Mapping Local Community Food Organisation Systems: Exploring Organisational Relationships and Key Dependencies

Introduction : Many people in the UK rely on community food organisations (CFOs) for support with food, with CFOs nowembedded within the UK’s food and social security infrastructure. CFOs do not operate in isolation but are interconnected with other CFOs, food retailers, welfare support agencies, local councils and charities. Within this diverse network, interconnections, relationships and dependencies shape how this system functions. We aimed to map out the CFOs system to understand how it operates in order to support people experiencing food insecurity as well as its position within local food and welfare systems. Methods : A systems approach using participatory concept mapping workshops was used. Two exploratory and two confirmatory concept mapping workshops were held, attended by CFO representatives (n=42), including CFO managers, staff, volunteers, representatives from food hubs, redistribution organisations and local governments. Workshops with members of the public experiencing food insecurity were also held (n=25). In addition to workshops, twenty-four interviews were conducted with 24 CFO representatives, some of whom had attended an earlier workshop. Workshops and interviews focused on identifying parts of the system involved in providing food support, the relationships between them along with key dependencies that influence how the system operates. Results : The final CFO systems map comprises 67 nodes across five domains: economic context, food supply, supporting organisations, CFO models and components, and access routes. Key dependencies identified included funding streams (e.g., local government funding, charitable grants and private donations), surplus food redistribution, and volunteer labour. Participants highlighted the precarious nature of these dependencies, including uncertainty in funding continuity, fluctuations in surplus food quality and quantity. Conclusions : Policy makers should prioritise strengthening social security systems with a focus on initiatives and partnerships that promote dignity and agency to reduce the need for CFOs.