By Imane Babar Wahedi
At FEAST, we are more than just a meal – our mission focuses on addressing food insecurity through community dining and long-term solutions that empower individuals. We achieve this through our community meals, Healthy Eating on a Budget programmes and food partnership coordination in the London boroughs of Camden and Redbridge.
‘Food ladders’, a framework developed by Dr Megan Blake, is a structured approach that brings together different community-based interventions aimed at addressing food insecurity, using the image of a ladder with three rungs. Each rung is grouped by multiple levels of support, including immediate crisis assistance, skills development in cooking and budgeting, and opportunities for community engagement and job training. Ultimately, the ‘food ladders’ framework, empowers individuals to achieve long-term food security and self-sufficiency.
By integrating the ‘food ladders’ framework into our work, FEAST ensures that service users not only receive immediate support and access to nutrition services and programmes, but are also supported in building community connections, and gaining the knowledge, tools, and skills needed to achieve long-term food security.
There are three rungs on the ‘food ladders’, with the first rung being ‘Catching’. This rung encompasses crisis support and emergency activities carried out for people in crisis situations who may not be able to access the resources they need. At FEAST, we provide immediate access to nutritious meals for individuals facing food insecurity through our community meals. For many, this is a critical lifeline. By partnering with shelters and community organisations, we offer a starting point and a foundation of stability from which service users can begin their journey toward self-sufficiency.
The second rung is ‘Capacity Building’, supported activity to done with people to help build skills, stability and resilience. This includes examples such as cooking workshops, nutrition sessions, and budgeting skills. FEAST runs Healthy Eating on a Budget programmes which provides access to nutrition alongside cooking and budgeting skills and techniques. Learning new cooking skills and meal planning techniques helps participants make informed dietary choices and equips them with the knowledge and confidence to become nutritionally independent. The third rung is ‘Self-Organising’, community-led activity done by people, creating opportunities to meet their own needs. Communities connect to different groups and organisations, with opportunities for employability skills, volunteering, and community involvement. FEAST coordinates food partnerships in the London boroughs of Camden and Redbridge. Working in partnership with food organisations, businesses, groups, and local authorities, to support borough-wide action to ensure people have access to sustainable, affordable, and nutritious food.
Each rung of the ‘food ladder’ plays a role in enabling individuals to become more food secure; people can move between the rungs at different stages of their life. But each rung is integral towards food security. Without crisis support, individuals can’t focus on building skills. Without those skills, people can remain dependent on food aid and without opportunities to develop independence and be part of a community, breaking free from the cycle of poverty becomes much harder. Our community dining model is the heart of this journey. By sharing meals, we create a sense of belonging and dignity. The connections formed around the table help participants gain the confidence needed to climb the ‘food ladder’ and reclaim their autonomy.
At FEAST, we ensure that food security is not only achieved but sustained one step at a time. We don’t just feed people, we forge a pathway to a healthier, more empowered future, building community cohesion with every shared meal, strengthening communities, and paving the way to lasting change.