The Steve Morgan Foundation firmly believes in collaboration between funders, delivery partners and community groups in order to facilitate change and tackle the root causes of food poverty and deprivation.
The launch of the new Coronation Food Hub in Liverpool, operated by FareShare, took place in January and brought together community groups, food providers and our funding partners, all with the shared goal of reducing food waste and improving food insecurity in some of the most deprived areas in the region.
We were delighted to again be collaborating with one of our Associate Charities, NEO Community, key providers of food assistance and support, who kindly provided the catering for the launch event (all proceeds going back into the charity of course).
Neo delivers a range of services in support of its local and wider community in the Wirral and North Wales and, over the last ten years, has grown to become an award-winning provider of food assistance and grassroots help. It promotes the growth of self-sustaining, resilient communities, and is at the forefront of reducing food waste. Among its services, Neo runs a community café and social supermarket, operating on a highly successful ‘pay as you feel’ system where individuals are encouraged to contribute what they feel is a fair price based on their financial means.
We asked Neo Community’s CEO, Ema Wilkes, to give her view on the Coronation Food Project and how it will impact the work they do.
Ema said: “Neo Community acknowledges the critical role of collaborations like this one and it’s refreshing to see funders, delivery partners and community groups all around one table and getting involved in the same conversations. Communicating and working together is not only going to support food distribution, it also has the potential to address systemic issues contributing to poverty and deprivation. By addressing the root causes, such as inadequate access to resources and economic disparities, the Coronation Food Project can create lasting change within the community, empowering individuals and promoting sustainable development.
The collaboration between the Steve Morgan Foundation and the Coronation Food Project holds tremendous promise in bridging the gap between food waste and food poverty across Merseyside and North Wales. By working together, surplus food resources can be redirected to those in need, alleviating food insecurity within the community. This concerted effort directly aligns with the mission of Neo Community, as it ensures that vulnerable individuals and families have access to nutritious meals, fostering resilience and wellbeing.”
Commenting on how Neo Community will directly benefit from the Coronation Food Project, Ema adds:
“We have worked with Fareshare for the past nine years and are excited to see the extra support in lobbying and food availability that this vital funding will bring. We hope it will allow us to support more individuals and add to our holiday provision and skill base of the team with the added trainings promised through the programme.”
You can learn more about Neo Community and the excellent work they do here.