How can we support the shift to locally secure, low-emission, nature positive food production and diets in Dorset ?

Everyone should have access to healthy food at an affordable price. This will become more difficult as climate change affects growing cycles with wetter winters and hotter, drier summers. On a global scale this can lead to multi-crop failures, with many people no longer having access to food.

The food industry is increasingly making people dependent on ultra-processed food, resulting in poor health and obesity, particularly in the less well-off.

#HelpAndKindness have been supporting and contributing to a Food Security Network for a number of years with colleagues from the local authorities, the NHS, local communities, and Public Health Dorset. #HelpAndKindness’ community mapping services have been applied to a wide spectrum of organisations, services, and activities that are involved in feeding the population of Dorset.

In Late 2023 to early 2025 Dorset CAN and Help and Kindness hosted a number of meetings to bring together community groups, food growers and farmers. Together they set up the Feeding Dorset Partnership which was in turn welcomed into the UK network Sustainable Food Places.

Help and Kindness wrote:

“Through the Feeding Dorset Partnership, we hope to be able to build a better understanding of the scale and scope of this web of food projects, businesses, and networks that exist across Dorset and to identify any gaps in the webs as we move towards a more resilient, sustainable and affordable food future.

We will be using the six areas of focus for a Sustainable Food Place to structure conversations and build connections between people and organisations.

1. Food Governance and Strategy: Taking a strategic and collaborative approach to good food governance and action.
2. Good Food Movement: Building public awareness, active food citizenship and a local good food movement.
3. Healthy Food for All: Tackling food poverty, diet related ill-health and access to affordable healthy food.
4. Sustainable Food Economy: Creating a vibrant, prosperous, and diverse sustainable food economy.
5. Catering and Procurement: Transforming catering and procurement and revitalizing local supply chains.
6. Food for the Planet: Tackling the climate and nature emergency through sustainable food and farming and an end to food waste.

The Partnership is there to support and serve those who are already doing amazing work across Dorset in all these areas and to facilitate and empower them in their activities and ambitions through nurturing greater connections and building awareness.

The Partnership’s role is to adapt to support the stakeholders and enable people to work together, rather than create new demands. It welcomes involvement as and when people are able to participate, and it respects and champions the great work that is already happening across Dorset.”