As community food researchers we work with the local FoodSEqual team, based at University of Plymouth and Food Plymouth CIC, to plan and organise various food and community based events and support FoodSEqual research activities, to find out more about what people in Whitleigh are eating or would like to eat.
Having the opportunity to work with FoodSEqual as community food researchers has built on our existing connections and roles with food and the community in Whitleigh and helped new understanding of the local activities we are involved in; surplus food provision, a community larder, a community allotment and organisations such as Whitleigh Big Local.
Over the past year we have undertaken research skills training, foraged in the local woods – learning about plant identification and cooking outdoors on a camp stove with the plants we foraged, organised a cream tea community research event and published a Community Cookbook! We also host monthly drop in breakfasts and regularly run social, food-based community events.
One of the highlights of being involved in FoodSEqual is having the opportunity to meet other community researchers, to date we have visited Whitley in Reading and Brighton. Everything we have learned will help us run future community food and research events that are relevant and appealing for people in this area of Plymouth.
Being a community food researcher within the FoodSEqual project means being part of a bigger change and there is hope and excitement to see what that change will mean for Whitleigh and Plymouth. In 2023 we will be running more events and activities and look forward to further conversations and sharing with community reseachers in other FoodSEqual sites.
We are thrilled to launch our Whitleigh Community Cookbook! See here for link.
Join us at a Monthly Breakfast Meeting to enjoy some homemade cooking, chat about food and find out more about the FoodSEqual project in Plymouth.
2nd Monday of every month 9.30am to 10.30am, Four Greens Community Trust, Whitleigh Green PL5 4DD.
You would be very welcome! Joanna, Julia, Laura, Mel, Star and Yve.