Nourishing Norfolk

By Norfolk Community Foundation

What if the way we tackle food insecurity could do more than put food on the table?  What if it could build confidence, strengthen communities, and transform local systems?

This is what we (Norfolk Community Foundation) asked ourselves when we embarked on our Nourishing Norfolk programme.

What began as a single pilot in 2020 has grown into a network of 26 affordable food hubs across the county, reaching towns, villages and rural communities that are often left behind.  An independent evaluation by the University of East Anglia shows that the programme is not only tackling food insecurity, but also creating stronger, more resilient communities.

More than just food

Food hubs are not food banks.  They look and feel more like corner shops, where members choose and pay for the food and household products they want.  With no strict rules or complicated referral processes, people can come in when they need to, without fear of being judged or turned away.

This low barrier for entry means hubs reach people often missed by other services.  Indeed, 46.5% of those surveyed said the food hub was the only support they’d used that year.  Hubs go beyond a reactive response to crisis, providing support early to prevent people reaching from crisis point in the first place.

We understand that food insecurity is never just about food.  At the hubs, staff and volunteers take time to get to know people, not just their problems.  They listen without judgement, build trust, and offer kindness that makes people feel seen. As one member put it:

"I’m ignored by most of the world.  This place makes me feel noticed and has saved my life by talking to me like I’m a human being, not a statistic."

By easing the stress of putting food on the table, hubs give people the space to focus on the next steps – whether that’s learning to cook, finding work, tackling debt or simply connecting with others.  What starts as reliable access to affordable food can quickly become much more, but it all starts with community.

Trusting our communities

Norfolk is a large, rural, and diverse county.  A one-size-fits-all approach was never going to work.  We believe that solutions come from within communities, and our role is to enable, not dictate, so we backed local people to shape their own food hubs.

Each hub looks and feels different because it reflects the community that owns it.  All are rooted in local assets.  These assets range from motivated volunteers to well-used community spaces and local partnerships, with each hub led by people who understand the specific needs of their area.

This trust has paid off.  Hubs have fostered strong local commitment, helped create local pathways for support and built trust between members and service providers.  Hubs are relevant to their communities and are able to respond quickly to emerging needs.

A network approach

Lone projects can make a difference, but networks can drive real change. We created the Nourishing Norfolk Network to link hubs together, providing shared funding, practical support, and opportunities to learn from one another.  This structure means that while each hub is unique, they are never isolated.  Instead, they benefit from being part of something bigger, with access to resources and ideas that strengthen their own work.

We convened a partnership with the Norse Group to unlock use of its county-wide warehouse and distribution network (a first for the UK) and something no single hub could have achieved alone.  This means reliable access to affordable food across all hubs, allowing them to focus on what they do well: supporting their members, building relationships and responding to local needs.

Working with a foundation

Nourishing Norfolk grew quickly because of Norfolk Community Foundation’s role as a trusted partner.  Acting as a central point of contact, we make it easier for funding, food and other resources to flow where they are most needed, while removing complexity for external partners.

Local authorities and health services feel confident investing because of our strong governance and accountability, while national funders, businesses and private donors know their support will be used well and have a measurable impact.

Our convening power has also been vital.  By connecting the right people and building trust across sectors, we have created the conditions for local groups to lead change, while ensuring they have the backing and resilience to plan for the future.

A blueprint for change

Nourishing Norfolk is a reminder that food insecurity can be addressed in ways that are preventative, dignified and community led.  The lesson for funders and policymakers is that solutions must go beyond crisis response.  By trusting communities, building networks and focusing on dignity, we can create food systems that don’t just feed people in the short term, but create space long-term resilience and enable communities to thrive.