I, as a local resident of the Havens area, am witness to the tremendous work Havens Food Cooperative is doing in the community. Their food waste prevention efforts not only contribute to an eco-friendlier environment but also materially support families who would otherwise face severe food poverty. Notably, these initiatives are now under threat due to insufficient funding.

Havens Food Cooperative needs £30,000 to maintain their much-needed operations. Food poverty is a genuine challenge in the UK, with 8.4 million people living in households experiencing food insecurity according to the Food Standards Agency (FSA). Meanwhile, the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) reports that UK households still waste 4.5 million tonnes of food that could have been eaten, estimating it costs the average household £700 a year. The work Havens Food Cooperative is addressing directly helps combat both these statistics.

Therefore, we are calling on Lewes District Council to provide the Havens Food Cooperative with the requisite £30,000. By doing so, the council would be directly supporting food waste prevention work and aids families at risk of food poverty. This is a community necessity and a moral responsibility. Please sign this petition and support Havens Food Cooperative’s crucial work.