Empowering Communities Through Sustainable Food
Local Food First: Fresh Roots, Strong Community
Join us in transforming Greater Manchester with accessible, nutritious food for all.
Community Engagement
Connecting families and schools with nature through hands-on activities.
Sustainable Initiatives
Promoting organic practices and food security projects.
Our Mission
Local Food First CIC is committed to enhancing access to affordable, healthy food across Greater Manchester. Our mission is to foster community resilience through sustainable food practices, educational workshops, and nature-based activities. By collaborating with local families, schools, and organisations, we aim to build a stronger, healthier community that values environmental stewardship and food security.
The main focus currently is on Wildbrook Community Food & Growing Hub, which is a partner organisation alongside Oldham Council Environmental Services.
Our Initiatives
Explore our diverse range of community-focused programs designed to promote sustainability and food security.
Food Security Projects
1. Support Veg Bag Scheme
The Support Veg Bag Scheme provides affordable, fresh fruit and vegetables to families and individuals facing food insecurity. By working with local community food growing projects and Farechare, we ensure access to nutritious, seasonal produce while also supporting small-growing projects. The scheme prioritises low-income households, offering a subsidised rate to those in need. Additionally, we educated participants on how to cook with seasonal ingredients, reduce food waste, and promote healthier eating habits.
2. Support Food Growing for the Foodbank
Our Support Food Growing for the Foodbank initiative focuses on growing fresh, organic produce specifically for local food banks. By partnering with volunteers, schools, and community groups, we cultivate vegetables, herbs, and fruits that are distributed directly to those in need. This mission not only increases the availability of fresh food at food banks—often dominated by non-perishable items—but also raises awareness about food sovereignty and the power of community-led food production.
3. Community Growing
The Community Growing mission brings people together to cultivate shared green spaces, creating a more sustainable and resilient local food system. We support residents in learning how to grow their own food, providing skills, tools, and resources to establish community gardens. These spaces serve as hubs for education, wellbeing, and social connection, empowering people to take an active role in their food production. Through workshops, training sessions, and seasonal events, we foster a culture of collaboration and sustainability.
Interactive Workshops
1. Affordable Cooking
The Affordable Cooking workshop teaches participants how to prepare nutritious, budget-friendly meals using seasonal and locally sourced ingredients. We focus on simple, healthy recipes that minimise food waste and maximise flavour, helping families and individuals make the most of their food budgets. Participants learn essential cooking skills, meal planning, and how to adapt recipes to what’s available, making healthy eating accessible to all.
2. Eco-Craft
Our Eco-Craft workshop combines creativity with sustainability, showing participants how to repurpose waste materials into useful or decorative items. From upcycling fabric scraps into reusable shopping bags to making biodegradable plant pots from newspapers, this workshop inspires practical and eco-friendly solutions to everyday waste. It’s a fun, hands-on way to promote environmental awareness while developing artistic skills and reducing landfill waste.
3. Money-Saving Tips
The Money-Saving Tips workshop helps individuals and families stretch their budgets further with practical advice on reducing everyday expenses. Participants learn strategies for smart shopping, meal planning on a budget, reducing energy costs, and making the most of community resources. We also explore ways to cut down on waste, repurpose household items, and find cost-effective alternatives for essential goods. This workshop empowers people with simple yet effective financial habits that can make a real difference in managing household costs.
School Engagement
1. A Day at Wildbrook
A Day at Wildbrook offers an immersive outdoor learning experience for students at the Wildbrook Community Hub, combining education with hands-on nature activities. Children can explore pond ecosystems through pond dipping, identify local birds while bird watching, and discover fascinating insects during bug hunting. They can also get creative with nature crafting, learn about seasonal fruit and vegetable growing, and have fun at the compost disco while understanding composting. Additionally, they can support wildlife by making bird feeders, insect homes, and hedgehog hotels, all while engaging in exciting Forest School activities.
2. In-School Workshops
Our In-School Workshops bring hands-on environmental learning directly to the classroom, tailored to fit the curriculum. Students can explore recycling and composting with interactive demonstrations using coffee grounds and organic peelings while discovering the fascinating world of insects. Growing activities include creating a pollinator-friendly wildflower meadow to attract and observe pollinators or taking part in “Grow Your Loaf,” where they sow, grow, and harvest wheat to learn the journey from seed to loaf, culminating in baking their own bread. Additionally, bug hunting activities allow students to collect insects from their playground and examine them up close using microscopes and magnifiers.
Community Events & Activities
Our Family and Community Events & Activities bring people of all ages together to connect with nature, learn new skills, and enjoy the outdoors. From seasonal festivals and nature walks to hands-on gardening and wildlife conservation, there’s something for everyone. Families can take part in interactive workshops on composting, growing food, and creating pollinator-friendly spaces. Kids can enjoy bug hunts, pond dipping, and nature crafting, while adults can engage in sustainable living talks and community planting projects. With fun-filled events like the compost disco, Apple pressing, wildflower printing and DIY bird feeder workshops, these activities foster a sense of community, environmental responsability, and outdoor adventure for all.
Upcoming Community Events
Blossom Day
April 27, 2025
Celebrate the beauty of spring with us at Blossom Day, a joyful community event filled with nature, creativity, and discovery! Enjoy a guided blossom walk, learn about pollinators, and take part in fun activities like nature sketching, storytelling, and wildflower planting. Whether you’re a nature lover, a budding artist, or just looking for a relaxing day outdoors, there’s something for everyone. Let’s welcome the season together and help our local green spaces bloom!
Spring Planting Festival
March 10, 2025
Celebrate the start of spring with seed planting activities and garden planning sessions for all ages.
Summer Eco-Camp
July 5, 2025
Engage in eco-friendly crafts and outdoor adventures designed to connect kids with nature.
What Our Community Says
★★★★★
“Participating in the workshops has been a transformative experience for our family. We’ve learned so much about sustainable living!”
★★★★★
“Local Food First has been an incredible partner in our school’s gardening project, inspiring students to care for the environment.”
Join Our Community Initiatives
Be a part of the change! Sign up for our engaging workshops, subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates, or volunteer with Local Food First to help us build a healthier, more sustainable community in Greater Manchester. Together, we can make a difference!