Ashfield District Council awarded £222,000 for healthy food programme
Ashfield District Council is to receive £222,000 to support families with access to healthy and affordable food.
The Government Good Food Neighbourhoods grant will be used by the council to increase support in accessing food, leading to improved wellbeing and less families finding themselves dependent on food banks.
The funding will build on the strength of the Feeding Ashfield Network, established in 2021 to support the vision of ‘healthy, happy lives for all who live in Ashfield’. The partnership brings together food banks and clubs, health and education providers and community organisations to share expertise, resources and support for residents.
Working together, members have strengthened links between food hubs and services including energy advice, mental health support and financial help. They have supported community growing projects in schools and neighbourhoods and helped create welcoming, non-judgemental spaces for people seeking support.
The Network also contributes to the Nottinghamshire Sustainable Food and Feeding Britain networks and developed the Feeding Ashfield 10-year Action Plan.
The funding will help the network and its partners speed up the delivery of the 10-year Action Plan, while welcoming new members who share its vision for healthy, affordable food across Ashfield.
Cllr Chris Huskinson, the council’s Executive Lead for Leisure, Health and Wellbeing, said:
“We are pleased to have been awarded this grant to support those who need it most in Ashfield. We know that access to healthy food can be difficult for some people and we want to change that, helping more of our residents enjoy delicious and affordable meals.
“Supporting residents to live healthier and happier lives is a top priority for us as a council. We strongly believe that everyone should have access to good food and be given the support they need to make healthy family meals that don’t break the bank.”
The funding has been awarded to 45 local authorities with the greatest levels of deprivation and childhood obesity. The investment responds to national figures that found nine percent of people lived in food insecure households in 2024/25, while children living in the most deprived communities are significantly more likely to experience obesity and related health inequalities.
The Government’s Environment Secretary Angela Eagle said:
"Ashfield is doing excellent work to help more families gain access to healthy and affordable food, and this new government funding will build on those foundations.
“Together we can break the cycle of food insecurity, bringing fresh, affordable produce into neighbourhoods.”
Find out more about the Feeding Ashfield Action plan by following this link:
Ashfield's Be Health Be Happy Action Plan
Posted on 13 October 2026