Blackpool joins national Good Food Neighbourhoods programme

Blackpool is set to receive a share of £10m to improve access to healthy and affordable food for people in need.

Blackpool Council has been allocated funding as part of the government’s new Good Food Neighbourhoods programme, as announced by the Environment Secretary Angela Eagle yesterday.

The council will receive £222,000 to invest in community food projects. These could include community food shops, community kitchens, and cooking and nutrition programmes, similar to those already supported by the local authority.

Blackpool is one of 45 areas nationally to receive a share of the funding, each identified as areas with the greatest need. Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale are also set to be part of the programme.

Blackpool Council already works closely with schools, community groups and third sector partners to tackle food poverty and food insecurity, helping vulnerable groups including families, pensioners and people on low incomes.

This includes funding free school breakfasts for every primary school child that needs it and delivering a comprehensive holiday activities and food programme (HAF). The council also supports community-led initiatives like food banks and community groceries through the Household Support Fund and Crisis and Resilience Fund.

Cllr Lynn Williams, Leader of Blackpool Council, said: “We’re really pleased to be given this extra funding to help those with the greatest need to better access affordable, healthy food. The money will allow us to build on our existing approaches and partnerships locally.

‘’We already provide free breakfasts to set children up for a good day at school, and support grassroots groups feeding those in need. Often the food given out is just one facet of a wider support offer that really makes a difference. Initiatives like lunch clubs for the elderly or cookery classes for parents not only provide food but give people access to important things like social activities and skills building too.

“We’ll now explore how best to use the money, to build capacity locally and fund approaches that can increase people’s resilience in ways that reduce reliance on emergency provision and improve our residents’ health and wellbeing long-term.”

Cllr Matthew Thomas, cabinet member for public health, added: “We know that in Blackpool food insecurity, health inequalities and more limited access to quality, nutritious food are all challenges faced by many of our residents.

‘’In many cases, the challenge is availability as much as affordability, so we already support community-led programmes that improve access to fresh, quality food. These issues can have far-reaching consequences, impacting people’s health and wellbeing and life chances so we’re pleased to have extra funding in place to tackle these issues.”