If every one of Devon’s 842,000 residents chose locally grown fruit and veg just once a month, the collective impact would be huge.

Find ideas on small changes you can make on our website here

Do you eat beans? Historically we ate a lot more beans than we currently do and there are multiple reasons for why we should eat more.

• 96% of adults don't get enough fibre and beans are an easy way to amend this. 
• Broad beans grown in Britain! In 2023, the UK was the 3rd largest producer of broad/fava beans in the world. 
• Beans are a less expensive protein and are packed with fibre.
• Beans fix nitrogen in the soil, helping farmers reduce reliance on synthetic fertiliser.

Short for time? Listen to this 7 minute podcast from the Food Foundation about eating beans.

Read the Top 10 bean facts or the full bean report by the Food Foundation here.

Want to understand food insecurity better? This short film (16 mins), created by Plymouth University in 2023, offers insight into the realities of food insecurity and the vital work of one charity tackling it.
We know there are many VCSEs across Devon doing similarly life-changing work.

Watch 'Food: On the Margins' on Youtube

Devon County Council received national media coverage for leading the way on auto enrolment for free school meals.

This means more than 1,000 pupils in Devon, who were entitled to free school meals but not previously receiving them, are now getting free meals at school.

Read the BBC News article 'Free school meals for 1,300 more children in Devon'

A 2022 study found that nearly a third of Devon’s black bin waste is food waste, 79% of which is avoidable.

Bonster the food waste eating monster will be visiting Devon schools to teach children about how important it is to use their food waste caddy at home, as part of a fun and engaging assembly, delivered by Resource Futures.

Read the article 'Primary schools visited by Bonster, the food waste-eating monster'

School food appeared in national media recently when four of the country’s top school chefs, all winners of the Jamie Oliver Good School Food Awards, served canapés based on their own school menus for the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer. This was part of an event aimed at emphasising the Government's support for school food to be a ‘powerful tool’ for child health and nutrition.

Dame Prue Leith, patron at Chefs in Schools, said:

“It’s wonderful to see the Prime Minister recognising that school food matters. What children eat at school shapes not just their health, but how they learn, behave and grow. For years, many of us have been arguing that good food should be at the centre of education, not an afterthought. If this signals a genuine commitment to improving the quality and reach of school meals, it could transform the lives of millions of children.”

Read the article 'Award-winning chefs ‘bring school dinners’ to 10 Downing Street'

Tuesday 25 November, 10am-12pm 

The Lime Kiln Café, Ilfracombe, EX34 9FQ

Join us for a FREE morning to learn about support for your team, grow your business and have your say.

🍽️ Breakfast will be provided 

🔗 Learn more and register on Eventbrite

Tuesday 2 December 10am-2pm

Hawke Barn, nr. Tiverton, EX16 9QG

Netshift CIC Decarbonisation Programme is now open to businesses in Teignbridge, West Devon and South Hams District Councils. This programme provides practical, jargon-free sustainability support for SMEs of all sizes - from sole traders and community enterprises to growing companies with multiple sites.

Over six weeks, participants receive:

• A dedicated sustainability project manager providing one-to-one support
• A live online training session covering key carbon reduction principles
• Access to tailored tools and resources to help cut costs and emissions
• A clear action plan to guide your journey towards net zero

To find out more or register your interest, visit:  https://bipc.librariesunlimited.org.uk/decarbonisation-plans/