AN EXCITING new partnership has been announced which aims to help families who are struggling to keep up with rising food prices.

A number of Cotswold District councillors have expressed their excitement to be working with a multi-agency partnership Feeding Gloucestershire - a network of organisations across the county who work collectively to identify the issues causing food inequality.

Organisations within the network include Cirencester Foodbank, Cirencester Pantry and The Long Table who will work together to develop sustainable solutions for a better, fairer food system. 

There have also been discussions about the possibility of developing a Cotswold District Food Network.

Cotswold District Council has committed £40k to bring total funding to £115k towards the proposed food network. 

This funding is part of the Cotswold Connected Community and Food Programme which the council launched in December last year.

Cllr Claire Bloomer, cabinet member for cost of living and inclusion, said: “I’m thrilled we’ve partnered with Feeding Gloucestershire for their Cotswold District launch.

"The work Feeding Gloucestershire do is so important and the idea of the proposed food network is to support residents and ensure food equity for all.

“In light of the current cost of living crisis we are facing, it is so important to have that community support around you and knowing that there is help out there if you are struggling to access food.

“The proposed food network will not only support residents, but it will focus on tackling other food-related issues such as food waste by supporting initiatives like Cirencester Pantry.

“I’m excited to explore the different options for a Food Network here in the Cotswolds, and I’m confident all the work being done is going to benefit so many residents across our district.”

Lizzie Dyer, project manager at Feeding Gloucestershire, said: “It was great to launch the Feeding Gloucestershire Cotswold District group last week and it was really insightful to have so many different organisations attend to share their ideas about how we can all work together to help all our communities with food related issues.

“It is so important for these conversations to take place as food is such a huge topic that ripples into things like health and wellbeing as well as climate change and carbon footprint.

“I’m looking forward to working with Cotswold District Council in the future and developing the possibility of a food network.”