Food Strand

The Foundation has a long standing interest in food, particularly its sustainable production and distribution. We now want to develop this by supporting work which explores the relationship between people and food.

Purpose: What is the Food strand aiming to achieve?

The aim of the Food strand is to promote an understanding of the role of food in enhancing quality of life. It will prioritise the enjoyment and experience of food rather than its production and we seek to enable as many people in the UK as possible to access, prepare and eat nutritious, sustainable food.

Available funding

The budget is £3million over three years from 2008, subject to annual review. 

What are we looking to fund under the Food strand?

We are interested in work that influences policy and practice across a range of food-related areas. We expect to support a mix of practical projects that have wide significance, and some research and policy based work.  We are keen to support work which enhances quality of life, this will include the following:

• Improving access to appropriate, diverse and sustainable food in areas where availability is limited
  
• Exploring or enhancing understanding of the impact of food on wider well-being
  
• Demonstrating the positive role of food in a social context or how food can contribute to community cohesion
  
• Developing leadership in food policy and/or enabling greater connection among currently diverse food-related interests
  
• Scaling up effective local or regional practice that deserves a wider platform
  
• Strategic or exceptional work that supports the development of sustainable food systems.

We will be looking for applications which include the following characteristics:

• Have clear and practical delivery plans
• Include methods for measuring impact 
• Are most likely to make a lasting impact on policy or practice
• Demonstrate innovation.

We are also open to approaches for other food-related work, but this would have to be outstanding or exceptional in what it is trying to achieve.

What is excluded from support?

• Food-related work that is well supported from other sources
• Work that takes place primarily in schools
• Work that is routine or well-proven elsewhere, for example:
  • Core work of city and demonstration farms
  • Healthy eating projects
  • The regular activities of gastronomic societies and clubs
  • The routine work of farmers markets
  • Mainstream work of individual Allotment Associations
  • Therapeutic farming and horticulture projects. 
• Weight loss organisations and other specialist diet groups
• Work that provides a commercial advantage to individual suppliers
• Work that has primarily environmental objectives
• Work that forms a better fit with our Main Fund priorities.

Work listed under the Main Fund exclusions will not be funded under this strand.

Application process

1. Applicants should complete a First Stage Application, clearly marked "Application to the Food Strand" at the top of each page, comprising:

a) a form. Download an electronic version of the form (Word 40k).

b) a short statement summarising what you would like to do and why on no more than two sides of A4, using a font no smaller than 12-point. Please use the following headings:

• A brief description of your organisation and its track record
• What you would like us to fund
• Why you want to do this work
• How the project meets the criteria of the Food strand
• How much the project would cost and how much you are asking Esmée Fairbairn Foundation for
• Additional information that could advance your application.

c) a copy of your organisation's most recent accounts (or a budget for the current year if your organisation is new, or the appropriate departmental budget if you are a local authority).

d) your organisation's constitution (if you are not a registered charity, with the exception of local authorities).

We will contact you within one month to let you know whether you are invited to proceed to the second stage of the application process. If you are successful we will let you know what additional information we need and by when.

June 2008

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