The Black Food Fund is an organisation shaped for and by Black people from Lambeth and Southwark.


Through this work, we are funding and facilitating a co-led process to establish the Black Food Fund in Lambeth and Southwark. 

The Black Food Fund is an organisation led by a group of people deeply connected to the local food system in Lambeth and Southwark. Funded by Impact on Urban Health, this organisation will be responsible for administering c. £450k worth of grant funding. Our focus will be to help strengthen a locally-rooted support system for Black change-makers (e.g. local food entrepreneurs, community businesses and innovators).

Our ultimate aim, through this fund, is to improve the health of the local food system for Black people living in the boroughs.  

Find out more about our vision here.

LITTLE NOTE: By the local food system we mean the way food is produced and distributed within our area. This includes people and organisations that make food, produce food, promote food, sell food, teach about food or influence the food we eat.

Who. 

A group of Black community leaders passionate about our communities' life and health. We are focused on building healthier food environments for Black people living in Lambeth and Southwark. Click on our images for bios.

Acknowledgements.

The Black Food Fund was initially funded by Impact on Urban Health, hosted by Shift Design and facilitated by Tayo Medupin (Hello Brave).

Between 2021 and 2023 over 25 people worked together for over three years to develop the Black Food Fund. These include Afiya “Fi” Titus, Ali Kakande, Alisha Mulhall, Bayo Adelaja, Bella Hunt, Carmen Lindsay, Destiny McCathy, Duncan Brown, Felicia Boshorin, Fiona Small, Hazel Peck, Janine Carpenter, Kamna Muralidharan, Laura Reynolds, Matt Towner, Marie Mitchell, Maryan Nuur, Melek Erdal, Sadhbh Doherty, Sabrina Seid, Sharmada Nagarajan, Shola Oladipo, Tayo Medupin, Tegha Kum, Will Nicholson and Winne Baffoe. Also, a special mention to Celestine Agbo, who served on the committee until December 2024 and Akwasi Brenya-Mensa who served as a director until August 2026. Special mentions also to Bella Hunt and Daphne Amevenu who both held admin & facilitators roles at the Black Food Fund.

We thank them for their investment in this work so far.

Our timeline.

  • 2021 - 2023: The Community Steering Committee piloted to explore devolved funding for food system in Lambeth & Southwark.

  • Jul 2023: Grant awarded to establish the Black Food Fund.

  • Oct 2023: Initial Black Food Fund committee members selected.

  • Nov 2023: Initial lack Food Fund committee members start.

  • Jan 2024: First initial devolved funding agreement signed. Black Food Fund is fiscally hosted by Shift.

  • Apr 2024: Shift announces that it will be closing.

  • Jun 2024: The interim fiscal hosting agreement is signed.

  • Jun 2024: Black Food Fund launches its first round of grant funding.

  • Jul 2024: Black Food Fund receives 64 expressions of interest.

  • Sept 2024. Black Food Fund awards it’s first four grants totalling £66,455 in their pilot round of funding.

  • Oct 2024. Black Food Fund works with Sistren and decides to incorporate as a company limited by guarantee (CLG).

  • Nov 2024- Feb 2025: Black Food Fund lay foundations to become an independent, establishing strong governance.

  • March 2025: Black Food Funding Limited is officially incorporated.

  • Jul 2025: Black Food Fund gets it’s own bank account.

  • Aug 2025: The second funding round was launched.

  • Sep 2025: Black Food Fund received 43 applications, noting an increase in alignment and quality.

  • Oct 2025: Black Food Fund shortlist 14 applications.

  • Nov 2025: Directors award eight grants totalling £195,000.

  • Feb 2026: Black Food Fund receives a funding uplift.

  • Mar 2026: Black Food Fund designs it’s first closed funding round.

  • May 2026: Black Food Fund invite seven shortlisted candidates to the first round of closed, invite only funding.

  • ‍July 2026: Black Food Fund award a further five grants totalling £110,000 for the first closed funding round. ‍

  • Sept 2026: Black Food Fund hosts it’s first all grantee Learning Day.

Thoughout this, the Black Food Fund has worked hard to lay solid foundations to be a by-and-for organisation that we can be proud of. One that works in alignment with it’s vision, mission and values as well as towards building towards the next three years of the Black Food Fund.

Get In Touch. 

If you have feedback, are interested in learning more or want to get involved please contact Tayo and Daphne at hello@blackfood.fund