On Wednesday 28 August, Community Food Partners across the city gathered at Aberdeen Arts Centre to discuss and celebrate all things community food in Aberdeen City. The event was organised by CFINE, supported by Public Health Scotland. In this blog post, Granite City Good Food's Coordinator, Martin Carle, shares his reflections on the day.
If our food system were a superhero, its superpower would be its ability to bring people together. Food has a social role, which can impact on so many different aspects of life and, on Wednesday this week, ‘Let’s Talk Community Food’ at the Aberdeen Arts Centre celebrated and recognised this important function of our food system.
Organised by CFINE and supported by Public Health Scotland, the event invited stakeholders across Aberdeen’s community food sector together to celebrate and recognise the roles and opportunities food can bring to the local area.
Insightful and fascinating inputs were welcomed from representatives of Public Health Scotland, Tillydrone Community Flat, Robert Gordon University, and from CFINE Founder and Former CEO, Dave Simmers. Through these presentations, we were invited to ponder on a range of issues from the role of food in community, to the value of food in relationship building, to best practice in food’s value at the heart of community projects and enterprises. If you’ll pardon the pun, these provided lots of food for thought!
Beyond the presentations of the day, breakout groups broke into rich discussions across two sessions, the result of each being 2-3 key actions per group.
In the first session, groups were invited to reflect their own best practice and experiences in collaborating on community food projects. Discussions centred on this experience, as well as the key question “what do you need locally or nationally to support your work?” This was a brilliant discussion, and to hear the buzz in the room coming from enthusiastic conversation through which participants shared and celebrated achievements, as well as proposing key next steps and what support could take these projects further.
After a lunch prepared by local Social Enterprise, the Bread Maker, the second discussion centred on lived experience and how groups and organisations across the city can ensure lived experience is placed at the heat of Community Food Development. Self-organised community change, and community involvement directly in creating, operating, and accessing food opportunities is a hot topic, and it was great to reflect on these elements further.
All findings from the event will form an event report. That said, it was clear from the discussions and presentations that there was a wealth of food for thought around the tables during the event!
Events like these are always a timely reminder of the wide variety of projects and initiatives which creating a significant impact throughout our city. Day-in, day-out, communities are working hard to ensure food is used for good, well aligned with Granite City Good Food’s approach and, this year, our #TurnTheGraniteCityGold campaign. There was a brilliant energy in the room and the support and interest shared in the work to #TurnTheGraniteCityGold couldn’t have been clearer.
Looking to join the increasing list of supporters committed to sustainable food in Aberdeen City? You can help #TurnTheGraniteCityGold by signing our charter today. Sign here:
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