Our guiding principles

Considering equity, diversity and inclusion in everything we do

Liverpool is a city rich with diversity and this breadth of backgrounds and perspectives add value to our city and our food environments. We believe that representation is essential, and diversity makes our work more meaningful, robust and holistic. We want to ensure that people are able to fully participate in and access all aspects of the work we do, leaving no one behind.

Balancing immediate relief with addressing the root causes of food insecurity

The challenges we face that are related to the food we eat, like food insecurity and obesity, are symptoms of deeper issues. To create real change, we must recognise that while emergency food provision (like food parcels from a food bank) are essential, they should be rare and short term and we must better understand and tackle the root causes of these issues.

Unlocking the power of people and enabling citizens’ voices to be heard

People are the unrivalled experts in their lives, local places, cultures, challenges and opportunities. We recognise the potential for innovation that communities in Liverpool hold, and are committed to establishing the culture and mechanisms to surface, celebrate and move forward with new ideas.

Learning, adapting and innovating as we go

We believe that innovation and creativity are essential to navigate change in our food system. We must go on a learning journey, nurture innovation and creative thinking and create the right conditions for people to be able to try new ideas that could lead to real change.

Making information, data, stories and best practice accessible to all

To make progress, it is important to know where we are starting from, and if we’re heading in the right direction. We must also make information about our food systems more accessible and easy to understand so that everyone is empowered with knowledge and able to play their part

Challenging stigma and shifting narratives

We must acknowledge that issues like food insecurity and poverty are not a result of people’s own making. We must get comfortable talking about food insecurity, destigmatize the experience of seeking support and ensure that people can access food with greater dignity, choice and autonomy.

Our Cyclical Adaptive Approach

The Good Food Plan will be an evolving plan and a living document, owned by the people and organisations of this city and informed by real-time action and reflection. We are taking a cyclical phased approach, where each phase will inform the next.