Healthy food projects boosted with £222k fund

Four councils in Lancashire have been selected for government funding to help improve access to healthy and affordable food.

The Good Food Neighbourhood Programme, announced by Environment Secretary Angela Eagles at the Labour Party Conference this week, will see £10m invested in the 45 areas in most need.

Blackpool, Pendle, Rossendale and Burnley have all been granted £222,000 to invest in community food projects.

Blackpool Council's cabinet member for public health, Matthew Thomas, said "food insecurity, health inequality and more limited access to nutritious food are challenges faced by many of our residents".

The council said it would build on existing support such as funding free school breakfasts for primary school children, along with support for community-led projects such as food banks and groceries.

"These issues can have far-reaching consequences, impacting people's health and wellbeing and life chances so we're pleased to have extra funding in place," Thomas said.

Meanwhile, Burnley Council said the funding would help it build its community grocer, to bridge the gap between a food bank and the supermarket.

Councillor Martyn Hurt, Burnley Council's portfolio holder for health, said: "We particularly want to look at how this can support families, improve nutrition and help children develop healthier eating habits that can benefit them in the longer term."

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