Health and wellbeing
Walsall launches ambitious five-year Food Plan to transform local food system
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Walsall has unveiled a five-year plan driven by an ambitious vision to create a fairer, healthier and more sustainable food system across the borough.
Feeding Walsall’s Future: Walsall’s Food Plan 2025–2030, was launched at an event held at The Hub, Walsall College on Thursday 11 December 2025.
The Food Plan was developed in collaboration with Walsall’s Food Partnership (including key stakeholders from private, public and voluntary and community sectors). It sets out a collective vision for a sustainable and fair food environment where good food is grown, accessible and promoted for our residents to have healthy, nutritious, affordable and appealing food choices.
The vision and priorities were shaped through conversations with stakeholders, communities and partners at the Walsall Food Summit in 2024, as well as engagement with communities and residents following the recommendations set out in the Director of Public Health’s Annual Report 2022. The plan also aligns with We are Walsall 2040’s long-term ambitions.
The Food Plan focuses on four priorities: supporting good food choices, promoting a good food environment, building a sustainable, responsible and resilient food system and improving the way the council and its partners source and serve food, making sure it reflects the sustainable, secure and affordable good food needed for everyone.
The launch event included an introduction to the Food Plan. This included the importance of partnership working, with examples from presenters on the Walsall Borough Local Plan and food insecurity. It also highlighted local research and best practice, demonstrating the positive impact the Food Plan is already having.
In the spirit of the Food Plan, a vegetarian lunch was prepared by Walsall College students using locally sourced ingredients to reduce food miles and minimise waste and surplus. Attendees made pledges on what they can do to contribute to achieving the vision of the plan.
“ Walsall is proud to be a borough that is rich in diversity and we continue to work collectively to ensure that it is a place that our residents are proud to live, work and study in.
Walsall’s Food Plan demonstrates both our approach to collective working as a borough and the launch event highlights the diverse range of partners who are invested in the plan.
Good food is essential for good health and contributes to social and economic wellbeing, cultural expression, community building and social connection.
We acknowledge there are challenges both locally and nationally, making this Food Plan both timely and important. By working together, we can achieve our collective vision. “
“ The Food Plan is really important for Walsall. We've been working with Walsall since 2017 and we know that there is good food work taking place across the borough. However, this plan enables clear coordination of local efforts and helps partners from across the food system achieve the same goal; the goal of more equitable access to good food for all in Walsall. “
The Walsall Food Partnership will help deliver the plan and its vision for a healthier, inclusive and sustainable food future. The partnership will share knowledge and best practice, work closely with local organisations, deliver community food projects that make healthy options accessible, and champion residents’ interests by shaping local food policies and plans. The Food Plan will see a further series of community-based engagement activities over the coming months across the borough.
As part of the Food Plan, Walsall will also be working towards and achieving Sustainable Food Place status.
To read the Walsall Food Plan, visit the Walsall Council website.
- The Walsall Food Plan was approved at the Health and Wellbeing Board in September 2025. The recommendations included:
- Recognising the importance of Walsall’s Food Plan and its contribution to improving the health, environmental and economic wellbeing of Walsall.
- For the Health and Wellbeing Board to oversee the implementation of Walsall’s Food Plan.
- Partners to commit to support delivery of Walsall’s Food Plan and contribute to actions where respective organisations have a role.
- The Soil Association runs the Food for Life programme in Walsall (commissioned by Walsall Council Public Health). They have been working with local authorities across the country for over 10 years, supporting schools, nurseries, caterers and communities to embed a good food culture within their settings and beyond. The Walsall programme has been running since 2017, and is currently delivering the Children and Families Healthy Eating programme.
