At Made In Hackney, a plant-based community cookery school, our mission is simple: to make good food accessible to everyone. We believe that access to nutritious, affordable food is a basic human right—not a privilege. With growing concerns about food security in the UK, we’re exploring how plant-based community kitchens can play a vital role in tackling this issue.

What Is Food Security and Why Does It Matter?

Food security means ensuring that everyone has access to sufficient, nutritious food at all times. It’s about more than just having enough to eat—it’s about having food that supports health and well-being. In recent years, food security has become a pressing issue in the UK, with rising inflation and disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic making it harder for many households to access affordable, healthy meals².

The UK Food Security Report 2024 revealed that while most households remain food secure, there has been a significant decline in the number of people who can consistently access nutritious food². This highlights an urgent need for solutions that address affordability, availability, and education around food choices.

A collection of people gather around a cooking pot in a kitchen enjoying lessons on cooking plant-based meals in a community kitchen in London, known as Made in Hackney
Local community members enjoy cooking classes at Made In Hackney. Source: Made in Hackney

The Role of Community Kitchens in Food Security

Plant-based community kitchens like Made In Hackney are uniquely positioned to tackle food security challenges by empowering individuals and communities with the knowledge and skills they need to make better food choices. Here’s how:

  1. Education on Budget-Friendly Cooking
    Learning how to prepare healthy, plant-based meals on a budget is a powerful tool for improving food security. At Made In Hackney, 82% of participants in our programs reported increased knowledge of cooking on a budget¹⁰.
  2. Promoting Sustainable Food Systems
    Plant-based diets use fewer resources than animal agriculture, making them more sustainable and accessible⁶. By teaching people how to cook with plants, we can help reduce reliance on resource-intensive foods like meat and dairy⁶.
  3. Building Community Connections
    Food insecurity often goes hand-in-hand with social isolation. Plant-based community kitchens foster connection by bringing people together to share meals and learn from one another¹⁰.

Why Food Security Is About More Than Just Handouts

While government initiatives often focus on food aid as a solution to food insecurity², this approach doesn’t address the root causes of the problem. Providing handouts may offer temporary relief, but it doesn’t empower people to make informed decisions about their diets or improve long-term access to nutritious food¹².

Education is key. By teaching people how to grow their own produce, shop locally, and cook healthy meals from scratch, plant-based community kitchens can create lasting change¹³:

  • Learning how to grow vegetables in urban spaces can increase access to fresh produce⁵.
  • Cooking classes can dispel myths about plant-based diets being expensive or nutritionally inadequate⁶.
  • Workshops on nutrition can help families make healthier choices within their budgets⁹.

The Bigger Picture: Food Security vs. Food Sovereignty

Food security is closely tied to another important concept: food sovereignty. While food security focuses on ensuring access to enough nutritious food, food sovereignty goes further by empowering communities to control their local food systems¹³. This means prioritizing local production and sustainable practices over profit-driven global supply chains¹³.

US food justice activist Karen Washington demonstrates this well when discussing the role of communities being empowered to make the changes that matter to them. She states “from small farmers and growers, to food and farm workers, a healthy food system is not just about growing healthy food but making sure that all parties along the food chain are treated fairly and humanely. Food has become a commodity, based on profits and not on people. In order for the food system to change we must face the fact that it is about sharing or giving up power.” Thus demonstrating the power of information and collective action to make change.8

In the UK, 70% of land is used for farming—yet much of it is dedicated to livestock rather than crops for human consumption⁵⁶. Shifting this balance could improve food security by making more land available for growing fruits, vegetables, and other plant-based foods that are affordable and nutritious⁴.

Globally, overproduction of meat and dairy contributes to environmental degradation and limits access to healthy foods for many communities⁶,⁷. By embracing plant-based diets and localized food systems, we can address these challenges while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and protecting animal welfare⁶.

‍

Two young women look at the camera in a kitchen enjoying lessons on cooking plant-based meals in a community kitchen in London, known as Made in Hackney
Community Kitchens bring local people together empowering them with cooking skills that improve quality of life. Source: Made In Hackney

Global Plant Kitchens: A Movement for Change

Since 2012, Made In Hackney has been at the forefront of using plant-based cooking education as a tool for change¹⁰. In 2023, we launched Global Plant Kitchens—a movement aimed at creating plant-based community kitchens worldwide³.

From Exeter in England to Lima in South America, these kitchens empower people with the skills they need to grow their own produce, cook healthy meals on a budget, and advocate for better local food systems³. Through free mentoring programs, we support projects that aim to improve both individual well-being and community resilience³.

As farmer and activist Leah Penniman puts it: “Food justice is not just about feeding the hungry; it’s about empowering communities and creating lasting change.”¹²

How You Can Help Improve Food Security

Improving food security starts with small steps that anyone can take:

  • Learn how to cook plant-based meals: Join a cooking class or explore recipes online.
  • Support local farmers: Shop at farmers’ markets or join a local vegetable box scheme.
  • Reduce food waste: Plan your meals carefully and use leftovers creatively.
  • Get involved: Volunteer at or donate to organizations like Made In Hackney that are working toward sustainable solutions.

Together, we can create a future where everyone has access to nutritious, affordable food—and where communities are empowered to take control of their own food systems.

Interested in setting up a community kitchen?

Contact Sareta Puri at sareta@madeinhackney.org for free mentoring and support.