Throughout 2024 the Barnet Food Partnership (BFP) committee undertook research and listening exercises to understand good practices around food security and how they might be applied in our borough. We met with academics, practitioners, and activists not only from other London boroughs but from around the country. The exercise culminated in “Feeding Barnet – A Food Security Summit” which took place at the ARK Pioneer Academy on Saturday November 2nd . Attendees included members of the BFP, local councilors, interested community organisations, students, university academics and residents who have used the emergency food services.

Opened by Dan Tomlinson, MP for Chipping Barnet, the well-attended summit welcomed six expert speakers with different perspectives on the challenge. To avoid the trap of being a “talking shop” the event was designed to be participatory. Each speaker was asked to suggest a practical idea for change and the audience were extended the same invitation throughout the day. All contributions were literally “laid out on the table”; written onto a big table cloth.

To see the full report of the day including recommendations click here.

What Did We Learn?

The current emergency food system in the Borough is reliant on a traditional food bank model which is based on just-in-time donations and managed exclusively by the voluntary sector. This is unsustainable and unaligned with the vision of the Barnet Food Partnership.

An sustainable food security system needs to take a strategic, long-term approach which is robust, built in partnership with Barnet Council and which employs the best models to ensure choice and dignity. This is better aligned to the vision of The Barnet Food Partnership.

Key Recommendations From the Summit

•  More dedicated council officers or officer time needed on food issue.
• Food insecurity needs to be considered not only as a public health matter, but also as part of the strategy to reduce poverty through proactive engagement with the emergency food suppliers and relevant organisations.
• The London Borough of Barnet must become a Living Wage Employer.
• Barnet should become a Right to Food Borough.
• There is much more scope to connect food bank clients and employment opportunities in the borough.
• The London Borough of Barnet must review its use of bailiffs as a mechanism of debt retrieval as a priority.

The Barnet Food Partnership committee would like to thank the ARK Pioneer Academy for hosting the summit and Nigeal and the team from Allotmentz for their excellent catering.

Read the full summit report here: Feeding-Barnet-Summit-Report-2024-FINAL.pdf