Creating a fair and sustainable food system in Sheffield

Food Works aims to help create a fair and sustainable food system in Sheffield. We do this by upcycling quality surplus and locally grown ingredients into delicious food and drink in our kitchen; collecting and sharing surplus food at our market; developing hyperlocal food production through community growing on our farm; and empowering people with skills, knowledge and support in our community.

My role is Senior Hub Manager so I manage the day-to-day logistics of intercepting over 1.5 tonnes of food, trying to maximise the impact that this food can have both in terms of sustainability and supporting the community in Sheffield.

My time at the University of Sheffield prepared me well for this role. I had fantastic, inspirational lecturers like Professor Peter Jackson and Dr Megan Blake, who made me aware of the fractured nature of the food system and encouraged me to explore this in my essays. Whilst I was a student I also volunteered at the Foodhall project which is a community space in Sheffield City Centre that offers a kitchen, social eating space and workshops. This experience showed me the strength of community in the city, and made me aware of life outside of university.

I chose to work in Sheffield because I didn't want to leave! I have a really lovely group of friends still here, there's a great music scene and I love being able to dash off to the Peaks after work.