Over the last five years, 26 partners have worked together through the Just Food and Climate Transition (Just FACT) programme, led by Wen, to explore ways to build a more just and sustainable food system from the ground up, shaped and led by local communities.
The programme has included community-stewarded food hubs operating closed-loop systems and peri-urban farms growing culturally appropriate fruit and vegetables.
Rita Attille – Grower at Seeds for Growth
At the heart of the work is uplifting the knowledge and skills that already exist in Tower Hamlets communities and demonstrating how real progress can be made when power and resources are placed in the hands of local people.
Wen is now sharing insights and recommendations from the pioneering programme through a new series of Learning Reports – so others can learn from the approaches taken.
The five reports cover:
How to create more resilient community-led food systems
Many projects are experimenting with alternative, not-for-profit models that are less reliant on charitable grants – including food cooperatives, urban farms, regenerative producers and circular food waste systems, highlighting what supports their sustainability, and the barriers they face. This report outlines the policy and structural changes needed to help these models thrive. Read here
The potential of circular food waste systems in tackling the climate crisis
How can waste be minimised through use of food coops, and practices like fermenting and pickling? We explore how composting and wormeries can support community farms and gardens, and how micro-anaerobic digestion offers a route to processing waste at scale. This report looks at the challenges and outlines recommendations for how councils, communities and funders can work together to scale up circular food systems. Read here
The potential of local growing in creating just and sustainable food systems
This report explores the wide-ranging benefits of local food growing, and how it is key for local food security and community resilience. We look at the different types of food growing projects in Just FACT, including urban farms, community gardens, and roof-top growing. We show how underused land can be bought into growing use with the right support, harnessing the knowledge, skills and love of growing held by local people.
The report also looks at the role of technological innovations, with hydroponics and anaerobic digestion being trialled. It summarises the key challenges faced by groups and shares their recommendations for action. Read here
Community participation and leadership in food and climate action
This report explores why it’s important for communities to lead action for a fairer food system, and what this looks like in practice.
We share our learnings on what makes effective community outreach, and what enables people to stay involved in projects. Different organisations had different perspectives and approaches to community leadership within the Just FACT programme, so we share a range of examples, reflecting on the pros and cons of different approaches. We also explore the impact of having local people employed by projects. Read here
Climate Conversations that build community power
In this final report we explore why local climate initiatives should focus on systems change and collective empowerment, as opposed to individual behaviour change. We share examples of how learning exchange between communities and specialists can tackle climate issues. We make the case for the importance of community research in finding the answers to our climate problems, and how community knowledge can drive local and systemic change. We also share learning on how climate change can be made meaningful to people’s lives, through centring culture, art, storytelling and faith, and breaking bread together. Read here
Melly, Shamima, Shabina, Marisa, Teviot Food Co-op
A powerful blueprint
Together, these reports offer a powerful blueprint for anyone looking to create local food systems that nourish people, planet and community power.
We hope they can be a useful resource for people who are interested in how food grown by residents can support just, sustainable and secure food systems across the UK.
We are exploring an online session to delve into the findings from the programme. Keep an eye on justfact.co.uk for more information.
The final Just FACT programme report will be published in February 2026.
Please get in touch with Wen if you’d like to continue the conversation – info@wen.org.uk
