Our Vision of Food Justice.
A Just Food Future for Black Communities
The Black Food Fund envisions a future where Black communities are empowered with the resources and freedom to boldly imagine and cultivate a thriving food system deeply rooted in African and Caribbean traditions, ensuring continued health, abundance, and self-determination for generations.
We see a future where African and Caribbean foodways are protected and encouraged. Black food justice is achieved through dismantling systemic oppression, resourcing and safeguarding our community, and aligning food systems with broader movements for social justice.
Mission
Funding Change, Nourishing Futures
The Black Food Fund exists to fund Black communities to create and contribute towards an ethical, sustainable food system.
We invest in people, communities, spaces, knowledge, and traditions that make up the vibrant ecosystem of Black food — from seed to table, research to ideology.
We challenge the status quo of UK grantmaking, seeking a more radical and equitable approach to funding in support of Black communities.
We are here to build a food system rooted in equity, self-determination, and cultural dignity by:
Supporting access to land and community food spaces
Backing research, enterprise, and education that decolonises and reclaims food narratives
Championing Black food business
Advocating for anti-oppressive policies and direct, clear movement towards a future that cares for all Black people
Celebrating African and Caribbean food cultures as vital to our collective future
Together, we work to ensure that Black food systems, knowledge and understanding are preserved now and for generations to come.
Why
The current local food system is inequitable. Access to healthy food is a luxury, and Black people in South East London are disproportionately impacted.
Innovation and community ownership are important levers for change on a national and local level, helping to disrupt this status quo.
We are committed to speeding up this disruption and to supporting Black change-makers from Lambeth and Southwark to be part of the movement.
Through this fund, we want to strengthen a locally rooted system of support for Black change-makers. We want to invest in those embedded in the local community, food system and businesses. We think they're best equipped to decide how to improve this local system of support.
The Black Food Fund is an opportunity to learn what this system of support would look like if the resources and power to shape and fund it were held by local experts. It’s also an opportunity for us to learn how to shift resources and power in this way.
As an organisation, we will…
Act locally, care nationally: We want to create longevity and a legacy of Black change-makers, especially in Lambeth and Southwark.
Be committed to the community: We are committed to health and food equity for Black people living in Lambeth and Southwark.
Think long-term: We want our impact to be ingrained and become second nature. We want the impact of this work to be long-lasting.
Be connected, networked and intersectional: We want our work to foster collaboration and partnership across the community, across different intersections of the community, with allies and with local people.
Be care based: It’s important that this feels different. A place for Black people to centre care in our local food infrastructure.
Be independent and give freedom: we hold our funding independently and with autonomy, and in exchange, give funding with trust in our community.
Be bold, experimental and flexible: We want to hold space to prototype dreams. Influencing social justice and food equity. Being change makers and trendsetters.
Be well governed: We invest in strong, well-connected leadership, processes, training and development. Within this, we recognise we may make mistakes, but we will share our learning openly.