In this latest issue, you can read about all the great events that will be taking place during Good Food East Sussex Month in October, the latest news from the East Sussex Food Partnerships, an update on available funding opportunities and finally some links to other key players in the food movement, for a broader perspective and the latest national news and developments.
Latest News
Good Food East Sussex Month 2025
For the third year, East Sussex is celebrating its very own food month—and everyone is invited!
During October, communities across the county will come together to hold a range of events, raising awareness of everything from food waste to food insecurity. Good Food East Sussex Month 2025 is a county-wide celebration of healthy, sustainable, and locally sourced food. Coordinated by East Sussex County Council and local food partnerships, the month features cookery workshops, harvest festivals, and discussions on building a fairer food system.
If you would like your event to be promoted during Good Food Month tell us all about it.
Be part of the movement to build a better food future—one plate at a time.
Good Food East Sussex Website
The Good Food East Sussex website has undergone a fresh design update, making it easier than ever to explore and engage with the region’s vibrant local food movement.
The refreshed site features a cleaner layout, improved navigation, and enhanced accessibility—reflecting the network’s commitment to inclusivity and sustainability.
Visitors can now more easily discover local suppliers, upcoming food events, and initiatives tackling food inequality. However this is just the first phase of the website refresh with new functions around community food and buyers and suppliers planned in the coming months.
Explore the new look now at goodfoodeastsussex.org.uk.
Sussex Six comes to East Sussex
As part of the Sussex Six Food & Drink Campaign, over 130 quality shops, restaurants, pubs, caterers and cafés have made the Sussex Six pledge to take on at least six more locally-produced Sussex products to sell and serve in their businesses.
Most recently, the campaign was launched in Wealden and Rother with support from the district councils’ allocation of government shared prosperity funding.
Natural Partnerships, the not-for-profit organisation behind the campaign, manages Sussexfoodanddrink.org – a directory of over 600 Sussex food and drink producers and the businesses which serve and sell local produce. Visit the website to find the Sussex Six businesses which are helping support our local economy and the environment.
Sussex Alliance of Food Partnerships
Sussex Alliance of Food Partnerships will officially launched on the 8th October with their event ‘ A new Sussex Mayor – putting food in the middle of the table’. The aim of the event is to bring together people from across East Sussex, Mid Sussex, West Sussex and Brighton & Hove to consider how the excellent food work already happening in the region can be enhanced and ask what more needs to be done to address the challenges we face.
With an new Mayor for Sussex in the future who will have responsibilities related to skills and employment, the environment, public health and reducing inequalities. The alliance will be be asking:
- What if the Mayor looked at these challenges and opportunities through the lens of food?
- Is local food the way to achieve sustainable development and investment for the region?
- Is food the special ingredient in creating our shared identity?
The farmer, the baker, the policy maker – all parts of the food system are welcome to join the discussion.
The Sussex Alliance of Food Partnerships comprises Food Partnerships from East Sussex, Mid Sussex, West Sussex and Brighton & Hove.
Latest Food Partnership News
Eastbourne Food Partnership
Eastbourne Food Partnership have been thrilled by the attendance and overwhelmingly positive feedback that the Eastbourne Farmers Market has received the last couple of months. Hosted on the square outside Towner Eastbourne and the Congress Theatre on the first Saturday of each month, the Market will continue to run up to December and they are encouraging everyone to visit it while they still have the chance!
On the 14th October, the food partnership are also launching the first meeting of the ‘Eastbourne Community Food Network’ at Kings Restaurant, East Sussex College. Open to anyone working or volunteering in Eastbourne supporting those dealing with food insecurity to come and network. An opportunity to meet, find out what’s happening locally and plot activity to work more closely together to better support people.
Lewes District Food Partnership
Lewes District Food Partnership supported National Food Bank Day on 5th September, using the opportunity to highlight the ongoing need for community food support. While the day brings attention to food banks, the partnership emphasised that food insecurity is a year-round issue affecting hundreds of households. They called for continued donations, volunteering, and awareness to ensure local food provision can meet growing demand. The partnership also stressed the importance of addressing the root causes of food poverty, including low income and limited access to affordable, nutritious food. Their message was clear: support shouldn’t be limited to one day—it’s needed every day.
Find out more about the work to support community food provision in Lewes.
Hastings Food Network
Hastings Food Network relaunched the Downs Farm breakfast club on 24th September, following engagement with residents in North East Hastings. Residents shared how important the club had been and expressed interest in upskilling to potentially run it themselves in the future.
Community chef John Day is preparing breakfast treats for parents on the school run, residents looking for company, and anyone keen to learn cookery skills and work towards a Level 2 Food Hygiene certificate. The sessions also provide an opportunity to gather feedback on food access and food security challenges in the area.
For more information about the work of Hastings Food Network or to explore setting up similar projects in your area, please contact Hastings Food Network
Rother Food Partnership
Rother Food Partnership recently held a ‘Food in the Community’ session, which explored creative ideas for food-based engagement activities and intergenerational events. The session focused on how food can be used as a tool to bring people together, strengthen community connections, and support wellbeing across all age groups. Attendees shared examples of successful local initiatives and discussed opportunities to build on this work in the months ahead.
Looking ahead, the partnership’s next networking social will take place in person on the morning of Wednesday 5th November at Ewhurst & Staplecross Village Hall. This informal gathering will be a chance for partners, community groups, and local organisations to connect, share updates, and explore opportunities for collaboration. Whether you’re already involved in food-related work or are looking to get started, all are welcome to join the conversation.
Wealden Food Partnership
Wealden Food Partnership is pleased to announce the fourth in its series of Connecting Local Buyers & Suppliers events, taking place on Wednesday 15th October, from 10am to midday at Longbridge Regenerative, Church Farm, Litlington, Polegate BN26 5RA.
These events aim to support local businesses by shortening supply chains and enabling more locally grown and produced food to reach local markets. It’s a great opportunity for producers, retailers, and food service providers to connect, collaborate, and strengthen the local food economy.
If you’re interested in attending, please email to reserve your space—and feel free to share with your networks across East Sussex
Funding opportunities and training
East Sussex Council’s funding news Funding News is a great place to find the latest funding opportunities, support and advice.
Notable funding opportunities currently available in the latest Funding News include:
Comic Relief Community Fund
- Funding Amount: Up to £5,000
- Purpose: Supports small organisations tackling poverty and hardship, including food insecurity.
- Relevant Projects: Empowering communities to build skills, improve access to employment, and develop community-led solutions to food poverty.
- Deadline: 6 October 2025
National Garden Scheme – Community Gardens Grants
- Funding Amount: £1,500–£5,000
- Purpose: Supports community gardening projects that promote growing food and horticultural education.
- Eligible Costs: Plants, containers, vegetable beds, greenhouses, sheds, tools, and seating.
- Deadline: 20 October 2025
Stobart Sustainability Fund
- Funding Amount: Discretionary
- Purpose: Supports community-led sustainability projects, including those that promote local food growing and climate-friendly food systems.
- Deadline: Open year-round
Sussex Community Foundation are relaunching their main grants programme this autumn too.
Food organisations
Below are links for some important organisations in the food movement, many of which have their own regular newsletters that you can sign up to:
- Sustain the alliance for better food and farming, leading on a wide range of projects.
- The Soil Association a national charity supporting sustainable practices in horticulture and farming, and more.
- Feeding Britain a national charity working to eliminate hunger in the UK.
Good Food East Sussex
If you have any questions about the contents of this newsletter, Good Food East Sussex, or if you’d like to contribute to the next edition Email us