> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://exchange.ca-wn.org/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # The Food We Eat: West Northamptonshire Sustainable Food Network - URL: https://exchange.ca-wn.org/the-food-we-eat-west-northamptonshire-sustainable-food-network/ - Published: 2023-11-18T09:37:41.000Z - Updated: 2024-08-04T19:08:53.000Z - Author: CA-WN Exchange - Tags: food & farming, local matters *As residents of West Northamptonshire we at CA-WN have two key missions:* *o to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions because they are contributing to global overheating* *o to prepare ourselves for living with the weather extremes that are the consequence of a critically altered climate - winter days of sub-zero temperatures, extended summer heatwaves, severe droughts and the flooding that comes with massive downpours.* *We recognise that there are hugely complicated interactions between human activity and our natural environment. However, for simplicity’s sake, as a starting point for actions intended to deliver on those two missions, we are focusing on the basics of life:* *o the air we breathe* *o the water we drink* *o the food we eat* *o the shelter we call home* *Successful climate activism requires effective collaboration and our actions are never intended to reinvent wheels. Fortunately, related to *The Food We Eat*, there are already local wheels in motion. We are pleased to be collaborating with the *West Northamptonshire Sustainable Food Network,* whichis working to improve the quality of food, end food waste, address food poverty, and ensure that we have a thriving, healthy and sustainable food economy.* --- ## **The West Northamptonshire Sustainable Food Network** The Sustainable Food Network emerged from research into rural food insecurity and poverty conducted by Northamptonshire ACRE (Action with Communities in Rural England)1 and a complementary study by Northampton Hope Centre, *Poverty in Northampton*2*.* Today the Hope Centre, together with West Northamptonshire Council, provide the central support for the network. The Network includes FAAWN (Food Aid Alliance West Northants), which provides food aid and distributes waste food through a network of food banks, social supermarkets and food larders. Recognition for the Network as a **Sustainable Food Place**3 was supported by **Transition Town Northampton**4. Also in the Network are **Food4Heroes**5, who started by bringing together furloughed catering staff to cook meals for key workers struggling to purchase basic foods such as fresh fruit and vegetables during the pandemic, and who now distribute high quality meals cooked by caterers, pubs and restaurants through foodbanks; **Northampton College**6 whose catering school facilities have been made available to the Network out-of-hours; the central catering team at **Northampton General Hospital** under the leadership of Dr Clare Topping7, Energy and Sustainability Manager; **Northamptonshire Integrated Care Partnership**8, recognising access to reliable, affordable nutritious food is important not just for physical health but mental wellbeing too; and the **University of Northampton**9 which has baked sustainability into all its operations. **Northampton Hope**, backed by West Northamptonshire Council's **Public Health** team**,** are running the **Grow! Cook! Eat!** project10 that is delivering growing, cooking and healthy eating programs across West Northamptonshire. With the help of **Cooking Good**11 community champions are learning, and being trained to pass on, skills for low cost growing and cooking. We’re looking forward to posting further news about the Network. --- 1 An investigation into rural food poverty and insecurity in Northamptonshire - 2021 -Northamptonshire ACRE [https://www.northantsacre.org.uk/sites/acre.1pcswebdesign.co.uk/files/Northamptonshire%20ACRE%20rural%20food%20report.pdf](https://www.northantsacre.org.uk/sites/acre.1pcswebdesign.co.uk/files/Northamptonshire%20ACRE%20rural%20food%20report.pdf?ref=exchange.ca-wn.org) 2 Poverty in Northampton [https://www.northamptonhopecentre.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/9322-Poverty-report-FINAL-PRINT.pdf](https://www.northamptonhopecentre.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/9322-Poverty-report-FINAL-PRINT.pdf?ref=exchange.ca-wn.org) 3 Sustainable Food Places [https://www.sustainablefoodplaces.org](https://www.sustainablefoodplaces.org/?ref=exchange.ca-wn.org) 4 Transition Town Northamptonshire [http://www.transitiontownnorthampton.org](http://www.transitiontownnorthampton.org/?ref=exchange.ca-wn.org) 5 Food4Heroes [https://food4heroes.org.uk](https://food4heroes.org.uk/?ref=exchange.ca-wn.org) 6 Northampton College [https://www.northamptoncollege.ac.uk](https://www.northamptoncollege.ac.uk/?ref=exchange.ca-wn.org) 7 Dr Clare Topping [https://exchange.ca-wn.org/my-three](https://exchange.ca-wn.org/my-three/) 8 Integrated Care Northamptonshire [https://www.icnorthamptonshire.org.uk](https://www.icnorthamptonshire.org.uk/?ref=exchange.ca-wn.org) 9 University of Northampton [https://www.northampton.ac.uk/about-us/services-and-facilities/retail-and-catering/sustainability/](https://www.northampton.ac.uk/about-us/services-and-facilities/retail-and-catering/sustainability/?ref=exchange.ca-wn.org) 10 Grow, Cook, Eat [https://www.northamptonhopecentre.org.uk/grow-cook-eat/](https://www.northamptonhopecentre.org.uk/grow-cook-eat/?ref=exchange.ca-wn.org) 11 Cooking Good [https://www.cooking-good.co.uk](https://www.cooking-good.co.uk/?ref=exchange.ca-wn.org)