A new partnership to improve access to healthy food in Trafford has been unveiled, with organisations from across the borough coming together at an event in Partington.
Held on Thursday 14 May, the event marked the beginning of the Trafford Food Partnership, bringing together health services, charities, community groups, businesses and food providers to tackle some of the borough’s biggest food-related challenges.
Discussions focused on three shared priorities: improving health, addressing the cost and availability of food, and supporting more sustainable ways of producing and eating it.
Speakers included Director of Public Health Helen Gollins and Councillor George Devlin, alongside local organisations already working at the heart of Trafford’s food network. Among these were Bounceback Food, which addresses food poverty and waste through cookery lessons, community kitchens and a ‘buy one, give one’ model that supports local foodbanks.
They were joined by Dunsters Farm, which supports school eco-clubs and food-growing projects, and Sow the City, which works to improve access to green spaces and community growing.
Poor diet remains one of the leading risk factors for preventable disease in England. With healthy food prices rising sharply in recent years and food insecurity increasing, the impact is being felt most strongly in more deprived communities. In Trafford, the gap in healthy life expectancy between the most and least deprived areas stands at around 16 years, with the gap for overall life expectancy standing at 11 years.
The partnership aims to help address these inequalities and will connect with wider work across Greater Manchester to build a stronger, more resilient food system.
Residents will play a central role in shaping what happens next. A series of community meal events will begin next month in priority areas, offering people a chance to come together, share food and talk about what would make healthy meals easier to access and afford in their local area.
Councillor George Devlin, Executive Member for Housing & Advice, said:
“It’s been a fantastic turnout, bringing organisations and residents together who understand these challenges first-hand.
“That shared experience is what gives the Trafford Food Partnership real strength. By working together, we can build a more consistent and sustainable food offer across Trafford, particularly for communities facing food poverty.
“This is a borough-wide effort, and we’d encourage organisations of all sizes to get involved and be part of making a difference.”
Organisations interested in getting involved in the Trafford Food Partnership can contact evie.wiseman@trafford.gov.uk.