Creating a shared picture of UK civil society's work on food

Food Issues Census 3: Creating a shared picture of UK civil society’s work on food and farming

We are now developing our third Food Issues Census, building off the back of previous censuses that we coordinated in 2017 and 2011.

The census aims to illuminate the work that diverse civil society organisations are doing on food and farming in the UK – helping organisations to understand their roles within the wider ecosystem and identify opportunities for greater collective impact. We’ll cast light upon the specific needs, resources and experiences across the four UK nations, and provide fertile ground for connections and collaborations where these don’t yet exist. Crucially, the census also provides a trusted reference point for funders, policymakers and other social change decision-makers to understand gaps and niches in knowledge and capacity, and to target funding strategies and outreach accordingly. Food Issues Census 3 will: 

• re-map the landscape of civil society organisations working on food & farming
• illuminate who is working on what 
• understand civil society needs and capacity to meet food system challenges
• ask what is needed from funders  
• support a more dynamic, coherent and impactful sector
  

Ways to get involved

The food and farming community is invited to participate in the census throughout three key phases:

1. Listening Phase: The questions we ask in the census are being co-designed with civil society. On 12th November we held a public workshop to gather ideas from civil society, asking: what do you want to know ab out the ecosystem within which you work? What insights and data will help you to feel more connected, supported, understood and resourced? If you weren’t able to join the workshop on the, you have until 20th November to feed into census design – click here to share your thoughts.
2. Survey Participation: Responding to survey questions and case study requests as part of the census. December- January.
3. Dissemination: Learning about and utilising the census findings. April-May. 

PAYMENT FOR PARTICIPATION 

The Food Ethics Council is committed to bringing in the experiences of a genuinely diverse range of organisations as part of this project.

We know that diverse communities, from Black and People of Colour (BPOC) to working class communities, LGBTQIA+ folks, neurodivergent people and people with disabilities are vastly under-represented in the food, farming and environment sectors. Yet, we also know that there is incredible work being done by diverse groups on the ground, which is often overlooked and under-resourced within the sector.

Our goal is to broaden engagement in the Food Issues Census by actively including, welcoming, and amplifying voices that have been previously excluded.

To address these barriers, we have established the Food Issues Census Inclusion Fund. The fund aims to provide financial and language support to frontline or grassroots organisations, individuals who are non-native English speakers and anyone who may otherwise not be able to engage in the process. Click here to find out more.

SIGN UP TO THE FOOD ISSUES CENSUS NEWSLETTER

“What I find really helpful about the Food Issues Census is the way it gives us a complete picture of what’s going on across the whole movement… a sense of what people think is important, what they’re working on, and what they’re struggling with… together we can design a much better future.” – Kath Dalmeny, Chief Executive of Sustain

Photos captured by Will Hearle.