About us

Islington Food Partnership is a broad coalition of local organisations and individuals working together to build a thriving local food system for Islington.

Islington Food Partnership is chaired by Manor Gardens Welfare Trust

Our strategic board

You can download our Terms of Reference for our strategic board. If you would be interested in being a part of either our Strategic Board or Coordinating Group, you can email us at hello@islingtonfoodpartnership.org.uk.

Hekate Papadaki, CEO, Manor Gardens Welfare Trust

Chair

Dr Christian Reynolds, Senior Lecturer, Centre for Food Policy, City University

Julie Parish, Network Development Manager, Octopus Communities Network

Elaine Maffrett, Head of Centre, Hilldrop Community Centre

Councillor Nurullah Turan

Piers Simey, Assistant Director of Public Health, Islington Council

Sheri Lawal, Director, Choices

Teena Phillips, Centre Manager, Mildmay Community Centre

Sarah Benioff, Director, Cripplegate Foundation and Islington Giving

David Norman, Bright Start Area Lead, Islington Council

Our coordinating group

You can download our Terms of Reference for our coordinating group. If you would be interested in being a part of either our Strategic Board or Coordinating Group, you can email us at hello@islingtonfoodpartnership.org.uk.

Alex Britten, Operations Manager, Manor Gardens Welfare Trust

Chair
Alex is Operations Manager at Manor Gardens Welfare Trust, and began chairing the Islington Partnership in 2019. She has a background working in campaigning and activism, and before joining Manor Gardens was a strategic consultant for third sector organisations. She has volunteered with many food projects for a number of years, including setting up and co-leading a local community meal group.

Amanuel Woldesus, Head of Margins Project, Union Chapel

Amanuel Woldesus is a resident of Islington as well as the Head of Margins Project, one of the charities in the Union Chapel supporting the homeless or people at risk of being homeless. Prior to joining Margins, Amanuel had had a stint of senior roles in the sector, including Head of Integration and Community Development at Migrants Resource Centre/Asylum Aid for over 3 years; a CEO at Regenerate RISE, a charity supporting the elderly, briefly in 2016; an Operations Director at the Upper Room, a homeless charity in west London, for over four years; and a senior marketing and communication project manager at Media Trust for over 4 years.

Ellie Costigan, Senior Communications and Content Officer, Islington Council

Ellie looks after IslingtonLife – Islington Council’s community-focused print magazine and online blog – as part of the council’s communications team, and has masters in food policy from City University. She has worked on Borough Market’s food policy and volunteered for Sustain: The Alliance for Fairer Food and Farming, and the National Food Service. Ellie is also a freelance food writer.

Candice George, Islington Food Partnership Coordinator, Manor Gardens Welfare Trust

During the pandemic, Candice helped to run emergency food provision with the London branch of the National Food Service network. She has since become a co-Director of NFS London and continues to work on community-led projects around food and social eating events in London. She is excited to have joined the Islington Food Partnership and to support the IFP’s collective action on food justice and sustainability in Islington.

Michelle Webb, Environmental Health Manager, Islington Council

Michelle is an Environmental Health manager in Islington’s public protection team with a remit covering food, health and safety, public health and infectious disease control. As well as commercial enforcement work, Michelle provides support on wider food issues to both the food partnership, formerly food strategy group, and wider CVS groups.

Rosie Apperley, Project Coordinator / Administrator, Octopus Community Network

Rosie works for Octopus as Projects Coordinator/Administrator. Having started at Octopus as a volunteer, Rosie has been involved in the Network for 10 years. Her day to day involves working on the operations of the organisation, as well as coordinating projects run across the borough. Having worked previously for a housing charity, Rosie is particularly interested in looking at how issues faced by communities intersect and how communities can be involved in creating systemic change.

Marjon Willers, Specialist Dietitian for Schools and Early Years, Islington Council

Marjon is the specialist dietitian for schools and early years in Islington, schools and early years to develop a health promoting environment and adopt healthy food provision. She works with the infant feeding team to support good nutrition for infants. Marjon has been part of Islington’s food work since 2011. Marjon is also a co-director of the Health Education Trust, the charity which developed the School Nutrition Action Groups and is a national partner of Food for Life supporting the whole school approach, food policy, consultation and engagement. Marjon is a trustee of First Steps Nutrition Trust, an independent public health nutrition charity, which provides resources for health workers supporting eating well from pre-conception to five years.

Meinir Jones, Public Health Strategist – Healthy Weight, Camden and Islington Public Health

Meinir is a Public Health Strategist based in Islington and Camden, with a focus on food, healthy weight and physical activity. During the pandemic she was part of the team who set up the council’s We Are Islington response to help residents in food crisis, and supported the work of local community food projects. Before joining Camden and Islington Public Health, she worked in various councils leading on Healthy Schools and Healthy Children’s Centre programmes, and prior to this held roles in local government policy and project management.

Flora Walker, Inclusive Design Officer, Islington Council

Our members include

50 Shades Greener

Age UK Islington

Alexandra Wylie Tower Foundation

Arsenal in the Community

Awesome CIC

Bags of Taste

Bright Start Islington

Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust

Caterlink

Caxton House

Choices London CIC

City University

Claremont Project

Cripplegate

Elizabeth House

Fareshare

Feast With Us

First Love Foundation

Food For All UK

FoodCycle

Full Circle Bar Group

Go Dharmic

Groundwork

Hanley Crouch Community Association

Hargrave Hall

Healthwatch Islington

Help On Your Doorstep

Highbury Roundhouse

Hilldrop Community Centre

Hive Foodbank

Hornsey Lane Estate Community Association

Impact Hub Kings Cross

Islington Giving

Islington Mutual Aid Groups

Islington People’s Rights

Islington Play Association

Islington Trussel Trust Foodbank

Kings Cross Church

KLH Sustainability

London Borough of Islington

Light Project Pro International

London Assembly

London MET University

London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

Maha Devi Centre

Manor Gardens Welfare Trust

Mildmay Community Centre

Museum of Homelessness

Muslim Welfare House

Nags Head Town Centre Group

National Food Service London

Newington Green Action Group

Octopus Communities

Pilion Trust

Shelter From The Storm

St Giles Trust

St Luke’s Community Centre

St Mary’s Hornsey Rise

St Stephens Church

Streets Kitchen

Stuart Low Trust

Sustain

The Arc Centre

The Felix Project

The Manna at St Stephen’s Church

Tonkotsu Restaurant

Union Chapel

Universal Church of the Kingdom of God

Wesley’s Chapel & Leysian Mission

Whittington Health NHS Trust

What we do for local residents

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Provide information on community food services, including where to find emergency support

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Provide opportunities to influence local food strategy and services

What we do for partnership organisations

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Collaborate on funding bids and fundraising initiatives

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Gather and share data and information on food across the Borough

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Design and work together on projects and ideas

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Share expertise and good practice

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Work together to help shape and influence local and national policies

If you are an Islington resident looking to find community food services or support

Please ring the Manor Gardens Welfare Trust Assistance line on:

07538 562128

or email us

Lines are open Monday – Friday from 9am to 5pm.

Anything else? Get in touch!

In case you have any questions or want to join the partnership please don't hesitate to get in touch with us