Bristol Local Food Fund: funding communities to fight food insecurity!

Food insecurity remains a pressing issue in Bristol. In 2023/24, 1 in 12 households experienced moderate to severe food insecurity.

That’s why the Bristol Local Food Fund is so crucial: it represents an important moment for expanding support for community-led food projects across the city.  

 Matilda Grove (pictured) writes the latest Bristol Good Food story.

Why Bristol Local Food Fund matters and what makes it different 

The Bristol Local Food Fund was created to support community food projects in the city, by challenging traditional, top-down approaches to fundraising and grant-making. Instead of institutions or funders deciding where money goes, BLFF uses participatory grant-making, meaning decisions are made by a Citizens Panel made up of people with lived experience of food insecurity. This approach ensures funding decisions are grounded in first-hand knowledge of what Bristol’s communities actually need. 

Participatory grant-making reverses the normal dynamic of grant-making. It shifts power toward those directly affected, ensuring that funding is more accessible, flexible, and reflective of real community priorities, particularly those who experience food insecurity most severely. BLFF’s vision is a city of food justice where everyone can access good, nutritious, affordable and culturally appropriate food and where that access is driven by empowered communities. The Bristol Local Food Fund was created to challenge traditional, top-down approaches to grant-making. Instead of institutions or funders deciding where money goes, BLFF uses participatory grant-making, meaning decisions are led by a Citizens Panel made up of people with lived experience of food insecurity. This approach ensures funding decisions are grounded in first-hand knowledge of what Bristol’s communities actually need. 

What has been achieved so far 

Since its launch, BLFF has already made a significant impact: by 2024, the Fund had awarded over £173,100 to a total of 30 community food projects in Bristol, with 37 grants awarded. 

In the first distribution (2022–2023), BLFF awarded £60,000 to 18 different community food projects across the city, from community kitchens to growing and education schemes.  Projects funded included after-school cooking and food distribution at play-centres, community growing projects delivering fresh veg to food banks, and cook-up sessions with take-home meals to help families in need.   

The Next Phase: what’s changing and how to get involved 

BLFF is now entering its next phase. Following the hugely successful Anti Banquet fundraising event, which raised £50,000 for the Fund, and further donations from community partners and supporters, preparations are underway for a new round of grants in early 2026 for community food projects working to tackle food insecurity in Bristol. 

This phase is also supported by contributions from partners such as Places for People, individual regular donors, and by new fundraising collaborations with local food businesses, such as Gigi’s Pizza Shop, Squeezed Bristol and CLOUDS Bristol. These partnerships strengthen BLFF’s ability to support a wider range of community-led food initiatives across the city. 

As in previous rounds, funding decisions will continue to be guided by the Citizens Panel, ensuring that participatory grant-making remains central to the Fund’s approach. 

Why This Matters: For Food Justice & Good Food Governance 

At its heart, BLFF is about building a city of food justice. It recognises that food insecurity is a structural issue linked to inequality, not a problem to be solved by charity alone. By placing decision-making power in the hands of those most affected, BLFF strengthens good food governance where resources, accountability and leadership are grounded in lived experience. This approach contributes to a more equitable, community-led and resilient food system for Bristol. 

A Call to Action  

Community food projects working on food insecurity in Bristol whether through cooking clubs, affordable food distribution, growing projects, affordable supper clubs, provision of culturally-appropriate food, workshops, youth-focused food education or other grassroots initiatives are encouraged to explore the upcoming funding opportunities. 

Local businesses, organisations and individuals with the capacity to support this work are also invited to contribute or partner with BLFF. 

Through collaborative effort, Bristol can move closer to a future in which everyone has equitable access to good, nutritious food. 

Become a BLFF supporter 

If you would like to support the fight against food insecurity for Bristol’s most affected communities, please become a regular monthly supporter of Bristol Local Food Fund, and help make Bristol a city of food justice. 

To stay updated on future events, job opportunities and news, don’t forget to sign up for the Bristol Good Food Update at bristolgoodfood.org/newsletter.