RCT Food
New Sustainable Food Places Member
RCT Food is a new food partnership hosted by Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council. Its vision is that all people living, working in or visiting Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) have access to healthy, tasty, affordable food that’s good for the environment and for the local economy.
Having recently become a member of the Sustainable Food Places (SFP) network, RCT Food was initially established following a Community Growing Solutions Network event that was held by Interlink in July 2020. The event was attended by a number of interested stakeholders, including local community groups, third sector organisations, Health professionals, Local Authority representatives and local businesses. After discussing the best way forward, it was recommended that the partnernship should apply for Sustainable Food Places support to begin a collaborative approach to developing a Good Food Movement in RCT.
Following a successful Development Grant, RCT Food has now become a Member of the Sustainable Food Places network and recently appointed a Sustainable Food Coordinator, Sam Evans.
“It’s great to be a member of the SFP network and we look forward to developing and implementing our work plan which includes strengthening our Steering Group and growing our Sustainable Food Network further,” says Sam.
“We have ambitious plans in RCT and eventually hope to work towards a Gold award,” continues Sam. “We, along with our partners, want to have a big impact on Climate Change through the food that we grow, sell and eat. We are aiming to foster and develop a Good Food Movement in RCT that will deliver healthy food for all; help improve people’s health; create a local sustainable food economy and ultimately ensure that the food that we eat and consume is good for the planet.
“RCT Food has huge potential to develop benefits for the people of RCT by providing more opportunities to grow, purchase and eat more locally produced sustainable food. The partnership also offers the potential to deliver and support the development of a local sustainable food economy as well as highlighting the environmental benefits that sustainable food practices can have on the local environment, such as reducing CO2 emissions and improved soil health.”
If you would like to know more about RCT Food, or if you would like to be involved in a Good Food Movement in RCT please contact Sam Evans, Sustainable Food Coordinator by emailing Sam.Evans@rctcbc.gov.uk or phoning 07385 401 835.
