Our Vision

"Leeds should be a city where all residents have access to sufficient, sustainable, and affordable food, regardless of their social and economic background."

What is the Food Insecurity Charter?

The Leeds Tackling Food Insecurity Charter is an initiative launched by Leeds Food Aid Network, Leeds City Council, and multiple community partners to address food poverty in our city.

The Charter provides a common framework for individuals, community organisations, businesses, and the public sector to collectively address food insecurity. It focuses not only on emergency food aid but also on tackling the root causes of food poverty.

Five Charter Principles

1

Nutrition & Health

Ensure everyone has access to nutritious, healthy food to promote physical and mental wellbeing.

2

Accessibility & Dignity

Provide food aid in a way that respects and maintains dignity, eliminating social stigma.

3

Collaboration & Inclusion

Work across sectors to ensure the needs of all communities and groups are recognised and met.

4

Sustainability

Reduce food waste, develop sustainable local food systems, and support environmental protection.

5

Systemic Change

Address the root socioeconomic factors that cause food poverty, not just provide emergency aid.

Why is this Charter needed?

Despite Leeds being one of the UK's most prosperous cities, many residents still face food insecurity:

33,645
people used Leeds food banks in 2022
20%
of Leeds children live in food-insecure households
15
wards with food poverty rates above national average
42%
of low-income families choose between food and heating

These statistics show we need a coordinated approach to tackle food poverty. The Tackling Food Insecurity Charter provides this framework.

Charter Commitments

Organisations signing the Charter commit to:

  • Recognise access to sufficient food as a fundamental right for all
  • Work to address the root causes of food poverty
  • Promote changes in food-related policies and practices
  • Ensure food aid services are provided with respect and dignity
  • Reduce food waste and promote sustainable use of resources
  • Support local food production and distribution systems
  • Collaborate with other organisations and communities
  • Regularly assess progress and share learning

Current Progress & Achievements

Since the Charter launched, we've achieved:

🤝

Partnerships

Over 150 organisations have signed the Charter, including businesses, schools, community groups and public sector bodies.

🏫

Education & Training

Provided training and resources on food insecurity to over 2,000 professionals.

📈

Policy Change

Influenced multiple local policies to make food insecurity a priority for Leeds City Council.

🌱

Community Projects

Supported 25 community food projects including gardens, kitchens and pantries.

How to Get Involved

Whether you're an individual, community organisation, business or public sector body, you can engage with the Charter by:

Sign the Charter

By signing the Charter, you show commitment to tackling food insecurity. Signatories receive a logo to display their support for this important cause.

Sign the Charter

Take Action

Implement Charter principles according to your capacity and resources. This might include:

  • Paying staff a living wage
  • Donating surplus food to local projects
  • Providing healthy, affordable food options at work
  • Increasing support for vulnerable groups
  • Supporting local food producers

Share Experience

Attend regular Charter network meetings to share experiences and best practice with other organisations committed to tackling food insecurity.

Advocate for Change

Advocate for policy and practice changes in your community or sector, using the Charter as a framework to guide discussions and actions.

Join our next Charter meeting

We hold quarterly network meetings to discuss progress, share best practice and plan future actions. Our next meeting is on 15 September 2023 - email charter@leedsfoodaid.org.uk to register.