Rethink Food has been announced as a newly funded partner of Sainsbury’s and Comic Relief, with investment that will help expand and develop the National School Pantry Network (NSPN) and support more schools to respond to food insecurity in their communities.
The funding forms part of the next phase of Sainsbury’s partnership with Comic Relief, which is supporting organisations across the UK working to ensure children and families can access good food. Sainsbury’s has committed to raising £30 million for Comic Relief by 2030, with funding supporting organisations helping children and families access food through food clubs, after-school meals, school-based support, holiday provision and more!
For Rethink Food, the investment will help the NSPN grow its network and strengthen the support available to schools tackling food insecurity.
The National School Pantry Network brings schools together to develop sustainable, dignified approaches to supporting families experiencing food insecurity. Through school pantries, families can access healthy food to take home, helping reduce pressure on household budgets while giving schools a practical way to support their communities.
Nathan Atkinson, Co-founder of Rethink Food, said:
“We are incredibly excited to be working with Sainsbury’s and Comic Relief at such an important point in the journey of the National School Pantry Network.
Schools shouldn’t have to become food banks, but they are increasingly finding themselves on the frontline of food insecurity. The National School Pantry Network gives schools the tools, connections and confidence to respond in a way that is dignified and sustainable.
This funding from Sainsbury’s and Comic Relief gives us an incredible opportunity to grow that support, reach more schools and learn more about what works. We want to build a future where schools don’t have to tackle food insecurity alone.”
The funding comes at a time when schools are facing increasing pressure to support families experiencing financial hardship and food insecurity.
The NSPN aims to ensure schools do not have to navigate this challenge alone. By creating a national community of schools, Rethink Food provides opportunities to share practical solutions, resources and learning, while helping schools develop food support that works for their individual communities.
The investment will help Rethink Food develop the NSPN, strengthen its infrastructure, support more schools and capture learning about what works in tackling food insecurity through schools.
The partnership also reflects a shared belief that tackling food insecurity requires collaboration between schools, charities, businesses and communities.
The funding will help Rethink Food build on the momentum behind the NSPN and its growing community of schools, creating a stronger platform from which to influence the wider conversation around child poverty and food insecurity.
