This On Our Doorsteps project seeks to increase awareness of the benefits of and involvement with local food production, preparation and consumption among staff and students at different campuses and respective neighbouring communities, improving access to fresh, seasonal and healthy fare. Background

Several partnership projects with different foci related to food and sustainability do already exist but they generally emphasise contribution of University expertise rather than engagement with the university community and neighbouring communities at the same time. This project hopes to achieve this by exploring the opportunities and wishes of staff, students and neighbouring communities, essential in to developing meaningful and relevant actions. In addition to their expertise and reach in local neighbourhoods, Harvest Brighton & Hove will also extend and develop their project’s potential by accessing a large student population.

Further there is a need to embed these activities within existing University structures and systems and develop a working example of collaborative work around local food. The aim is to determine ways in which to expand and adapt the model to different campus-community contexts and develop a framework that would make such projects easily achievable on different University sites. The Project

This project seeks to increase awareness of the benefits of and involvement with local food production, preparation and consumption among staff and students at different campuses and respective neighbouring communities, improving access to fresh, seasonal and healthy fare. In doing so, the partnership hopes to grow an active forum of interested partners to share and discuss issues, ideas and research in relation to this agenda.

The partnership, facilitated through the Environmental Action Network (EAN, a grassroots forum within the University whose members have identified and voiced their desire for more local, seasonal and ethical food related activities) aims to develop an operational example of collaborative work around local food. The project will also determine ways in which to expand and adapt the model to different campus-community contexts and develop a framework that would make such projects easily achievable on different University sites.

The Sustainable Development Coordination Unit has established links with the Sustainable Development Policy Management Group in the University and through the EAN will engage students and staff. Harvest Brighton & Hove ,part of a 'beacon project' funded by the Big Lottery Fund's Local Food grants, raise awareness, organise events, train and work with the council to acquire more land and make better use of space. They work closely with other local projects and potential partners through their links with Brighton & Hove food Partnership and Food Matters.

The events that we intend to develop through this co-working will include:

Workshops about food growing
Cookery demonstrations on using seasonal fruit and vegetables
Help with planning and promoting events to increase awareness of and access to local food

The partnership with Harvest B&H will be developed so that many of the activities they will do with the University and adjacent communities will be integrated into their existing work and project objectives. This is important for the viability of the partnership and will create strong links that will cement further collaborative work. Project Partners

Sustainable Development Unit and Harvest Brighton & Hove

Evaluation report attached