CAS Community Food Team

29/10/2026

NHS Healthy Start Scheme

As the Suffolk Community Food Project comes to an end on 30 November 2026, we’d like to share some of the organisations we’ve been proud to signpost as part of the project.

For individuals who are more than 10 weeks pregnant, families with children under 4, or eligible parents receiving qualifying benefits, we’ve found the Healthy Start Scheme to be a helpful source of financial support towards healthy food, milk and vitamins.

27/10/2026

Food is rarely just food.

Across Suffolk, many of the projects we work alongside use food as a way to build confidence, reduce isolation, share skills and strengthen communities.

That's one of the reasons we're pleased to see the Bang In Some Beans campaign and toolkit, which highlights the role affordable, nutritious foods such as beans and pulses can play in creating healthier and more sustainable food systems.

Whether you're a community group, school, food project or local organisation, the toolkit contains ideas and resources to help start conversations around healthy, affordable and sustainable food.

Find out more: www.sustainablefoodplaces.org/resources/Toolkits/SFP_Bang_in_Some_Beans_Toolkit.pdf

27/10/2026

Tomorrow! WE HAVE 2 SPACES COME AVAILABLE FOR WEDNESDAY. Book online
10am - 1pm, full funded. Brightspace, Ipswich. www.communityactionsuffolk.org.uk/casevent/3957/

📢 FREE TRAINING OPPORTUNITY - PLACES ARE EXTREMELY LIMITED 📢

Join us for an interactive training session delivered by Your Own Place CIC , designed specifically for volunteers and staff working in community food projects in Suffolk.

This practical workshop will introduce the Restorative and Asset-Based Approaches, helping you build stronger, more empowering relationships with the people you support. You'll learn how to recognise strengths, skills and opportunities, while using conversations that encourage confidence, choice and independence.

By attending, you will:
✅ Understand the principles of the Restorative Approach
✅ Learn practical strategies that support people's agency and independence
✅ Develop skills in asking open questions and using coaching-style conversations
✅ Gain an understanding of the Asset-Based Approach
✅ Feel more confident in identifying and highlighting the strengths and abilities of others

This session will provide useful tools and techniques that you can apply immediately in your role.

⚠️ Places are extremely limited and are fully funded by the CAS Community Food Partnership.

👉 Don't miss this valuable opportunity to access high-quality training at no cost. Secure your place today.
https://cas.aidecrm.co.uk/booking/training-booking?event_id=3957

26/10/2026

Got a growing project in mind? 🥕🥔🍅

We've launched our new Community Growing Fund to support communities looking to establish new growing spaces or enhance existing sites.

Grants of between £5,001 and £30,000 are available to local VCFSE (voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise) organisations for the purchase of land and the development of projects such as community gardens, orchards and other food-growing spaces.

Part of our broader Food and Drink Action Plan, the fund aims to increase access to locally grown food, strengthen food security and encourage more sustainable food systems.

As well as supporting food production, projects funded through the scheme will also help bring people together, improve health and wellbeing, and give residents opportunities to develop their skills and confidence in growing food.

Visit the community funding page on our website to find out all the details and submit an application 👉

26/10/2026

Another excellent event in Halesworth.

26/10/2026

Meet the Be Well Bus

The Be Well Bus is a free mobile health and wellbeing service supporting communities across Norfolk and Suffolk.

Created to help improve access to health and wellbeing support for people experiencing health inequalities, the Be Well Bus brings services directly into local communities, making it easier for residents to access information, guidance and support in a friendly and welcoming environment. The bus is open to everyone and no appointment is needed. People can simply drop in and say hello.

As the service continues to grow, the team works with a wide range of health, wellbeing, voluntary and community organisations to bring additional support directly to local residents. Available services may vary from visit to visit, but every Be Well Bus stop includes access to a free SiSU Health Station.

Free Health Checks in Just 5 Minutes

Visitors can complete a quick self-service health check, which measures:

Blood pressure
Heart rate
Height and weight
Body Mass Index (BMI)
Body fat percentage

The SiSU Health Station provides a useful snapshot of a person's health and wellbeing. While the Be Well Bus is not a medical clinic and cannot provide diagnoses, treatment or medical appointments, it can help people become more aware of their health and connect with the right support where needed.

Alongside the health check, the team can provide information and signposting to local health, wellbeing, family, community and voluntary sector services. Partner organisations regularly come on board, enabling residents to access a variety of support in one convenient location.

Working Together

The Be Well Bus is always looking to build new partnerships and connect with organisations already supporting local communities.

Community events, support hubs, food projects and local initiatives can enquire about hosting a visit. There are also opportunities for organisations and services to join planned visits and engage directly with local residents.

The bus is a 42-foot vehicle, so suitable parking space is required, but many community venues, events and public spaces can accommodate it.

For enquiries about booking the Be Well Bus, becoming a partner, or joining an existing visit, contact:

📧 [email protected]

The team also distributes a regularly updated calendar showing upcoming locations, availability and opportunities for partner organisations to join visits. Those wishing to be added to the mailing list can contact the team via email.

26/10/2026

Over recent months we have been asking projects from across the county to get involved in our 'Spotlight on Volunteers' series.

Earlier this month, we shared an interview with Jane, Rebecca and Anne from Oak Tree Community Farm. The next post in the series features Heidi, from Edible Felixstowe. Swipe across to hear why she chose to get involved and why she would recommend others do the same.

Thank you to Edible Felixstowe for agreeing to take part and allowing us to share the brilliant work your volunteers do!

19/10/2026

The Community Food Partnership team identified key support themes through conversations and feedback from food projects across Suffolk. These themes included need for wraparound services, working together and collaborating, recruitment and retention of volunteers and finding funding opportunities.

As a result, Suffolk-wide food network meetings throughout 2025 and 2026 were arranged with these themes in mind. Each meeting would include a workshop delivered by a specialist individual, organisation or team focusing on these identified areas.

Over this time, 8 network meetings were delivered focusing on organisational resilience, supporting service users and celebrating volunteers.

Thank you to everyone who attended, delivered and hosted our network meetings!

12/10/2026

Over recent months we have been asking projects from across the county to get involved in our 'Spotlight on Volunteers' series.

Last month we shared an interview with Jane from Triangle Top-Up. The next post in the series features Jane, Rebecca and Anne, from The Oak Tree Farm. Swipe across to hear why they chose to get involved and why they would recommend others do the same.

Thank you to Oak Tree Community Farm for agreeing to take part and allowing us to share the brilliant work your volunteers do!

08/10/2026

📢 FREE TRAINING OPPORTUNITY - PLACES ARE EXTREMELY LIMITED 📢

Join us for an interactive training session delivered by Your Own Place CIC , designed specifically for volunteers and staff working in community food projects in Suffolk.

This practical workshop will introduce the Restorative and Asset-Based Approaches, helping you build stronger, more empowering relationships with the people you support. You'll learn how to recognise strengths, skills and opportunities, while using conversations that encourage confidence, choice and independence.

By attending, you will:
✅ Understand the principles of the Restorative Approach
✅ Learn practical strategies that support people's agency and independence
✅ Develop skills in asking open questions and using coaching-style conversations
✅ Gain an understanding of the Asset-Based Approach
✅ Feel more confident in identifying and highlighting the strengths and abilities of others

This session will provide useful tools and techniques that you can apply immediately in your role.

⚠️ Places are extremely limited and are fully funded by the CAS Community Food Partnership.

👉 Don't miss this valuable opportunity to access high-quality training at no cost. Secure your place today.
https://cas.aidecrm.co.uk/booking/training-booking?event_id=3957