Our Impact

Sustainable Food Places has been amplifying, accelerating and connecting the work of food partnerships for over a decade. From a pioneering group of just 13, we established the framework and model for effective local partnerships. Today, our network has grown to more than 120 members, representing towns, cities and regions across the UK.

Our members connect 9500* charities, businesses, schools and organisations, all working together to make food fairer, healthier and more sustainable for everyone.

“(Sustainable Food Places is) the ultimate 'how to' organisation - supporting the uniqueness of each food partnership but providing a supportive framework, network and community to help…food partnerships be effective and successful.”-  Food Partnership Coordinator

• What is a food partnership?
• What do food partnerships do?

Amplifying

Sustainable Food Places Awards

Our awards celebrate the success of over 60 places across the UK.

7 have now achieved the prestigious Gold SFP award, recognising exceptional achievement in transforming local food systems.

• The awards help partnerships:
  • Galvanise their food system through a framework that builds a common purpose
  • Address food systems change in a holistic but accessible way
  • Think progressively about representation
  • Access funding
  • Get support from local authorities and senior leadership, including multiyear commitments to their work
  • Increase their local and national reputation
• In March 2026 Defra provided £750k in funding to local authorities with Gold Awards, to improve procurement in their areas.

“SFP has given Oxfordshire's food partnership the credibility, framework and goal-setting structure to get council funding, as well as, helping turn a county-wide food strategy into unanimous council policy.”- 2026 Gold Award Winner

We also campaign at a national level on behalf of our members and support them with their local advocacy. Including our yearly day of action at Westminster and several focused campaigns. 

Connecting

We support food partnerships to innovate and deliver by fostering dialogue, sharing learning and nurturing collaboration through:

• The facilitation of 150 participatory peer learning opportunities.
• An active email forum where partnerships can reach out and learn from one and other.
• Our comprehensive archive with 1200 examples of food partnership work.

“The peer support facilitated by Sustainable Food Places drives us- the passion, energy and will to see transformation, we need this, to communicate across the system.”- Food Partnership Coordinator

Accelerating

We draw on the expertise of five charities to support the development of food partnerships- creating a groundbreaking framework and over 25 accessible learning tools and resources- to guide them on their journey and help accelerate our network and their work.

This support helps members engage meaningfully with their local councils, improve local policy, develop projects that matter to their local communities and create a joined-up approach to tackling food issues.

“Without SFP our food partnership would have stalled at the beginning”- Food Partnership coordinator

Curious to Learn More About Our Impact?

Read our latest impact report:

2019-2024 Impact Report

* 9600 organisations (95% Confidence Interval: 11,600-7600) based on a sample size of 58 of our 128 partnerships.