Leeds Food Aid Network (FAN)

The Leeds Food Aid Network (FAN) exists to bring together food aid providers, agency workers, the council and the wider public to effectively address food poverty in Leeds. This is part of Food Wise Leeds and the West Yorkshire Food Poverty Network, connected to the national Feeding Britain initiative.

Click to access Leeds' Pandemic Food Insecurity Response

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Leeds FAN Explained Diagram

Welcome! Hover over the diagram and click items to read more. Scroll down for more information.

Leeds Food Aid Network interactive diagram NHS Leeds Welfare Rights
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What is Leeds Food Aid Network

The Leeds Food Aid Network (FAN) exists to help bring together different people, initiatives and organisations in Leeds that are involved in addressing food poverty. The diagram you see illustrates the three main areas where people working in this field interact. Leeds FAN helps stimulate these interactions, enabling people to connect more effectively to help those struggling with food poverty.

Food aid is a term that can describe any form of food provision to help people in food poverty. It includes food banks, food drop-ins/soup kitchens, street outreach/soup runs, parish/food pantries and certain forms of social enterprise. The diagram that provides the framework for this website shows:

  • Signposting - People and initiatives refer those experiencing food poverty to appropriate food aid providers.
  • Distribution - Food industry, supermarkets, shops and individuals distribute food to providers. FareShare plays a key role in this.
  • Long-term Support - Vulnerable people are directed to groups and services that can help with long-term needs, such as addiction issues.

The website itself, along with connections made via phone, email and meetings, helps facilitate better communication between those already working to address food poverty. At the same time, we hope the website will help people outside this specific field learn more about what's happening with food aid in Leeds.