We are pleased to announce that Voluntary Action Sheffield (VAS) is ShefFood’s new host organisation. In making this announcement, we would like to thank the previous host organisation, FoodWorks, and Rene Meijer in particular, for all their hard work and leadership, helping ShefFood achieve a Silver award from the national Sustainable Food Places network. We would also like to thank the organisations that submitted an Expression of Interest for taking on this role.
Our immediate next steps will be to expand and diversify the membership of the Steering Group, to review the Local Food Action Plan, and to ensure that appropriate governance and financial systems are in place. We also want to revitalise the working groups and begin to plan for a future Gold award.
Commenting on the announcement, Helen Sims Chief Executive Officer of VAS said:
“We are delighted to be appointed as the accountable body for the ShefFood partnership. As the local voluntary and community sector infrastructure organisation for Sheffield, we have hosted and enabled many strong, independent partnerships across a range of policy areas and community interests, in our 100-year history.
VAS supports and connects people and groups delivering grass roots action in the city to deliver systemic change, therefore our mission is aligned with ShefFood Partnership (of which we are a member), in working to deliver the Sheffield Food Action Plan and ultimately in achieving the Sheffield City Goals.
We are pleased that this next stage of the city’s food partnership is supported by a 3-year grant from Sheffield City Council to ShefFood to build on the skills and capacity in the city to deliver on our shared ambition.”
Issued on behalf of the ShefFood steering group
02/04/2026
