Food4Families was started with funding by the Big Lottery's Local Food scheme, receiving £235k grant over 3 years, starting in 2009.
Reading International Solidarity Centre (RISC) devised and manage the project. RISC is the biggest Development Education Centre in the UK, working with schools and community groups to build understanding of sustainable development and promote social justice.
Food4families has created over 20 food growing spaces around Reading and since 2010 has worked closely with Reading Borough Council to identify unused council land that could be transformed into community allotments.
The project links with existing allotment and horticultural societies to build a network of food growers across Reading that will be sustainable in the long term, under the banner of Reading Food Growing Network.
Food4families has been leading the steering group that organises the bi-annual ‘Town Meal’ which aims to promote the benefits of growing and sharing locally grown food.
Since it 2009 food4families has worked with the following communities:
- Geoffrey Field Junior School in Whitley
- Southcote Children’s Centre
- Hexham Community Association in Whitley
- Oxford Road Community School
- Utulivu, a Kenyan Women’s Group
- Southcote Primary School
- Dingley Family & Specialist Early Years Centre
- New Christ Church Community Allotment
- George Palmer Primary School
- Alan Place Community Garden
- Newtown Family Food-growing Group
- Whitley Park Primary School
- East Reading Children’s Centres
- West Reading Youth Forum
- Oxford Rd Children Centre
- North Reading Children's Centre
- Ranikhet Children’s Centre
- Thames Valley Housing Association
- Whitley Wood Community Centre
- Southcote Library
- Amersham Road Youth & Community Centre
- Caversham Children's Centre
- Southcote GrowAllot
- Micklands Primary School
- Thameside Primary School
- Whitley GrowAllot
