Islington Food Partnership (IFP) is a broad coalition of local organisations and individuals working together to build a thriving local food system for Islington. Octopus Communities are a key convenor of this network. Haringey Community Food Network (HCFN) is also a network of organisations trying to combat food insecurity and create sustainable food systems in their borough.

Both Octopus Communities and Haringey Community Food Network are members of our Social Action Hub Network; a network of grassroots organisations using community organising to listen and reach out to their communities and taking action on issues they care about to bring about change.

Shared Commitment to People’s Assemblies & Participatory Approaches

Haringey Community Food Network reflected on its experience convening the Haringey Food Summit, part of a wider ecosystem of community-led conversations bringing together residents, growers, volunteers, and organisations to explore food justice and co-design solutions.

These assemblies were rooted in a simple but powerful principle: food is political, and communities must have the power to shape the systems that affect their lives.

Islington Food Partnership shared insights from its recent People’s Assembly on Food, which brought together over 70 residents, community leaders, and food advocates to identify priorities for a fairer, greener, and healthier food system.

Delivered in partnership with the Islington Climate Forum and supported by Humanity Project, the Assembly highlighted key shared priorities:

• Supporting sustainable food aid models, such as food co-ops

• Exploring collective buying to improve affordability and strengthen local economies

• Raising awareness of the Right to Grow initiative

• Reducing food waste and increasing food recycling

Shared Environmental Impact: Food Waste Reduction

Both networks recognised the vital role they play in tackling environmental challenges through community-led redistribution. In the past three months alone, HCFN members have redistributed over 35 tonnes of surplus fresh fruit and vegetables through the Felix Fresh Market scheme—demonstrating the power of grassroots climate action and community solidarity.

This work closely aligns with Islington’s priorities around food waste reduction, transparency, and strengthening borough-wide food recycling systems.

Access to Healthy, Nutritious & Culturally Relevant Food

Both partnerships reaffirmed their shared commitment to ensuring access to affordable, healthy, and culturally appropriate food—not only through emergency provision, but through long-term, sustainable, community-centred models.

This includes:

• Food co-operatives

• Collective buying initiatives

• Local growing spaces

• Education and cookery programmes

• Strengthening connections between residents and local food outlets

Right to Grow: A Shared Movement Across Boroughs

The Right to Grow campaign emerged as a strong area of alignment. Islington’s People’s Assembly identified it as a key community priority, while Haringey—through the Humanity Project and local growing groups—continues to champion access to land, shared growing spaces, and nature-connected initiatives.

Together, both networks recognised the opportunity to collaborate at a regional level to advance land access, growing rights, and food sovereignty.

Celebrating Culture, Creativity & Community: Recipes of Love

HCFN also shared its Recipes of Love programme—a vibrant and creative initiative celebrating Haringey’s cultural diversity through food, storytelling, and shared experiences. Residents come together in community kitchens to cook dishes that matter to them, share the stories behind those meals, and build connections through collective dining.

This work not only preserves cultural heritage, but also fosters belonging, pride, and deeper human connection.

The project will culminate in a community cookbook launch on 24 April at OmVed Gardens, bringing together recipes, stories, and learning from across the borough, while inviting more residents to get involved.

Towards a Shared Regional Food Movement

Both networks committed to deepening this collaboration and exploring opportunities to:

• Co-design cross-borough food strategies

• Share and strengthen models of co-governance

• Deliver regional People’s Assemblies

• Build collective advocacy

• Develop community-led solutions—by communities, for communities

Together, this partnership signals a growing movement across boroughs—one rooted in participation, solidarity, and the collective power of communities to shape a fairer food future.

If you would like to join the Social Action Hub network you can find out more HERE

You can also come along to our information session on 21st May at 11am – to see why your organisation should join our network. Register to sign up HERE