Gateshead Food Summit

Too many people in Gateshead are not able to afford or access good food. Too many people are suffering from poor health and preventable disease directly affected by the food they eat. The food we grow, produce, and distribute is significantly contributing to climate change and lasting environmental damage. We know we can do better for Gateshead. Improving our food system can reduce inequalities, improve our health and mental wellbeing, protect and restore our environment, and help Gateshead thrive.

The inaugural Gateshead Food Summit will be officially launching Gateshead Food Partnership: a collaboration of organisations looking at a joined up, whole system approach to make nutritious, culturally appropriate, and environmentally sustainable food affordable and accessible for everyone in Gateshead.

We invite representatives from public, voluntary and private sector organisations, as well as any interested Gateshead citizens, to join us at the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Arts to hear opportunities and challenges relating to food in Gateshead, to network with others, be inspired by work already happening, and to join in discussions and take action together. We will ask attendees to sign Gateshead's new Food Charter, to help co-create and deliver a sustainable food strategy for Gateshead.

Programme

* Explore the issues and opportunities relating to food in the North East, from diet-related health inequalities and food insecurity, to environmental sustainability and local economic growth. We want to inspire political and grassroots food system change across Gateshead.
* Hear from local organisations, businesses, and public sector projects to find out what is happening to influence change across the whole food system, and be inspired to get involved.
* Join us in building momentum for food system transformation by signing the new Gateshead Food Charter, gathering ideas and voices that can be built into a Gateshead food system strategy.
* Join panel discussions on what role local food businesses have to play in building a sustainable food system; and how Gateshead communities can move beyond the food bank, seeking 'food justice, not food aid'.
* Engage with stallholders from a range of organisations and projects, with plenty of opportunities for networking and discussion.
* Enjoy lunch provided by a collective of local voluntary sector organisations.

Key speakers

* Councillor Donovan, Deputy Leader of Gateshead Council
* Andrew Forsey, Feeding Britain
* Alice Wiseman, Director of Public Health for Gateshead and Newcastle Councils
* Alison Dunn, CEO of Citizen's Advice Gateshead and Service Director for Communities, Health and Wellbeing
* Nikki Dravers, Gateshead Food Partnership Coordinator and founder of REfUSE CIC