The food charter for community group North Staffordshire Community Food Network was launched by Alistair Fisher from the Public Health Department at Stoke on Trent City Council and Dr Emma Surman, Associate Director of CASIC at the recently held community food festival in Burslem, Staffordshire.  The charter was developed by the local community in a workshop designed and run by CASIC in conjunction with New Vic Borderlines using the principles of cultural animation. 

The charter is key step in the cities desire to obtain accreditation as a sustainable food city and during a short ceremony to launch it, Emma Surman thanked the members of the public and the network who had worked so hard on its development.  Alistair Fischer noted the excellent progress that had been made by the network in such a short time and passed on the positive feedback on its achievements so far that had been received from the Sustainable Food Cities evaluation panel.

The North Staffordshire Community Food Network brings together organisations, institutions, individuals, community and social enterprise groups in a spirit of genuine co-operation on issues and celebrations focused on food. This includes topics around the sustainability and security of food supply, food poverty, food waste and health and welfare .The network aims to provide an inclusive network which challenges, informs and celebrates the contribution that the community makes to the sustainable food future of North Staffordshire and the charter was developed to set out their ambitions for the future and to encourage others to members of the public, organisations and other community groups to make a similar commitment and join them on their journey.

At the food festival which attracted over 1,000 visitors, members of the food network collected signatures in support of the charter and will continue to do this as they visit many other events around the local area to promote the charter and encourage people to think about the ways that they can support the provision of good local food that is available to all.