The Tang Hall Food Co-operative was set up to address the challenges of limited access to shops where residents could buy healthy, affordable food, within their own community.
Who
Tang Hall Community Centre established the food co-operative to support local people experiencing disadvantage.
What
Residents grow food together, established a shop for selling and swapping produce, share recipes, learn cooking skills, and share community meals.
Where
Tang Hall, York
When
2018-2020
Locally-owned shops where people can buy affordable, healthy food and keep local wealth more equitably within communities is an important part of addressing local health inequalities. The Tang Hall Food Co-operative was set up to address the challenges of limited access to shops where residents could buy healthy, affordable food, within their own community.
The food co-op enables local people to access fresh, healthy food locally, whilst retaining money in the local community and also ensures that food is part of a local supply chain, which is an important element in creating a strong local economy. The project also created an accessible green community space where local people can grow food together.
During lockdown, the Community Hall became a Local Authority Hub and Tang Hall Food Co-Operative operated a food delivery service to support their community to access food and other supplies. The project used food to deepen community connections, expand social circles and enable skill sharing.
We are surrounded by takeaways and fast food shops. We recognise the need for food banks in society but we wanted to support people a step before they needed to turn to foodbanks, which is why we now have the food cooperative.
Stephen
Project member
