July 2026

Supporting action towards food for healthy and sustainable lives

Food Durham, the Food Partnership for County Durham, is a cross-sector, multi-stakeholder collective of individuals and organisations co-creating a better food system.  We're working together for healthier, greener, fairer food for all.

Message from our Food Durham Coordinator - we're taking a pause

I hope you’re all staying well through this super-heated summer. We may go a little quiet over the summer as Food Durham will be taking a break. During this time, we will be concentrating on launching the County Durham Good Food Promise and securing future funding for Food Durham coordination. Fingers crossed funders like our proposal to extend the reach and breadth of our work, into what will be the 15th year, and beyond, of the food partnership.

Read on for news and events happening over the summer.

Thanks as always for reading, and for all the work you’re doing across the food system.

Have a refreshing, hydrated and nourishing summer,

Amy

Food Durham Coordinator

Feeding Britain National Gathering - 3rd July

On Friday 3 July, organisations from across the UK will come together in Newcastle for the Feeding Britain Network Gathering 2026: From Crisis to Resilience.

The day will bring together community organisations, local authorities, researchers, housing providers and frontline practitioners to explore a simple but important question:

How do we move beyond crisis response and create communities where people can thrive?

We'll be hearing from leading voices including Professor Greta Defeyter OBE, Nikki Dravers, Wayne Dobson, Andrew Forsey OBE and Edie Miller, alongside organisations delivering innovative work every day through food justice, children's food provision, wraparound support, policy influence and sustainable food systems.

If you're passionate about creating a fairer, hunger-free UK, we'd love to see you there.

For more information, contact Anna Lopez, Project Manager at Feeding Britain, or visit Feeding Britain.

Food Durham Promise – launching this summer!

The Good Food Promise is for places serving food who are working towards a food service which is:

• Better for the planet

• Supportive of local farming and jobs

• Good for health

Our Vision

Everyone living, learning, working and visiting County Durham can enjoy tasty, nourishing food and drink that supports good health, protects the environment, boosts the local economy and builds a vibrant, positive food culture.

Who is the Promise For?

Every setting that serves food; early years, schools, colleges, workplaces, community venues or businesses, can take part.

By signing up to the Good Food Durham Promise, organisations are demonstrating their commitment to good food and becomes part of a county wide movement for healthier, more sustainable food.

Participating settings will be listed on the Food Durham website: www.fooddurham.net/

Find out more about the Promise at the next Community Growing and Food Network event at REfUSE on Tuesday 14th July: Community Growing and Food Network Meeting – The Power of Local Food Systems – Durham Community Action

Food and Drink North East: Rural Growth Programme

This three-year initiative, which is funded by the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority, provides targeted support to businesses across the North East to help them start, grow and become more resilient.

FADNE is leading on a dedicated food and drink offer, delivering tailored one-to-one business support, practical workshops, and valuable networking opportunities to businesses across the food, drink and hospitality sectors in the North East.

https://www.fadne.org/rural-growth-programme/

Agricultural Shows 2026

County Durham Agricultural show dates 2026:

• 8th August Sedgefield Show

• 15th August Bowes Show

• 29th August Weardale Show

• 5th - 6th Sept Wolsingham Show

• 12th - 13th Sept Stanhope Show

Parents take action on School Food

Sustain’s new parent led toolkit to healthier, happier school meals

Fuel for learning: A parent led guide to healthier, happier school meals | Sustain

Veg Power Bang in Some Beans Schools’ Programme Launch

Are you a parent of a primary school child or working with schools?

Veg Power is currently recruiting schools for its new fibre-focused Bang In Some Beans schools’ programme launching in the autumn term.

County Durham Household Food Waste Collections

New food waste collections have begun for some residents in County Durham. Caddies will continue to be issued throughout the summer. You will receive a leaflet confirming when your collections will start. Please do not put your new caddy out until this date.

Your food waste collections will take place on the same day as your rubbish and recycling collections, but at a different time, using a different vehicle.

More information about our new kerbside collection changes can be found at:

www.durham.gov.uk/BinCollections2026

Upcoming training from Pioneering Care Partnership

The Workplace Health team and Wellbeing for Life teams have a variety of training courses taking place throughout the next few month, including on energy drinks and caffeine, diabetes, healthy eating, food and nutrition – check out the Adult Wellbeing Service’s courses:

• For workplaces: Training | Workplace Health

• For individuals: Home - Your Wellbeing Services

New allergy safety in schools

Almost 1 in 12 (8%) young children suffer from a food allergy (Allergy UK)

From September 2026, Benedict's Law comes into force in England. These national protections are designed to improve allergy safety in schools

These measures ensure that schools have the policies, training and emergency medication needed to recognise and respond to severe allergic reactions.

The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation has tips and advice on how to implement these measures in your school.

Running a collective food buying group – it’s easier than you think

Thanks to Hannah Murray-Leslie for sharing with Food Durham how she runs a food buying group with neighbours to bulk-buy ethical, sustainable food and household goods at whole-sale prices.

The group buys food from Suma, one of the largest worker co-operatives in the UK. Other buying groups often called food co-ops source from Infinity Foods. Anyone can order food through these organisations but by grouping up with friends, they can meet the required minimum order. Many neighbourhood groups in County Durham have formed, including in Durham city and Bearpark.

“It saves money, produces less waste, and supports ethical supply chains. I started by ordering basics like sacks of flour for bread, 12 packs of tinned tomatoes, and 5-litre bottles of toiletries."

This is how it works:

• We have 6 members, which helps us reach the £375 minimum for delivery each month

• Members log in and place their own orders and make payments.

• I receive the delivery, sort it in my garage, and people collect – usually the same day

We don’t have a shop in our village, and this means I can spend less money in the supermarkets. But it’s good to know others benefit too.

If I had more time, I’d love to grow it further - maybe using a community building and opening it up to more people.

Food groups can be all shapes and sizes and can help improve access to good food and build stronger community connections, particularly for:

• Communities with limited food shops or public transport

• Places where people are paying more for small quantities

• Community buildings looking to generate a bit of income

• Food banks wanting to offer low-cost staples alongside donations

It’s surprisingly easy to get started - visit the Suma store to find out more.

Tesco Fruit & Veg Grants

Schools, registered charities and not-for-profit organisations can apply for grants of up to £1,500 to help children and young people access more fresh fruit and vegetables.

Tesco Fruit & Veg Grants supports projects that improve access to healthy food, particularly for children and young people who may otherwise have limited opportunities to eat fresh fruit and vegetables.

Examples of eligible projects include:

• Breakfast and after-school clubs that provide fruit and vegetables for pupils

• Sports clubs that offer healthy food as part of their activities, or provide a much-needed half-time boost

• Growing projects where children can grow their own fruit and vegetables

• Cooking classes that help children and families learn how to prepare healthy meals

• Holiday clubs that provide healthy meals and snacks

• Projects supporting children and young people with SEND by providing healthy snacks or meals

• Youth clubs that provide healthy meals or snacks

• Projects that help tackle holiday hunger when children are not at school

• Healthy eating projects that support families to cook nutritious meals on a budget

• Foodbanks that provide food support to families

Fruit and Veg Grants - Tesco Fundraising | Tesco PLC

Farming, Supply & Hospitality Networking Event – 21st July

Durham County Council and Visit County Durham are holding a free networking event designed for County Durham farmers and food producers to connect with hotels, restaurants, cafés, attractions and visitor economy businesses that are looking to source locally.

Farming, Supply & Hospitality Networking Event Tickets, Tuesday, July 21 • 10 AM - 4 PM | Eventbrite

Good Food Local North East

See how Durham County Council's action on food compares to other local authorities in the region.

New report praises North East for action on health and food poverty | Sustain