Signposting
Referral partners including NHS Leeds, Job Centres, Housing services, Faith Groups and Welfare Rights organisations direct people experiencing food poverty to appropriate food aid providers.
About Leeds Food Aid Network
We exist to bring food providers, agencies, Leeds City Council and the wider public together — to tackle food poverty effectively across Leeds.
Our Mission
The Leeds Food Aid Network (FAN) exists to bring together a range of food aid providers, agency workers, Leeds City Council and members of the wider public, to help tackle food poverty effectively in the city of Leeds.
We are part of Food Wise Leeds and the West Yorkshire Food Poverty Network, connecting to the national Feeding Britain initiative. Together, we work to ensure every person in Leeds has access to nutritious food — and the long-term support needed to build a more secure future.
The network is chaired and coordinated by Unity in Poverty Action, a project of Leeds Christian Community Trust (LCCT).
- Food Wise Leeds (opens in new tab)
- West Yorkshire Food Poverty Network
- Feeding Britain (national)
How We Work
The network connects three flows — referrals, food distribution and long-term support — to create a joined-up system that both feeds people in crisis and helps address the root causes of food poverty.
Food Distribution
Surplus food donated by individuals, retailers and supermarkets flows through FareShare Yorkshire and Rethink Food to food banks, pantries, drop-ins, street outreach teams and holiday programmes across Leeds.
Long-Term Support
Providers connect vulnerable individuals to services addressing addiction, employment, training, education, mental health and community engagement — helping people build resilience beyond food aid.
Tackling Food Insecurity Charter
The Tackling Food Insecurity Charter sets out core principles and best practices for food aid providers in Leeds. It was co-developed by the Food Insecurity Taskforce and people with lived experience of food insecurity.
The Charter centres on the concept of food resilience — the capacity to prepare for, withstand and recover from a crisis or disruption.
What the Charter Aims to Achieve
- Help all Leeds residents access nutritious, sustainable and equitable food
- Foster collaborative, joined-up approaches between food providers
- Progressively reduce reliance on crisis food aid year on year
- Embed the voices of people with lived experience in service design
Charter Supporting Organisations
- Leeds City Council
- Comic Relief
- Leeds Community Foundation
- Co-op
- Church Urban Fund
- Allen Lane Foundation
- Sir George Martin Trust
Provider Toolkit & Case Studies
Resilience Toolkit for Food Providers
Designed to help food organisations develop the capacity to assist people experiencing food insecurity. The toolkit provides practical frameworks and guidance for providers of all sizes.
Request the toolkit — contact Leeds Food Aid NetworkCase Studies
Anonymous case studies capture the stories of people accessing food support, helping identify patterns and understand the circumstances that drive people to seek assistance. Providers are encouraged to submit case studies.
How to submit a case study
- Download the Food Provider Case Study Form
- Email the completed form to us — or complete the online form
- Confirm information-sharing consent before submission
Funders & Partners
The Leeds Food Aid Network is made possible by the generous support of the following organisations.
- Leeds City Council
- Comic Relief
- Leeds Community Foundation
- Co-operative Community Fund
- Church Urban Fund
- Jimbo's Fund
- Brelms Trust
- Allen Lane Foundation
- Liz and Terry Bramall Foundation
- Sir George Martin Trust
- IDS Logic
Key Delivery Partners
- FareShare Yorkshire — surplus food redistribution, Beeston
- Rethink Food — surplus food redistribution and education, Pudsey
- Street Support Leeds — donations coordination and provider directory
- Food Wise Leeds — city-wide food strategy partner