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A shining example of how communities are taking more control of their futures came today with the announcement that over 1.4 million people have already benefitted from a nationwide initiative to support community food enterprises.

The Making Local Food Work programme, funded by the Big Lottery Fund’s Changing Spaces programme, reported that it had already exceeded its target of reaching out to 1 million people by 2012, with a staggering 1.4million people being provided with better access to local food by sustainable community enterprises.

Making Local Food Work is a 5 year programme which aims to help communities across England to take control of their food and where it comes from. By reaching out to urban and rural dwellers across the country to offer advice and support on a range of community food enterprises, Making Local Food Work ensures that people have access to healthy, locally-produced food that not only meets the needs of the individual but the community as a whole.

Jennifer Smith, Head of managing Making Local Food Work, commented: "We’re thrilled to report such a high level of success and delighted that we have already surpassed our target two years sooner than anticipated. Initially we thought the targets were ambitious, but we found a real need within communities for our support, again emphasizing the importance of supporting communities to take ownership of their food and where it comes from. We now have a further two years to concentrate on doing all we can to reach even more people."

Community food enterprises are businesses run by communities for their benefit, which are involved in at least one part of growing, harvesting, processing, distributing, selling or serving local food. Community food enterprises include, for example, farmers’ markets, Community Supported Agriculture enterprises, community-owned shops and food co-operatives, and benefit both rural and urban dwellers.

Peter Wanless, Chief Executive of Big Lottery Fund, said: "We are very pleased to see that the Big Lottery Fund grant awarded to Making Local Food Work is having such a positive impact on so many people. An aim of the funding, from our Changing Spaces programme, was to enable communities to lead healthier and more environmentally sustainable lifestyles and it is great to see that being achieved right across the country."

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