Three people are looking at drinks on display on a shop shelf

Children's health and food

Capacity building programme for local food businesses in Lambeth and Southwark

We are working with Do it Now Now to support local food businesses and community organisations to best deliver healthier, affordable and culturally appropriate food for local families living on low incomes.

Key partnership information

Partners: Do it Now Now
Funding amount: £400,000
Duration: August 2024 – February 2027
Programme: Children’s health and food

What we’re doing together

In urban areas such as the London boroughs of Lambeth and Southwark, families living on lower incomes struggle to access healthy, affordable food as they are faced with a tide of unhealthy food in the places they live and shops.

Do it Now Now are delivering a support programme for ten local food organisations and businesses in Lambeth and Southwark, including earlier stage Black-run food businesses and community food providers. The programme aims to support the local food economy in these areas and increase the flow of healthy food in local neighbourhoods.

This will include a six-month capacity building programme, covering topics such as business planning, HR, good governance, investment and funding readiness. Through group learning sessions and 1:1 business support, the organisations will also be supported to improve the healthiness of their products, through reviewing recipes, supply chains and distribution routes.

During the second half of the programme, the ten organisations will have the opportunity to work collaboratively and develop initiatives together to further improve and support the local food environment.

Aims of the partnership

This partnership aims to strengthen the financial position and resilience of the participating organisations and businesses, contributing to a stronger local food economy. In turn, this aims to increase local families’ access to healthier and affordable culturally appropriate food from local businesses and community food access points.

Connection to our strategy

We want to support a thriving and resilient local food economy in Lambeth and Southwark, which includes supporting and harnessing entrepreneurship and innovation to make healthier and culturally appropriate food more accessible and affordable to local families on low incomes. Through this partnership with Do it Now Now, we are able to support and work with ten food businesses, entrepreneurs and community organisations with capacity building and collaborative projects, in turn developing and strengthening the local food ecosystem.

More about Do It Now Now

Do it Now Now is an open-innovation organisation committed to the empowerment of Black people through the provision of access to opportunities for social mobility through financial inclusion and entrepreneurship. Prior to this partnership, Do it Now Now had already worked with hundreds of entrepreneurs, charities and social enterprises, supporting community practice and capacity building.

“At Do it Now Now, we believe that sustainable change in the food system requires long-term investment, collaboration, and the intentional bridging of ecosystem gaps. Through our collaboration with Impact on Urban Health, we are committed to providing essential funding, capacity building, and support for food actors, ensuring they have the tools and connections needed to drive meaningful change. By fostering a more equitable and resilient food ecosystem, we can create lasting impact and improve access to healthier food options for all.”

— Bayo Adelaja, CEO, Do it Now Now

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