Making a difference across the North West with the Coronation Food Project

Recent visits to Coronation Food Project (CFP) grantees in Blackpool and Liverpool have highlighted the vital role of community organisations in reducing food waste and food insecurity. CFP has supported 57 nonprofit organisations across the UK with more than £1.5m of funding since 2024. From large-scale food redistribution to innovative approaches to growing and accessing fresh produce, CFP funding is helping to drive meaningful change across the North West.

The BIG FOOD Project 

In Blackpool, CFP has supported The BIG FOOD Project with its work to redistribute surplus food to 120 local groups across Blackpool, forming a key part of the area’s food support infrastructure.  

In 2025 alone, the project provided almost 900,000 meals through redistribution, supported by a small staff team and more than 100 volunteers. The organisation also creates opportunities for young people through King’s Trust placements. 

The visit highlighted both the scale of need and the complexity of delivering effective support. The BIG FOOD Project is working to create a more equitable food system across the area. 

Alchemic Kitchen 

In Liverpool, CFP funding is supporting Alchemic Kitchen, a dynamic organisation using food as a tool for community connection and system change. 

It was wonderful to see Queen of Greens – a mobile greengrocer serving communities with limited access to fresh produce – in action. The bus now makes over 30 stops each week, including at hospitals, and accepts Alexandra Rose vouchers. It offers a welcoming space while prioritising affordable, seasonal and locally sourced food. During the visit, the bus was clearly well-used by residents in Everton. 

Alchemic Kitchen is also working with local growers to ensure produce reflects the needs of diverse communities – for example, exploring the sale of squash leaves, which are popular in some African cuisines, helping improve cultural relevance while reducing waste. Collaboration is central to their approach. Partnerships with organisations such as Kindling Farm and projects like Growing Knowsley’s Future aim to reconnect communities with local agriculture while contributing to long-term food system change. 

Kindling Farm 

CFP also recently supported Kindling Farm, a 77-acre site near Liverpool that is being transformed into a regenerative, organic farm. Purchased in 2023, the farm is now supplying local produce – including to Alchemic Kitchen – while engaging the community in growing and learning about food. 

CFP funding will enable the farm to deliver cooking classes for community groups using produce grown onsite. The farm also plays an important educational role, hosting school visits and helping to train the next generation of farmers. 

A shared commitment – and shared challenges 

Across all three visits, one theme stood out: the dedication and creativity of the people working to create a fairer food system. Each organisation is addressing food insecurity in ways that go beyond immediate need – whether through redistribution, improving access to fresh food, or reshaping how food is produced and understood. 

At the same time, many are operating in a challenging environment. Rising food prices, increasing demand, and uncertainty around future funding is placing significant pressure on organisations.  

These visits reinforced the value of CFP funding in supporting impactful, community-led solutions and helping build a food system that works for everyone.