One of the UK's leading property developers, Stoford, has partnered with Food Justice Network and The Active Wellbeing Society to sponsor the newly launched, Community Meals Partnership, a new initiative aimed at using food to build networks and strengthen communities across the city. Donating three tonnes of food, the sponsorship has commenced with its first Community Meal with a series of more meals set to take place later this year.

As the first corporate sponsor of the Community Meals Partnership, Stoford has funded three tonnes of fresh fruits and vegetables for members of the Food Justice Network – enough to feed up to 2,000 people per tonne.

The sponsorship includes hosting a Community Meal event, facilitated by The Active Wellbeing Society – a community-benefit society and cooperative working to tackle inequalities and promote community wellbeing through collaborative partnerships. In July, September, and December, their trained kitchen staff will prepare and serve the meals alongside sponsors, with the remaining purchased food being shared with the other 250+ Food Justice Network projects in a bid to continue to support those facing food insecurity across the city.

The first of these three Community Meals took place on July 10th at the All Saints Community Church in Small Heath, bringing up to 50 community members together for a sit-down meal. One attendee said: “It’s really great having something like this because it brings locals together, and what better way to bring everyone together than with food. It’s also been lovely to see the diversity of people here which reflects the community. I think it’s a great idea for getting everyone together and there’s a real opportunity for community cohesion, for people to mix together and socialise.”

Commenting on the sponsorship,  Matthew Burgin, Joint Managing Director at Stoford, said: “We are really pleased to be able to sponsor a great cause with the launch of Birmingham Community Meals Partnership, where we are helping to provide the first tonne of fresh food donations which will cover the months of July, September and December for this year.”

As the demand for food projects continues to rise, recent findings by FareShare has revealed there is approximately 11 million people in the country facing food insecurity, with about four tonnes of edible food going to waste annually across the UK – equivalent to the weight of 70 aircraft carriers.

Adding to this, Vicky Hemming, Food & Justice Business Development Lead at The Active Wellbeing Society, commented: “Great things can happen when people sit down to eat together. Sharing meals can break down barriers, introduce people to new experiences, overcome loneliness and even support mental health. A community that eats together can become better connected and stronger, and we want to play a part in that. 

“We know that people in Birmingham are facing unprecedented difficulties, and we know that compassionate businesses want to do more to help them. This sponsorship from Stoford not only contributes towards tackling food insecurity by providing quality food for people across the city, but also helps promote long-term community resilience.”

The Community Meals Partnership, which launched earlier this year, uses surplus food to foster social connections and support mental health, addressing both food waste and insecurity.

Adding to this, Vicky shared: “A basic sponsorship of a Community Meal costs £1,500. This is enough for us to pay for one tonne of fresh fruit and vegetables, feeding up to 2000 people, plus the time of our team of trained kitchen staff to help you successfully deliver your Community Meal event. Sponsorship of £2,500 buys one tonne of store cupboard food, such as canned or dried food. We invite more businesses to join this vital initiative. Together, we can expand our impact and create lasting change in our communities.”

The next Community Meals sponsored by Stoford are scheduled for September and December, with more details to be released later this year.

For more information on how to sponsor future Community Meals events, contact Vicky Hemming at [email protected].