Barking and Dagenham Council has today (Wednesday 2 April) launched its ‘Good Food Action Plan’ (‘the Plan’), setting out how it will improve access to healthy, sustainable food for its residents.
The launch event at Growing Communities Dagenham Farm brought the borough’s Food Partnership together, which co-developed the Plan, and includes schools, businesses, faith organisations, food banks and social enterprises.
At the event, the council also signed up to the London Food Purchasing Commitment (‘the Commitment’), alongside school catering partner BD Together.
Barking and Dagenham becomes the fifth London borough to sign the Purchasing Commitment, with targets to ensure that food bought and served across council-controlled services is climate-friendly; that less of it is wasted; and that local and sustainable food producers and growers are supported.
As most of the food purchased by the council is for school meals, the council will work with council-owned catering company BD Together to fulfil the commitment. BD Together currently provides school meals for 37 schools, preparing 2.9m meals and spending an estimated £3.6m on food every year. It builds on their silver Food for Life award, the nationally recognised framework for catering and food education, as well as the council’s innovative food education programme.
The Good Food Plan will coordinate further food action across five key priorities:
- Improving access to healthy and culturally appropriate food,
- Improving young people’s access to inspiring food education,
- Increasing the supply of sustainable food,
- Developing Barking and Dagenham’s local food economy,
- Raising awareness of the role and value of good food
It is hoped that by coordinating local food action with food partners, the food offer in the borough will increase dramatically - improving health outcomes, supporting the local economy and easing financial pressures on residents.
The Plan follows on from community-led research into borough’s food offer with over 500 people; and a community cookbook with recipes celebrating the borough’s diverse population.
Quotes on the Purchasing Commitment
Cllr Dominic Twomey, Leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, says: “This borough has always been committed to doing what it can to support achieving net-zero, and by signing up to this commitment we’ve taken another important step to hitting that target.
“The Commitment is a win-win: less food waste going to landfill, and a better food offer for our schools and young people.”
Darren Tranter, CEO of BD Group, says:
“We are thrilled to be working with the council on the London Food Purchasing Commitment. The commitment will help us improve our school food service, so that every meal we provide is not only nutritious and delicious but also sustainable and environmentally friendly.”
Quotes on the Food Action Plan
Cllr Dominic Twomey, Leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, says: “Good food for all – that's our aim in Barking and Dagenham and we now have this excellent plan to help us achieve it.
“We want every resident in Barking and Dagenham to be able to enjoy healthy, nutritious meals that don’t break the bank.”
Asma Khan, CEO of Marks Gate Relief Project and a member of the Food Partnership Advisory Group, says:
“We’re delighted to have contributed to Barking & Dagenham’s Food Partnership and Good Food Plan. Residents across the borough struggle to access healthy food, and there are multiple reasons for this.”
“The Plan seeks to give people the tools and resources they need to be resilient, by bringing people together to cook and eat together, and build their confidence of using seasonal ingredients. We’re looking forward to being part of coordinated action to improve food for everyone.”