Welcome to our Autumn Edition and Good Food East Sussex Month!
October is Good Food Month in East Sussex
What if food could do more than fill us up?
This October, Good Food Month returns to East Sussex, celebrating the vital role food plays in our health, communities, local economy and environment.
Throughout the month, communities, businesses, growers, volunteers and organisations across the county will be coming together to showcase projects, share ideas and inspire action. From food growing and healthy eating to reducing food waste and supporting local producers, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved.
The month kicks off with the Food for Thought Conference at Plumpton College on 1 October, followed by the Good Food East Sussex Buyers and Suppliers Event on 8 October, connecting local producers with buyers to strengthen our local food system.
We’ll also be shining a spotlight on Food Partnerships across East Sussex, sharing stories from different parts of the county and highlighting the fantastic work taking place to make good food accessible, affordable and sustainable for everyone.
Whether you’d like to attend an event, discover local food initiatives, learn new skills, or simply find inspiration for making food go further, there’s something for everyone.
Visit the Good Food East Sussex website throughout October to explore events, read local stories and discover how you can get involved.
Together, we can help create a healthier, fairer and more sustainable food future for East Sussex.
Find out more at Good Food East Sussex or if you have an event you would like to share through October contact us
Update on Consultations
School Food Standards
The School Food Standards consultation was launched earlier in 2026 and is expected to conclude with final decisions around September 2026. The proposals included changes to school meals, restrictions on high-sugar and deep-fried foods, and increased requirements for fruit, vegetables and wholegrains. More information can be found here
Spotlight article: John, Community Chef
Meal by Meal, Step by Step: The Lasting Impact of Community Chef John
On 30 June, I had the privilege of meeting John, a Community Chef whose impact reaches far beyond the kitchen.
What was meant to be a 45-minute interview quickly became a much longer conversation as John shared stories from a lifetime spent helping people through food. While his professional career includes working at The Ritz and owning his own restaurant, it is his commitment to communities across Sussex that truly stands out.
Over the years, John has worked with organisations including Sure Start, the YMCA, Education Futures Trust, Family Hubs, the Salvation Army and Warming Up The Homeless. Everywhere he has gone, he has used food as a way to build confidence, create opportunities and bring people together.
One story illustrates this perfectly. Twenty years after attending one of his Sure Start courses, a woman recognised John and told him how much the programme had changed her life and the lives of her children. It was a powerful reminder that we may never know the lasting impact of the support we give.
John has seen this impact time and again. While working with students at what was then Hillcrest School, he helped arrange work experience opportunities in local cafés. One young person discovered a passion for catering, trained as a chef and, according to John, has never been out of work since.
For John, food is often just the starting point.
He has taught partially sighted people to cook using adaptive equipment, delivered Eat Well, Age Well sessions to support healthier lifestyles, and helped people develop practical skills that improve confidence and independence. What makes him so effective is his ability to meet people where they are and help them take the next step.
He also understands that community meals are about much more than food. John recalled asking participants at a community lunch what they enjoyed most. It wasn’t the meal itself, although they appreciated it. It was the opportunity to spend time with other people. For some attendees, it was their main social contact of the week.
Reducing loneliness, building connections and creating a sense of belonging are just some of the ingredients in John’s recipe for community.
Although technically retired, John shows no sign of slowing down. He continues to support community projects and is involved in multicultural cooking sessions planned for Good Food Month in October. Looking ahead, he is also keen to see more intergenerational projects that bring people of different ages together through food.
What struck me most was that John is not looking for praise or recognition. He simply loves seeing people gain skills, confidence and opportunities that can change the course of their lives.
Part way through our conversation, I put my notebook down. I realised I didn’t need to capture every detail to understand what truly mattered. Here was someone quietly making a difference every day; meal by meal, step by step, person by person.
People like John remind us that community is built through small acts of kindness, shared experiences and the willingness to help others. Sometimes the simplest things, like learning to cook or sharing a meal, can have an impact that lasts a lifetime.
Latest Food Partnership News
Eastbourne Food Partnership
We have just relaunched our two Crop Drop sites at Rooted Community Allotment on Gorringe Road and Gather Community Garden at Churchdale Road Allotments, with new signage and clearer information to make it even easier for local growers to donate their surplus produce.
Crop Drop encourages people to donate extra fruit and vegetables to Eastbourne’s Community Fridges. This helps make good food available to more local people. Alongside food donated by supermarkets, these locally grown fruit and vegetables help provide healthy, affordable food for local people.
The relaunch at Rooted provided a great opportunity for volunteers to showcase the fantastic progress made across their two plots, despite this summer’s heatwaves. At Gather, the event also coincided with the opening of Eastbourne Eco Action Network’s new Mary Ann Gilbert Community Room, a free community space available for local groups. Councillors Jim Murray and Hugh Parker were among those who attended to show their support. Also on display was the new E-Cargo Bike, jointly funded by Eastbourne Borough Council, Eastbourne Food Partnership and Eastbourne Eco Action Network.
Pictured here with Eastbourne Food Partnership Director Fiona Revell, the bike helps volunteers transport surplus produce from the two Crop Drop sites to local Community Fridges. It has also been used to collect surplus food from the Eastbourne Farmers’ Market, held outside Towner and the Congress Theatre from 9am to 1pm on the first Saturday of the month, from February to November. By making it easier to move fresh food around the town, the e-cargo bike is helping ensure even more surplus produce reaches local people instead of going to waste, while providing a low-carbon alternative to car journeys and supporting Eastbourne’s wider sustainability goals.
Eastbourne Food Partnership is excited to see the Crop Drop initiative continue to grow, with the new e-cargo bike helping make it easier than ever to collect and redistribute surplus produce across the town. We would like to thank Rooted, Gather, Eastbourne Allotments, Eastbourne Eco Action Network, all the local growers whose ongoing support is helping to build a healthier, more sustainable Eastbourne.
Hastings Food Network
Connecting the Connectors: A Fresh Approach to Partnership Working
Earlier this year, we took the decision to move away from traditional partnership meetings. While these meetings have an important role, we recognised that many partners were finding it increasingly difficult to commit time to formal meetings alongside their busy workloads.
Instead, we trialled a new “Connecting the Connectors” approach. The idea was simple: no agenda, no presentations, and no lengthy updates. Instead, the focus was on bringing people together to have meaningful conversations, learn about each other’s work, share ideas and explore opportunities to collaborate.
The response was overwhelmingly positive. Attendees told us they found the informal format both refreshing and valuable, giving them the space to build new connections, strengthen existing relationships and discover services and projects they may not otherwise have come across.
Following the success of the first event, we’re pleased to announce that the next Connecting the Connectors session will take place on 24 November. Booking details will be shared in early September for anyone who was unable to attend this time or who would like to join us for the first time.
Alongside these networking events, we continue to host a range of themed working groups throughout the year, providing opportunities to collaborate on specific areas of work. Keep an eye on the HVA e-bulletin and website for details of upcoming sessions and how to get involved.
We look forward to continuing to bring together the people and organisations helping to improve food security and health across East Sussex.
Interested in getting involved? Contact Hastings Food Network and come along to see what all the conversation is about!
Lewes Food Partnership
The Lewes District Food Partnership has been busy this spring and summer, supporting a range of projects to improve access to healthy, affordable and local food across the district.
One key area of work has been promoting the Healthy Start Scheme in partnership with East Sussex County Council. Eligible pregnant women and families with young children can receive financial support to buy healthy food and access free vitamins, and efforts are underway to ensure more families are aware of the scheme and how to apply.
The Partnership is also working with the Food Foundation to create simple resources that help families eat well for less. The initiative will provide easy-to-access recipes, cooking tips and advice on using affordable ingredients such as beans, pulses and vegetables to create healthy family meals.
Working alongside the University of Brighton, the Partnership has also contributed to a community food mapping project across Lewes District. The research is helping us understand where people get food, what support is available and where there may be gaps.
A new Brite Box pilot will launch in Lewes this September, thanks to funding from Lewes Town Council. Working with Fitzjohns Community Food and Wallands School, the pilot will provide recipe kits for children to take home and cook with their families, encouraging healthy eating and food skills.
Local schools are also taking part in a Farm and School Twinning programme, which links pupils with nearby farms to help children learn more about food production, farming and the journey from field to plate.
Representatives from the Partnership recently visited the new Newhaven Fishing CIC facility, which supports local fishers through improved processing, storage and distribution facilities. The project aims to strengthen local seafood supply chains, support fishing livelihoods and increase access to locally landed seafood across Sussex.
Alongside these projects, the Partnership has contributed to work on food insecurity, community food mapping, climate and nature initiatives, local food promotion campaigns and the School Food Standards consultation.
To find other information about Lewes Food Partnership please visit Lewes District Food Partnership
Wealden Food Partnership
Twinning Farms and Schools
Wealden Food Partnership is working with partners across East Sussex in delivering a Twinning programme to match local farms and schools. The project supports the development of a unique relationship between a school and farm within a geographical area.
The project helps schools and farms work together over time so children can learn where food comes from and how it is grown. It also opens doors to farms providing produce to their local schools including exploring alternative options for school meals. We want schools to feel ownership of their local farm, get to know their local farmer, learn about working on a farm and possible careers and work experience opportunities they may not have considered.
The pilot project involves 13 farms, 12 primary schools and 2 secondary schools, and is supported and resourced by the East Sussex Food Partnerships with monitoring and evaluation being provided by the University of Sussex.
A showcase event will be held on 15th October to highlight the outcomes of the project, showcase the twinned relationships and support the development of a long-term funding bid to roll the programme out.
Some of the things children are learning about include:
- Understanding food origins
- Exploring regenerative farming principles – recognise how caring for animals, soil, and plants contributes to healthy food and a health environment
- Make connections between nature and food – understand that food is grown and produced through natural cycles, not just bought in shops
- Experience a plant life cycle first hand – plant a seed and describe the basic stages of plant growth
- Encourage thoughtful food choices – reflect on how farming practices affect animals, the environment and food we eat
Schools are already reporting positive outcomes from participating in the project with one school now starting their very own mini-farm raising chicks hatched on the farm, a high level of parent engagement, children demonstrating a better understanding of what food is grown locally and understanding the importance of soil health.
Further outcomes will be highlighted at the showcase event on 15th October. If you’d like to know more, please contact helen.graham@communityactioneastsussex.org.uk
The Connecting Local Buyers & Suppliers event will be running on Thursday 8th October at Church Farm, Litlington from 10am. This is a series of events supporting local farmers, growers and producers to connect to buyers across hospitality, retail, catering and local charities to see more of our local produce in our local markets and communities.
The event includes stalls, lunch provided by local producers, and an interesting range of talks and presentations. To find out more or to book a place, please contact helen.graham@communityactioneastsussex.org.uk
Other News
Food has an extraordinary ability to bring people together. We may speak different languages, come from different countries and have very different life experiences, but sitting down and sharing a meal gives us an immediate point of connection.
That simple idea is at the heart of Food for Thought, a new series of Sunday lunches from Community Chef. Each event will be centred around a meal prepared and shared by someone with a personal connection to the food and culture being celebrated.
Check out the Cookery Leader Training poster it might inspire you to a new career!
ORGANIC SEPTEMBER FROM THE SOIL ASSOCIATION
Organic September is a nationwide celebration of organic food, farming and sustainable living. Throughout the month, we’re shining a spotlight on the benefits of organic and sharing simple ways to make organic part of your everyday life.
Our campaign this year is about adding a little more organic to your weekly shop – trying one or two new things and making organic swaps when you can. When it matters most, choose the stamp that symbolises the utmost care for body and soil. Choose organic.
SUSSEX SIX FOOD AND DRINK CAMPAIGN
The Sussex Six food and drink campaign has launched across East Sussex, to get more local Sussex produce onto the shop shelves and menus of the district.
Local shops, restaurants, pubs and cafés can join for FREE by making a pledge to take on six more local products or ingredients in the coming year.
You will benefit from being part of the Sussex Six consumer marketing campaign and get a free window sticker and invitations to food and drink events.
Visit the Sussex Six pages at Sussexfoodanddrink.org click the JOIN SUSSEX SIX button and complete the form to make the pledge. You will also be added to the new Lewes district directory of food and drink businesses which make, serve and sell Sussex produce.
Producers can get listed FREE on the business and consumer facing directory by clicking the Get Listed button under the home page map.
Top quality shops, restaurants, pubs and cafes across Sussex have made the Sussex Six pledge and help boost local business, support the local community and reduce food miles. Be one of them and you can display the sunshine Sussex Six logo with pride!
Businesses wishing to get involved can find out more at the Sussex Six pages at Sussexfoodanddrink.org.
Funding opportunities and training
East Sussex Council’s Funding News is a great place to find the latest funding opportunities, support and advice.
Notable funding opportunities currently available include:
Boosting local nature – High Weald Nature & Community Fund – £500–£20,000 for projects across the High Weald
Green Community Grants Programme | The Wildlife Trusts – The Green Community Grants Programme offers one-year flexible funding for not-for-profit groups in England, Scotland and Wales with an annual income between £10,000 and £1 million.
NFU Mutual Charitable Trust: What do we do | NFU Mutual – promoting and supporting charities in the United Kingdom working in agriculture, rural development and insurance.
Screwfix Foundation | Screwfix – The Screwfix Foundation currently offers local registered charities and not for profit organisations funding in the region of £5,000. All applications are reviewed individually by their team on a quarterly basis, the review dates are in March, June, September and December. Please see Full eligibility criteria.
For more information, please visit Funding News – April 2026 | East Sussex County Council
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
East Sussex communities and businesses come together.
To get involved or find out more about Good Food East Sussex. Please Email us and we will answer any questions, if you are a supplier we are happy to discuss adding you to our listings pages.