The second successful project is Community Kitchen Gloucester, who will continue its weekly provision of free, three-course meals for people experiencing extreme hardship and social exclusion, many of whom are homeless or living in temporary accommodation without access to cooking facilities. Based in the centre of Gloucester, in one of the most deprived areas in the UK, the project provides not only nutritious meals but also a sense of dignity, routine and care for its guests.

“This funding will help us continue to offer a consistent, welcoming space over winter, where people can access a hearty, home-cooked meal without judgement,” said a representative from Community Kitchen Gloucester. “For many of our guests, this is more than just food – it’s a moment of normality, kindness, and human connection in what are often incredibly difficult lives.” 

                                                

Together, these projects highlight the role that community organisations play in supporting people through the winter months, ensuring that no one is forgotten or left behind. They demonstrate the impact of community-led responses in addressing both the practical and emotional needs of people experiencing homelessness.

Feeding Gloucestershire will continue to work alongside partners across the county to build a fairer, more resilient food system where everyone can access the food they need to live well.

Feeding Gloucestershire appoints Project Officer and Trustee to support new 3-year strategy

We’re delighted to announce two new positions including Rebecca Hollely, Project Officer who joins the core team and Kelly Osborne who joins as a new member of the board of trustees.

They will bring a broad range of knowledge and expertise to help Feeding Gloucestershire deliver its vision – helping individuals, families and communities thrive and where everyone can afford to eat well and live healthily.

Rebecca Hollely is Feeding Gloucestershire’s new Project Officer, supporting the charity’s mission to build a fairer and more sustainable local food system. She brings experience in communications, events, and engagement to the role, with a background in environmental projects both in the UK and internationally.

“I’m excited to be joining Feeding Gloucestershire. I’m passionate about making sure everyone in Gloucestershire has equal access to affordable and nutritious food, and I’m really looking forward to working with local communities and partners to help build connected, healthy communities across the county.”

Kelly Osborne joins Feeding Gloucestershire’s board. Kelly has a wealth of experience in charity and local authority settings and has a particular passion for tackling food waste.

“I’m delighted to join Feeding Gloucestershire. Every step we take towards ensuring everyone in the county has access to nourishing food is vital for the health of people and planet, and I’m committed to driving real, sustainable change in our food systems.”

Joanna Scott, Programme Director at Feeding Gloucestershire said: “The addition of Rebecca Hollely and Kelly Osborne will be hugely beneficial in helping us deliver our strategy over the coming months and years.”

Feeding Gloucestershire Newsletter Relaunches!

We’re excited to announce the relaunch of the Feeding Gloucestershire Newsletter – a bi-monthly update packed with news, insights, and opportunities from across the county. 

Each issue includes information about food poverty and resilience, healthy diets, food education and connecting communities in Gloucestershire. 

Sign up now to receive our newsletter straight to your inbox.

 

 

Increasing Food Security – Gloucestershire’s Healthy Start Campaign (2025)

Data published by the Food Foundation (March 2025) highlights that 14% of households (an estimated 7.3 million adults) in England were affected by food insecurity in January 2025.

Households with children, single-parent families, those in receipt of Universal Credit or living with a disability continue to be much more likely to experience food insecurity.

Findings from Gloucestershire’s Pupil Wellbeing Survey also highlights an association between food availability and deprivation; with pupils from lower income areas more likely to report not having food in the home that allows them to eat healthily.

The first years of life are critical for children’s growth and development, and it is imperative they receive nutritious food during this time to help them grow healthily.

The Healthy Start scheme acts as a nutritional safety net; helping lower income parents and pregnant women pay for fruit, vegetables, pulses, milk and formula. It is worth:

• £4.25 for each week of pregnancy from 10 weeks,
• £8.50 a week for babies up to one year old,
• £4.25 a week for children up to four years old.

*(benefit uplift from 2026)

Healthy Start beneficiaries can also access free vitamins available to those who are pregnant or breastfeeding, and children under the age of 4.
Cllr Paul Hodgkinson (GCC, Cabinet Member for Public Health, Communities & Fire) said: “The most recent data we have (from June 2024) shows that 66% of eligible families in Gloucestershire are using Healthy Start. We’d like to see that number go above 70%. Too many families are missing out on this important support and with the cost of living still high, that needs to change.”

Joanna Scott, Programme Director, Feeding Gloucestershire, added: “We know that many eligible families aren’t aware that they qualify for this support, so it is clear we need to try and tackle this to ensure Gloucestershire families are receiving the help they are entitled to.”

Feeding Gloucestershire has awarded microgrant funding up to £1000 for each district to purchase Healthy Start communication materials including posters, banners and leaflets to promote the scheme and support targeted communications to families known to be eligible and not currently signed up to the scheme.

Feeding Gloucestershire is also working to establish Healthy Start Champions who can speak with families, advise them on their eligibility, and support families in completing application forms.

At the same time, Feeding Gloucestershire’s website has a new section on Healthy Start which signposts professionals and families to information and training materials to help raise awareness of the scheme and support eligible families to access Healthy Start benefits.

*Restoring the value of the Healthy Start scheme from 2026 to 2027, raising value of payments by just under 10% from £4.25 to £4.65 and double for children under 12 months.

Feeding Britain Annual Reception 18th June 2025

Joanna Scott, Programme Director for Feeding Gloucestershire represented the county at Feeding Britain’s Summer Parliamentary Reception on Wednesday 18th June at the House of Lords.

The event was opened by Baroness Rosie Boycott and Chair of Feeding Britain who welcomed regional partners and invited them to share their work growing a network of affordable food initiatives and helping individuals and families rely less on ‘crisis’ support provided by Food Banks and become more food resilient.

Andrew Forsey, National Director, Feeding Britain illustrated data from their latest Affordable Food Clubs Impact Report (April 2025) which supports 426 Affordable Food Clubs across 133 regional and local partnerships, representing a growth of nearly 700% since 2021. This rapid expansion reflects both the rising need for food support and the growing recognition of Affordable Food Clubs as a sustained and dignified model of provision.

Network reflections and updates were provided by Karen Mullan, Director, Foyle Network Foundation (pictured with Andrew Forsey), Nina Parmar, Food Aid Manager, Sufra NW London and Penny Walters, Pantry Coordinator, Newcastle.

“Food for Thought” at Cheltenham Science Festival

Feeding Gloucestershire is proud to be a sponsor of Project Grow’s interactive installation ‘Food For Thought’ created for Cheltenham Science Festival which is running this week from 3-8 June 2025.

The site has four interwoven themes – Food Production, Climate Change, Ecology & Species Preservation, and Activism – inviting visitors to reflect on the past and reimagine the future of food and inspire people to eat and grow local food.

The festival includes interactive activities for people of all ages attracting 68,000 people including over 8,000 school children.

Feeding Gloucestershire becomes a CIO

Feeding Gloucestershire are extremely pleased to announce that we are now registered with the Charities Commission as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. This is exciting for us as we continue work towards our vision for Gloucestershire to be a county where everyone can enjoy good food and nobody goes hungry.

We would like to thank those who have given their time and support to get us to this point, and to Gloucestershire County Council for funding our work to date.

Thanks go to our former steering group members – Sue Weaver and Julie Craig (Gloucestershire County Council), Jenny Phelps (FWAG SW) Phil Coysh (formerly The Trussell Trust), Amanda Strover (Stroud District Foodbank), Nick Penny (Forest Voluntary Action Forum – FVAF), Leanne Purnell (Gloucester City Council) and Lisa Jevins (Barneys Pantry). Additional thanks go to Andrew Forsey and Rose Bray from Feeding Britain and to Bishop Rachel Treweek.

We would also like to thank the many incredible organisations who have been part of the journey so far, and we look forward to continuing to work with them.

We would like to introduce our trustees – Sarah Avery, Helen Hutchings, Emma Keating Clarke, Corrie Sissons and Steve Townsend – you can find out more about them here

Community Conversation – Good Food, What does it mean to you?

Feeding Gloucestershire are collaborating with Good Food Cheltenham and Nourishing Gloucester on a cross district community conversation asking our communities ‘Good Food- what does it means to you?’.
The way all of us produce, buy, cook, eat and throw away food is important and we believe in the true value of good food for people, places, and planet. Ultra processed food impacts our health, our communities, our economy, and contributes to the climate and ecological emergencies the planet faces today.
If you live or work in Gloucestershire we would love to hear from you, please join the conversation and tell us what good food means to you. You can join the conversation here or scan the QR code now.

Nourishing Gloucester – February Forum

Thank you to those who were able to join us for the 2nd Forum on February the 1st.

Feedback from the forum can be seen here – NG Forum Feb 2024

During the forum four areas of work were prioritised and working groups have begun to form, the areas prioritised are

  • Accessing Fresh Local Food
  • Distribution and Surplus
  • Nutrition and Learning
  • Community Growing

Wrap around support and Mapping are areas of work that are already in progress. Health and Wellbeing is a strand of work that runs through all of the priorities and funding is an area we will review with  organisations involved as this work progresses.

One thing that was requested at the forum was a directory of organisations across Gloucester who are or wish to be involved with this work. So we have created a google form to collect Directory information and will host a Gloucester specific directory. Please fill in this form to sign up to the directory and to tell us if you would like to be involved in any of the working groups.

We now have a date and venue for our first action group on Community Growing – details can be found here

Funding Update

Greener Gloucestershire Climate Change Community Fund

The fund is targeted at projects that help reduce carbon emissions and spread the word about ways to reduce emissions.

The fund can deliver grants of up to £4,999 to eligible groups. The closing date for applications is the 26th February. This is a short application window as we have very limited funds available.

Full details are available on their website here.

 

Naturesave Trust – Grant to reduce Food Waste and Insecurity

Environmental charity, Naturesave Trust, has announced that the January to February funding round is now open for applications.  The theme for this funding round will be Sustainable food.

The Trust will be looking to support community projects working to reduce food waste and food insecurity.  Organisations eligible to apply include charities, social enterprises and grassroots community organisations.

Each year the Trust donates a percentage of their income generated from Naturesave Insurance and uses these funds to support environmental and conservation projects across the UK.

In previous funding rounds, the Trust has awarded grants of between £500 to £2,500.

You can learn more about this funding  here. The closing date for applications is the 29th February 2024.

 

CLA Charitable Trust – Grants to Help Disabled and Disadvantaged People Connect with Nature (England and Wales)

Charities and not-for-profit organisations in England and Wales can apply for grants of up to £5,000 for projects that help disabled or disadvantaged people connect with nature and the countryside.

The funding, which is made available through the CLA Charitable Trust, supports projects that improve the physical and mental health and wellbeing of people who are disabled or disadvantaged by helping them to visit and participate in recreational and educational opportunities in the countryside.

Priority is given to projects that focus on children and young people, disadvantaged financially, physically, mentally, or from areas of deprivation.

Funding can be used to support projects, capital works and running costs. You can learn more here.

There are usually three application rounds each year.  The application closing dates for 2024 will be announced shortly.