Who We Are
Making Local Food Work is a five year programme funded by the Big Lottery Fund. We are a partnership of seven organisations, all of whom believe in empowering communities to tackle the challenges they face themselves. We believe that community food enterprises are the most effective way of enabling communities to ensure long-term access to local food. As a consortium of seven organisations, we use our expertise to promote and support different types of community food enterprises through the Making Local Food Work programme.
Making Local Food Work is a partnership made up of the following organisations:
 | CPRE, the Campaign to Protect Rural England, is a charity which promotes the beauty, tranquillity and diversity of rural England. It advocates positive solutions for the long-term future of the countryside. Founded in 1926, it has 60,000 supporters and a branch in every county. President: Bill Bryson. Patron: Her Majesty The Queen. |
 | Co-operativesUK is the trade association for all types of co-operative enterprise throughout the UK. It believes that co-operatives and the wider social enterprise sector make a substantial contribution to the UK economy, and provide effective sustainable solutions to many of the social and economic challenges of modern society. http://www.cooperatives-uk.coop |
 | Country Markets Ltd is a co-operative social enterprise that organises and promotes individual Country Markets throughout England, Wales and the Channel Islands. Members of the co- operative sell their high quality, genuinely home-produced baked goods, honey, eggs, fruit, vegetables, plants and crafts at over 400 weekly Country Markets, Farmers' Markets and other outlets throughout the country. Country Markets Ltd is a proud supporter and sponsor of British Food Fortnight. http://www.country-markets.co.uk |
 | The National Farmers' Retail & Markets Association (FARMA) is a co-operative of farmers, local food producers and farmers' market organisers who sell direct to the public. FARMA member farmers' markets are independently inspected and certified to ensure that they are "the real thing". FARMA works across the UK and internationally to develop the direct sales sector through proactive networking and supporting members through change. |
 | The Plunkett Foundation helps to support rural communities to take control of the issues affecting them through community ownership. We advocate and support economic self-help as a means of enabling communities to meet their changing needs. Founded in 1919, we are the UK's leading information resource on rural group enterprise development. We work with a range of organisations to develop support programmes for rural co-operatives and social enterprises, from community-owned shops to local food initiatives. We are also strategic partners with government departments to provide an enabling environment for rural communities to thrive. |
 | Sustain: The alliance for better food and farming advocates food and agriculture policies and practices that enhance the health and welfare of people and animals, improve the working and living environment, enrich society and culture and promote equity. Sustain represents around 100 national public interest organisations working at international, national, regional and local level. |
 | The Soil Association is the UK's leading membership charity campaigning for sustainable food and farming. It believes that the health of soil, plants, animals, people and the planet are all interconnected. For more than 60 years it has worked to promote truly sustainable farming systems and a vibrant, healthy food culture that is accessible to all. As an educational charity, the Soil Association's primary work is to improve the public's understanding of the impact of different methods of food production on health and the environment. It also lobbies policy makers, supports and advises organic farmers and nurtures local food networks that brings consumers and producers together, and campaigns on issues such as genetic engineering in food, animal welfare and pesticides. |
