Local Food Links

Local Food Links initial aim was to provide a hot meal service to the schools in the Bridport pyramid of primary schools.  This project came out of a history of working with schools that included cookery workshops, gardening, and a hot soup service.  Following the announcement in 2006 that all schools needed to have plans in place to provide a hot meal option to all students by 2008, Local Food Links invited pyramid schools to opt out of the central County contract and work together to provide a local solution.

Further information about the school meals project can be found here.

Local Food Links is now working with older people’s organisations to develop a series of initiatives which will make good food more affordable and more accessible. A Joint Working Group has been established by Local Food Links, Bridport Area Older People’s Forum and Dorset Partnership for Older People’s Project. The Food Initiatives for the Senior Community (FISC) group aims to explore and develop a range of practical projects which would increase older people’s access to healthy and affordable food. The agreed tasks are:

-          To develop a working partnership between a range of organisations representing and working with older people.

-          To consult with older people and with organisations run by or for older people, to assess needs and identify potential activities.

-          To support Local Food Links in developing new catering services operating from the hub kitchen at the Centre for Local Food, and piloting a range of initiatives, including:

·         Provision of catering for lunch clubs in community settings

·         Lunch clubs at schools, with interaction between pupils & older people

·         Local Food Clubs (food co-ops) providing access to affordable food

·         Supply of prepared fruit & vegetables into Food Clubs

·         Cookery workshops, e.g. older people sharing skills with younger people, lessons for single men, etc

·         Community kitchen sessions, allowing participants to “batch cook” a number of meals with a group of other people

·         Support for catering services in day centres and care homes

·         Production of meals & soups to be cooked in older people’s homes