If you are a foodbank or other food project

We recognise the important work that food projects are doing in Birmingham and want to thank you for helping 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 Birmingham 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 Birmingham

Provide the right food

We want to support you in addressing food insecurity to its fullest extent by providing as nutritious food as possible. We developed this tool for use by food banks and other food aid providers, where possible.

We have put together guidelines for creating a nutritionally balanced food parcel, with ingredients that can be cooked into a meal. It also considers individual requirements such as food intolerances and allergies, cultural preferences and cooking facilities.

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.

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.

Consider accepting Healthy Start vouchers

If you are a food project that charges 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.

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 food bank.

Use 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 key part of community food provision, and maintaining high standards is essential to prevent contamination, reduce waste, and make sure all food provided is safe to eat. This includes proper temperature control, allergen management, hygiene practices, and clear labelling.

By following food safety measures correctly, community food projects can ensure that 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.

Check if your project is on the Food Justice Network Map

The FJN has mapped food provision across Birmingham, with the aim of making information on where people can access help with food available 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.

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 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 citywide network to address food insecurity, resulting in the FJN.

The FJN 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 among members, including food, knowledge, support, funding, and other opportunities and events.

They work collaboratively to make sure everyone has fair access to good, nutritious food. We work to gather evidence of the issues within the current food system, influence policymaking, create innovative solutions to the problems, and raise public awareness of these issues.

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

For more details, email foodjusticenetwork@theaws.org.

Page last updated: 4 November 2025