The Community Food Initiative is now open for applications

The Community Food Initiatives (CFI) is a healthy eating programme funded by safefood.  The programme runs over a three year cycle (2022-24) and its purpose is to provide people with the knowledge and skills to provide healthy food options for themselves and their families.  safefood, as a North / South body established under the Good Friday Agreement, provides CFI funding to organisations in Northern Ireland and in the Republic of Ireland.  The programme is managed by SECAD Partnership on behalf of safefood.

CFI at Home

safefood is inviting organisations who are not currently involved in the CFI to apply for funding to deliver an online project, in their own local area, that meets the criteria of the CFI at Home Programme.  The purpose of the CFI at Home Programme is to support families in their own homes to develop their cooking skills and healthy eating habits.  Projects could include all or some of the following elements:

·     Learning how to prepare & cook a recipe

·     Attending an online cookery session

·     Online support groups for sharing ideas and tips

·     Online interactive talks delivered by a dietitian or registered nutritionist

Examples of online projects that were delivered during 2020 and 2021 can be found at this link: CFI Booklet 2019-21

safefood Resources

The resources needed to plan and deliver a CFI at Home project can be found on the safefood website at www.safefood.net/cfi-hub and include:

•    101 Square Meals Recipe Book

•    Food Pyramid and The Eatwell Guide

•    safefood START campaign

•    Handwashing

•    Family Meal Planning

•    Food Safety

•    Healthy Lunchboxes

•    Kitchen Skills

Funding

Interested organisations can apply for funding up to a maximum of €2,000 or £1,720 to deliver a project in their local area.

Applicant Organisation Criteria

Organisations must:

•    Be community-led organisations with a legal status and appropriate governance structure

•    Be experienced in the management of public funds which support social inclusion initiatives

•    Currently employ and manage full time professionals with community development experience

•    Have experience of working with the target group identified

•    Be supporting other broader community initiatives through their work

•    Provide supports across communities irrespective of age, race or creed

Preparing an Application

Please contact SECAD Partnership for details on how to apply for the funding at:

Sinéad Conroy

SECAD Partnership CLG

T: 00 353 (0)87 353 3606

E: sconroy@secad.ie

Closing date for application

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis up to and including Friday, 9th September 2022.  As funding is limited, interested organisations are advised to apply as soon as possible.  All activities must be completed by Sunday, 6th November.