January 2026 Newsletter

Here is your newsletter for January: as always, this is aimed to support collaboration and shared learning, so please send me anything you’d like to share with the network in future newsletters.

1. Swallwell Cabbage Fest!

Save the Date: 22^nd February

As you may have followed last year, the brilliant Lucy and Ronni from Tyne Derwent Way ran a series of “Food is Storytelling” workshops in three different Gateshead venues. One of the stories that came out is the amazing story of the Swallwell Cabbage! Intrigued? Well, they’re planning an event to tell the story and celebrate cabbage – and you’re invited! More info will follow but for now, they’re asking you to ‘save the date’ and, “if you have anything cabbage-related to offer on the day please let us know – anyone who grows them, pickles them, cooks with them – we’d take recipes, instructions, cabbages to sell/ give away/ plant – either in advance or help in the day”.

Get in touch with Lucy: lucy.zwolinska@nationaltrust.org.uk

2. Last Chance to Join the HerbHub Recipe Project!

A few spots left to get creative with herbs, cook up some magic, and connect with our community. Don't miss out, get in touch today to secure your place!

3. The Bread and Butter Thing

The second Bread and Butter Thing affordable food club in Gateshead has now opened in Chowdene. The first hub set up in Deckham last year has regularly seen over 80 families saving money by accessing a range of surplus food for £8. Read more here.

4. Right To Food Commission: call for evidence

The Right to Food UK Commission is gathering evidence from individuals, practitioners, and organisations to understand what helps and what hinders people in accessing good food. Your experiences will inform the Commission’s 2030 Action Plan and future Right to Food legislation, with evidence sessions taking place across the UK from January to May 2026. For more info and to submit your evidence, please click here. Alternatively, you could submit any thoughts directly to me, as I will be speaking at one of the hearings and hope to represent food partnership members as best I can.

 5. Digital Inclusion: Helping your communities use the NHS App

Last summer Digital Voice launched a brand-new initiative for the NHS, which helped people get online using the app and eased pressure on already stretched local surgeries. In February, they’re running NHS App sessions for the VCSE sector as part of our CPD Programme. On 3rd February there is an online session from 12-1.30 pm. Please share with your networks.

 You'll find more info and a link to the booking form on this webpage: https://www.digitalvoice.org.uk/news/helping-communities-get-online-nhs-app-digital-inclusion-training-for-vcse-organisations

6. The risks of digitalisation: Implications for access to food in England

On the topic of digital inclusion: some organisations and individuals in Gateshead were involved last year in some research around digital access and food poverty by SOAS university. They are holding an online event to disseminate their research findings on 12^th February: you can sign up to join here.

 7. Wednesdays at St Mary’s: 

Every week, the Tyne Derwent Way team open up St. Mary's Heritage Centre from 10am to 3pm for tours, chats and their pop-up cafe. Everyone is welcome to stop by for a drink and snack in one of Gateshead's oldest buildings. 

8. Training Opportunity: Expression of interest

We are looking at organising a Food Safety and Hygiene Level 2 course, in person, at St Chad’s Community Project. We would aim for this to be free of charge for regular volunteers of food partnership VCS organisations, with an emphasis on training volunteers with English as a Second Language. Date is TBC, but for now please could you let me know by replying to this email if you have volunteers that would benefit from this training?

9. Funding opportunities

• Capital Funding for community organisations: The Community Capital Grants Fund is now open for applications: Grants of up to £30,000 available to improve community spaces in Gateshead - Gateshead Council. Please send any queries to externalfundingteam@gateshead.gov.uk and apply by 15 February 2026.
• Gateshead Community Fund: The Gateshead Community Fund offers pots of between £500 and £10,000 to support new projects that help residents get active, improve wellbeing and take part in sport, leisure and recreation. Clubs, community groups and not‑for‑profit organisations can apply between 1 February and 30 March. See attached guidance and application form.
• UK Government’s Crisis and Resilience Fund: Guidance was published on 13th January: see full guidance here. This supersedes Household Support Funding and will mean significant changes on the type of grant support the council can make to community food providers, with a greater emphasis on services to build financial resilience rather than provision of free food. The funding will go live on 1st April and Gateshead Council are currently developing the mechanisms to deliver it. Further information will be shared in due course. Organisations who were in receipt of HSF are encouraged to read the new guidance and consider implications for your organisations. (Note – HSF monitoring is due on 31st March)

10. Interesting Reports, Policy and Research news

·       Feeding Britain

Feeding Britain have produced a new report, Feeding Resilience, which highlights the powerful role Affordable Food Clubs play in improving diets, strengthening financial security and reducing reliance on emergency food parcels. The findings show that these clubs are providing sustained support for households facing food insecurity during a time of rising living costs and deepening dietary inequalities. See this video summarising the key insights. I also heartily recommend Feeding Britain’s podcast: available on all your popular podcast apps, here it is on spotify.

·       More than Just a Buzz: Energy Drinks research from FUSE:

Children are surrounded by energy drink advertising and cheap prices that make these products hard to ignore. They see them placed near everyday items, promoted by people and sports they admire, and popping up constantly online. But energy drinks are linked to poor health, including problems with sleep, behaviour, and concentration. This means the youngest and most disadvantaged children are being pushed towards choices that can harm their health. We support strong action — including an age‑16 sales ban, clear rules on where these products can be placed in shops, proper enforcement across all retailers and vending machines, and tighter restrictions on junk‑food advertising — to help protect children’s health and reduce inequalities. Summary here, Read the full paper here. or see their presentation here: energy_drinks_children_HWA_Jan 26.pptx

·       Recent Junk Food Advertising policy changes. Recommend listening to Podbite from Food Foundation

It took years to happen, but finally some landmark junk food advertising restrictions were introduced this month that are expected to remove up to 7.2 million calories from children’s diets a year, which could reduce obesity by 20,000 and deliver £2billion in health benefits. But will loopholes undermine their impact? The short Podbites from Food Foundation are always recommended to keep up to date with news like this.

·       DEFRA National Security Assessment on Global Biodiversity Loss & Food Security

A newly published DEFRA report reframes biodiversity loss as a national security threat, not an environmental issue. It warns that with global ecosystems edging toward collapse — and the UK importing 40% of its food — we’re far more exposed to future supply shocks, price spikes and geopolitical tension than we think. Other countries are already rebuilding food stockpiles… and the message for the UK is clear: food security needs urgent, strategic attention.

That’s all from me: please do keep me updated with your projects, get in touch if you have any questions, ideas, or opportunities you want to share. Have a lovely weekend!

Best wishes,

Nikki