Applications now open for charities to access funds raised by Anti Banquet

Local community groups and charities supporting food insecurity can apply for a share of the £110K raised by the event and wider Bristol Local Food Fund fundraising until Monday 17 June. 

Following the overwhelming success of the first edition of the Anti Banquet back in February, Bristol Local Food Fund (BLFF), alongside its partners Quartet Community Foundation and Feeding Bristol, has opened applications for charities and community food projects to put themselves forward to gain access to the £110K worth of funds raised by the unique event and wider BLFF fundraising initiatives.

BLFF is a voluntary project with the aim of creating a city of food justice, giving people access to nutritious and affordable food, regardless of their background or situation. BLFF fundraises from people and businesses across Bristol, reallocating funds collected to community food projects tackling food insecurity.

Applications to access these essential funds are now open and will close on Monday 17 June on the Bristol Local Food Fund website. Those applying must support one or more of the five priorities outlined in Bristol's Food Equality Strategy and Action Plan, including projects that promote: Fair, equitable access; Choice and security; Skills and resources; A sustainable local food system; and Put food at the heart of decision-making. The grant will fund any costs related to the activity, project or service applying, given that it addresses food justice issues.

Image: Plaster Creative Communications

The fund is allocated through ‘participatory grantmaking’ where people who have lived experience of food insecurity will make decisions about which community food projects the funding is awarded to. Made up of six people, this Citizens Panel has held meetings to discuss the grant-giving process, where they have explored the impacts of food insecurity and ways to support food justice.

In total, there is £110,000 in grant funding available, with no limit to the amount companies and community organisations can apply for. The Citizens Panel aims to spread the funding across the city, and expects average grant sizes to range between £5,000 - £10,000.

After its success earlier this year,,the Anti Banquet will return on a date yet to be announced, with hopes of continuing to pave the way for businesses in the South West to help those suffering from food insecurity in our city.

The grant will prioritise applications from groups supporting people and areas most affected by food insecurity, including single parents, disabled people, people from black and minority ethnic groups, carers, people identifying as LGBTQIA+, and young people (aged 16-24). Once submitted, the panel will review all applications, deciding on which projects will receive the funding based on the relevancy to the Food Equality Strategy and Action Plan and the support given to those affected by food insecurity.

Image: Jayde Adams and Joe Sims, credit Plaster Creative Communications

BLFF hopes to increase the amounts raised and distributed into the future, and is currently campaigning to raise a further £150,000 by the end of 2024.

To find out more about BLFF and participatory grantmaking, head to the Bristol Local Food Fund website.

Michael Lloyd-Jones, BLFF, said: “We are still overwhelmed by the amount of money raised by the Anti Banquet, and the additional support from individuals and businesses that BLFF has received.  Food insecurity throughout Bristol is so prevalent, so we hope to continue these funding rounds with larger amounts every year, supporting community food projects across our city to make a huge difference to those suffering the most.”

Image: Plaster Creative Communications

In 2022, BLFF crowdfunded and distributed £60,000 to support 18 community food projects across Bristol, including St Paul's Adventure Playground in St Pauls, Lush Greens CIC in Hengrove and Travelling Kitchen CIC in Southmead.

St Paul's Adventure Playground received £5,000 of funding, which was spent on free food provision for children visiting the playground. On average the playground provided

100 meals per session for 5 sessions per week for local children and support for families. 

£5,000 of funding enabled Lush Greens in Hengrove to grow 5,431 portions of fresh veg (or 1,713 kg) which was donated directly to two local food banks throughout the year, increasing access to local grown vegetables for service users.

Travelling Kitchen CIC, received a grant of £4,960, which was used to support a series of community cook-ups in Southmead where residents could learn new cooking skills, share a lunch together and take away some fresh meals that were batch-cooked during the session. The funding also covered costs of cookery tutors who planned and managed sessions; venue rental costs; meal ingredients; recyclable take-away containers; kitchen equipment; and recipe cards.