MISSION

The South Kent Coast Food Partnership aims to ensure everyone in the areas of Folkestone, Hythe, New Romney & the Marshes have access to healthy, sustainably-sourced ‘good’ food.

The Partnership’s Strategy group are yet to decide their definition of ‘good food’ for the members to comment upon, but for now, a working definition is as follows: “Good” food is part of a regenerative culture, and does not harm the natural environment or the people producing or eating it.

More soon – formal mission statement & terms of reference

WHO IS THE SKC FOOD PARTNERSHIP?

The current structure as of February 2026, is a Strategy Group + 8 working groups (still in development), aligned around the 8 strategic goals. Please note that our governance & structure are works in progress – we welcome all suggestions & feedback.

More soon – including structure diagram & member list

CONTEXT: PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE

The Partnership is taking a holistic, systems-approach to the challenge, as food is linked to physical health & nutrition, mental health & dignity, farming & production, politics & poverty, supply chains & contracts, education & awareness, and community wellbeing. We draw inspiration from the large number of incredible initiatives across the UK of – and aim to register as – a Sustainable Food Place.

The coordinator of the Partnership is currently Alise Kirtley, who is undergoing a PhD in sustainable food systems at the Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex. More will be included on the website on this shortly, but please do get in touch (see contact page) if you have any questions.

The South Kent Coast Food Partnership is the new phase of the Folkestone & Hythe District Food Network (DFN), formed in 2018 by a small group of local community leaders committed to trying to alleviate food poverty, particularly in light of COVID and the cost of living crisis. The network grew over bi-monthly online meetings chaired and supported by the Rainbow Centre, that facilitated information sharing, the creation of a directory of food-related services and collaboration on food initiatives, alongside workshops on food poverty initiatives, including the establishment of a mobile food bank service.

Having focussed successfully on tackling food poverty through emergency food supplies, the DFN members recognised the need to next take on broader themes through a more strategic approach. A large workshop was held in November 2025 in which a new strategic plan was co-created with the aim of providing healthy, sustainably-sourced food available to everyone in the district. The 8 strategic goals we are now working on, is the outcome of this workshop.

The partnership continues to be supported by the Folkestone & Hythe district council, by way of a small stipend to support the coordinator role, and donated time by FHDC Councillors Mike Blakemore to Chair, and Jyotsna Leney to provide ongoing oversight & supervision.