CAS Community Food Team

19/10/2026

The Community Food Partnership team identified key support themes through conversations and feedback from food projects across Suffolk. These themes included need for wraparound services, working together and collaborating, recruitment and retention of volunteers and finding funding opportunities.

As a result, Suffolk-wide food network meetings throughout 2025 and 2026 were arranged with these themes in mind. Each meeting would include a workshop delivered by a specialist individual, organisation or team focusing on these identified areas.

Over this time, 8 network meetings were delivered focusing on organisational resilience, supporting service users and celebrating volunteers.

Thank you to everyone who attended, delivered and hosted our network meetings!

12/10/2026

Over recent months we have been asking projects from across the county to get involved in our 'Spotlight on Volunteers' series.

Last month we shared an interview with Jane from Triangle Top-Up. The next post in the series features Jane, Rebecca and Anne, from The Oak Tree Farm. Swipe across to hear why they chose to get involved and why they would recommend others do the same.

Thank you to Oak Tree Community Farm for agreeing to take part and allowing us to share the brilliant work your volunteers do!

08/10/2026

📢 FREE TRAINING OPPORTUNITY - PLACES ARE EXTREMELY LIMITED 📢

Join us for an interactive training session delivered by Your Own Place CIC , designed specifically for volunteers and staff working in community food projects in Suffolk.

This practical workshop will introduce the Restorative and Asset-Based Approaches, helping you build stronger, more empowering relationships with the people you support. You'll learn how to recognise strengths, skills and opportunities, while using conversations that encourage confidence, choice and independence.

By attending, you will:
✅ Understand the principles of the Restorative Approach
✅ Learn practical strategies that support people's agency and independence
✅ Develop skills in asking open questions and using coaching-style conversations
✅ Gain an understanding of the Asset-Based Approach
✅ Feel more confident in identifying and highlighting the strengths and abilities of others

This session will provide useful tools and techniques that you can apply immediately in your role.

⚠️ Places are extremely limited and are fully funded by the CAS Community Food Partnership.

👉 Don't miss this valuable opportunity to access high-quality training at no cost. Secure your place today.
https://cas.aidecrm.co.uk/booking/training-booking?event_id=3957

07/10/2026

Join us for an interactive training session delivered by YourOwnPlace, designed specifically for volunteers and staff working in community food projects.
This practical workshop introduces the Restorative and Asset-Based approaches; helping you build stronger, more empowering relationships with the people you support. Rather than focusing on problems and needs alone, you’ll learn how to recognise strengths, skills and opportunities, while using conversations that encourage confidence, choice and independence.

By the end of the session, you will:
• Understand the principles of the Restorative Approach
• Learn practical strategies that support people’s agency and independence
• Explore different ways of working with people in supportive settings
• Develop skills in asking open questions and using coaching-style conversations
• Gain an understanding of the Asset-Based Approach
• Feel more confident in identifying and highlighting the strengths and abilities of others

Whether you’re new to these approaches or looking to refresh your skills, this session will provide useful tools and techniques that you can apply immediately in your role.

Places are extremely limited and are fully funded by the CAS Community Food Partnership, making this a valuable opportunity to access high-quality training at no cost to participants.

www.communityactionsuffolk.org.uk/casevent/3957/

05/10/2026

Did you know Suffolk has a refill locator map?!
Take a look and check if your local refill stop is on it.

30/09/2026

Do your staff and volunteers have supportive conversations with individuals as part of their role?

Do you want to offer them more confidence and practical skills in having those conversations?

With this fully-funded, in person workshop, run by the brilliant Your Own Place CIC . Attendees will learn tools and tips to support people through strength-based conversations.
They will learn ways to build stronger, more empowering relationships through restorative and asset-based approaches that focus on people’s strengths to help build confidence, choice and independence.

Developing skills for coaching style conversions, asking affective and open questions to explore supportive ways of working that encourage positive outcomes.

Book online now, for limited fully-funded spaces:

https://www.communityactionsuffolk.org.uk/casevent/3957/

30/09/2026

For anyone in and around Bury St Edmund’s, the monthly support drop in is on tomorrow 1-3 at New Bury Community Center, take a look on their page for more information.

THURSDAY 1-3pm FREE Support Hub: this week there will be a mental health practitioner who can refer into services without the need for GP and one of our The Village volunteers who is a SEND parent carer will be there if anyone is just wanting to get out and have a friendly chat or signposting to support (note not a legal service or advocacy). The cafe has lovely drinks and cakes and it’s a very friendly, informal session. Drop in and out as you can.

Please share or tag anyone this may be of help to.

30/09/2026

Thank you for hosting us!

30/09/2026

🏆 The Social Impact Award goes to 1 Oak Community Meals!

Based in Sudbury, 1 Oak Community Meals was created in direct response to the closure of a long-established community meals provider. In just 11 days, they transformed a mechanics garage into a commercial kitchen and launched a replacement service the very next day, ensuring no resident went without support.

Congratulations 🥂