Category

• Promising Local Practice

---

Poverty impact

• Mitigation
• Reduction
• Awareness

---

Poverty driver

• Provide benefit in-kind (material)
• Non-driver - improving quality of life

---

Keywords

• Food Security
• Network
• City-wide collaboration
• Social Connection
• Awareness Raising

Aim

• Promoting dignified access to and choice of food for everyone in the Dundee area, particularly fresh fruits and vegetables, within their local community,
• Ensuring people have access to money advice and wider support.
• Working towards tackling child poverty and net zero – the project is not specifically driven by that, but the overall goals of the project align with these social issues.

Summary

The Dundee Community Food Network (DCFN), formed at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, collaborates with Dundee City Council, 30+ community food projects, Dundee and Angus Foodbank, Alexander Community Development, and Money Advice Services. Guided by dignity and empowerment, the Network facilitates food movement and ensures collaborative, responsive action on food insecurity. This includes strategic planning, volunteer support, and training opportunities, such as Mental Health First Aid. The Network has received recognition through awards like, the Outreach Service and Commitment Award for Children and Adolescents (OSCA) and Achieving Fairness and Reducing Inequalities. The project has also received recognition at a Civic Reception and DCFN celebration event.

What difference does it make?

Providing a safety net and support for those who fall short of the poverty line by giving them access to healthy, fresh food.

Key take-aways

• Learning can be taken from the effectiveness of an independent third sector body to coordinate the work and facilitate cross-sector partnership working and communication. Food poverty in this case is not a singular issue and requires a multi-agency approach, including a shared and fundamental understanding that support provided is localised, accessible and dignified.
• The other key learning point is ensuring local voices are heard, and listened to, in a meaningful and practical way. It is essential to work with local people with lived experience, and those on the frontline of delivery of community projects, on an ongoing basis to ensure the responses being developed are adaptable and actually meet the needs on the ground.

 

Organisations

Faith in the Community Dundee (FiCD)., Dundee Community Food Network (DCFN): 30+ independent food projects, including community food larders, community cafes, community fridges and drop-ins, some of which are run by faith communities., Dundee City Council., Alexander Community Development (ACD)., Dundee and Angus Foodbank and multiple money advice services, including The Connect Team, Welfare Rights, Brooksbank Advice Centre and Citizens Advice Bureau.

Location

Dundee (throughout the city).

Contact