If you are a foodbank or other food project

We recognise the vital work that food projects are doing in the city and want to extend our gratitude for all that you do for Birmingham citizens, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic and the cost of living crisis.

We know that food projects (such as food banks, food pantries, food clubs, social supermarkets, community cafés and on-street feeding groups) in our city are already working hard to help Birmingham citizens in need. We want to provide some tips and guidance to help you as you run your food project:

Resources and tips for food projects in the city

1 - Guidance around what food to provide.

Have a look at our guidance on what food to provide to help people eat a diet that enables them to thrive.

We want to support you to address food insecurity to its fullest extent by providing as nutritious food as possible. This resource has been developed by the Food System Team in the Public Health Division at Birmingham City Council, as a tool to be used by food banks and other food aid providers where possible.

This document provides guidelines on how to put together a nutritionally balanced food parcel, with ingredients that can be cooked into a meal. It also considers individual requirements such as food intolerances/allergies, cultural preferences and cooking facilities. We have already heard from some food projects in Birmingham that this guidance has been helpful for them!

Download guidance for nutritious food aid

We have also put together some cheap, tasty, and nutritious recipes that people using your food project can make with the food you provide. Take a look at the recipes

2 - Become a Healthy Start vitamin distributor

Become a Healthy Start vitamin distributor so you can give out vitamins for free!. For more details, email publichealthcypteam@birmingham.gov.uk.

3 - Consider accepting Healthy Start vouchers

If you are a food project where people pay for food, consider signing up to accept Healthy Start vouchers.

Healthy Start is now available as a card. People receive a certain amount of money to spend on fruit, vegetables, milk and formula. Accepting Healthy Start cards may support the people who use your food project.

For more details, email publichealthcypteam@birmingham.gov.uk.

4 - Toolkit to increase dignity and reduce shame and stigma

We want to support you to make sure that the experience of those using your food project is as positive and dignified as possible.

Have a look at our toolkit to see how you can increase dignity for those using your foodbank.

5 - Ensure you are using food safely in your food project

Watch the "Guide to Community Food Safety" video for key tips on food safety best practices:

Food safety is a critical part of community food provision, and maintaining high food safety standards is essential to prevent contamination, reduce waste, and ensure that all food provided is safe to eat. This includes proper temperature control, allergen management, hygiene practices, and clear labelling.

By ensuring food safety measures are followed and implemented correctly, community food projects can ensure food remains safe and high quality for those who need it most. The Ensuring Safe Transitions guide provides clear and practical food safety protocols for food banks, pantries, community kitchens, and surplus food distributors.

Developed in collaboration with the University of Birmingham, the Birmingham Food System Partnership, and The Active Wellbeing Society, the guide offers best practice on safe food storage, transportation, allergen management, and hygiene. The guide also includes checklists, food safety process recommendations, and links to Food Standards Agency guidance to support community food initiatives in handling food safely.

6 - Check if your project is on the Food Justice Network Map

The FJN has mapped food provision across the city, with the aim of having information on where people can access help with food available and accessible to individuals, professionals, and services.

View the Food Justice Network map

To add a food provision to the FJN Map or to edit existing information, you can fill out a short form.

7 - Join the Birmingham Food Justice Network

The Food Justice Network (FJN) is a network of over 200 individuals, consisting of:

• charities and charities working with the homeless community
• community interest companies
• social enterprises
• community groups
• groups tackling food waste
• public sector workers
• organisations that provide advice, befriending and social activity
• mutual aids
• individual volunteers
• religious groups of various religions
• academics
• public health professionals, all working together to tackle food insecurity, with some offering food support in the form of hot meals, food parcels, low cost food options and/or pantries.

They are an informal, non-hierarchical network, born out of the amazing work done by countless organisations and individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic. This coordinated response across Birmingham exposed the need for a city-wide network responding to food insecurity, resulting in the FJN.

The Food Justice Network is not part of Birmingham City Council, although we aim to keep a strong link.

The FJN has a mailing list, WhatsApp group chats and the occasional meeting to help share information and resources amongst members, including food, knowledge, support, funding and other opportunities and events.

They work collaboratively with the aim to ensure everyone has fair access to good, nutritious food. We work to gather evidence of the issues within the current food system, influence policymaking and create innovative solutions to the problems whilst raising public awareness of the issues.

To sign up for the mailing list and/or group chats, you can fill out a short form.

For more details, email foodjusticenetwork@theaws.org

Page last updated: 4 November 2025