Doncaster Food Network

Healthy and sustainable food systems for people, places, and planet.

The Doncaster Food Network (DFN) is a collaborative endeavour by public and private organisations to ensure everyone in the City of Doncaster has equal access to nutritious food, which contributes to their health and wellbeing. The network was originally launched in 2017 but was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. We have now reached out to all former members to inform them of the network’s revival. Our next steps involve engaging a wider audience to welcome potential new members and to better understand the needs and desires of the Food Network members.

If you or anyone you know is interested in joining the network, please complete the above form. 

If you have any questions, or wish to discuss this further, please do feel free to get in touch with Sophie Panghli at sophie.panghli@doncaster.gov.uk 

Purpose and Scope

The DFN aims to bring together people from various sectors in the local area working together to create a support system and offer opportunities and knowledge on many food related areas. The network’s current working vision statement is as follows:

Our vision is for a vibrant, healthy, and sustainable food system that benefits all residents and the environment. Doncaster Food Network aims to connect and support local food suppliers with communities to enable the residents of Doncaster to feel happier and healthier with their food choices. We want to remove barriers of accessibility for residents to be able to make more sustainable choices for the planet, and their own well-being. We will strive to do this through heightening public awareness of supply chains and alternative choices, supporting a prosperous and diverse local food economy for buyers and businesses, and encourage sustainable purchasing and farming.

 

Aims and Objectives

• To create a network of all food related or adjacent organisations to enable easier and successful communication and working relationships between members
• To accredit the City of Doncaster as a Sustainable Food Place, a social movement that brings together pioneering food partnerships across the UK that drives innovation and best practice on all aspects of healthy and sustainable food
• To aid in tackling food poverty, diet related ill-health, and access to affordable healthy food
• To work alongside current catering and procurement practices to revitalise local and sustainable food supply chains
• To further efforts to combat climate and biodiversity emergencies through sustainable food and farming practices
• To reduce food waste and bad consumption and production habits
• To provide information desired by our members
• To secure a greater variety and diversity of funding schemes for membership

 

Membership and Meetings

Membership is open to all food related and adjacent organisations that work in some capacity on the food supply chains in Doncaster.

The current intention, awaiting feedback from wider membership, is to host a meeting every 6 weeks, or at least 8 meetings over the course of the year. The content of this will be informed by member desires and will be updated in due course. The venue of each meeting will be determined in advance, but the hope is each member will be given the opportunity to host the network.