Cambridge Sustainable Food's CEO, Sam Dyer, Awarded MBE for Food Justice Work
Sam Dyer, CEO and Director of Cambridge Sustainable Food CIC, has received an MBE as part of the Queen’s Birthday Honours list, recognising her outstanding achievements in tackling food inequality during the pandemic and her commitment to achieving food justice for all in Cambridge.
A belief in the fundamental right that everyone should be able to access healthy, affordable and sustainable food has paved the way for Sam’s career. She is the CEO and Director of Cambridge Sustainable Food CIC, the chair of Cambridge Food Poverty Alliance and facilitates and mentors the Food Poverty Alliance Network in the Eastern region. Prior to her work with Cambridge Sustainable Food CIC Sam worked as the Cambridge City Council’s Sustainability Officer and for Cambridge Co-operative Development Agency, and has also ran her own vegan catering businesses; Curly Kale Café and Mouth Music.
Since joining the Cambridge Sustainable Food CIC team in 2015 as Food Partnership Co-ordinator, Sam has worked tirelessly to address all aspects of the food system and has been pivotal in the developing the direction of our work and shaping a sustainable and fairer food system in Cambridge. She has been key in implementing the Cambridge Sustainable Food Partnership’s shared vision that sustainable food can drive positive change in our communities. Examples include: tackling food waste through public-facing campaigns, organising and running educational cookery workshops, and promoting healthy and sustainable food through city-wide events, such as the 2019 Cambridge Vegetable Festival.
Over the last year Sam’s focus has primarily been on ensuring that anyone in need of food could access it through the pandemic. Sam has spearheaded the city’s pandemic emergency food response, in partnership with the City Council, the Cambridge Food Poverty Alliance and community groups across Cambridge. Back in March 2020 the Alliance mobilised to respond effectively and collaboratively to the pandemic crisis, helping vulnerable people access food and services, making sure no-one went hungry in Cambridge.
Adapting to the ever-changing circumstances of Covid-19, existing community fridges across Cambridge were repurposed as part of a new Community Food Hubs network, where anyone at risk of food poverty can access food for free. There are now nine hubs in the city, established by local community groups and supported by Cambridge Sustainable Food CIC and the Food Poverty Alliance, which saw 36,644 visits over 2020/21. The Alliance has also set up a Community Food Centre to provide food to the Community Food Hubs and other partner organisations. It has also developed its signposting service for people in need of food and adapted its existing holiday lunch programme to support families outside of term-time, delivering 4,627 holiday lunches in 2020/21, in addition to community meals.
Alongside this frontline work, as CEO of Cambridge Sustainable Food Sam has supported multiple community orientated projects working to increase access to healthy and fresh produce in Cambridge, a key component of food justice. Such as the Grow a Row scheme where local growers grow extra fruit, vegetables and herbs to donate to the Community Food Hubs, which saw nearly 2 tonnes of fresh produce being donated in its first year running.
“This award is a reflection of everyone’s hard work and community support over the last year and I am deeply touched by the recognition from my community and peers. Our work is as important now as when the pandemic started and I will continue to work for Food Justice for all those that go to bed hungry. There is a systemic failure at the heart of this issue which is compounded by years of austerity and welfare cuts. I will advocate for a money first approach to the issue and for treating the root causes of food poverty as well as ensuring those in need can eat and with dignity.” Sam Dyer MBE
Covid-19 has exacerbated pre-existing and deeply embedded poverty and food insecurity present in the city. Achieving food justice in Cambridge is at the forefront of the Food Poverty Alliance’s work. As they transition away from emergency food response they will be directing their focus to addressing the root causes of food insecurity and achieving access to healthy, affordable and sustainable food for all. With the help of funding from Sustainable Food Places, exciting initiatives are underway that will work towards resilient community solutions to food inequality. This includes a focus on building community skills and knowledge, increasing support for ethnically diverse communities and establishing a permanent Community Food Centre.
As Cambridge moves into a post-Covid period, Cambridge Sustainable Food CIC and the Food Poverty Alliance, led by Sam Dyer MBE, will continue to work together to transform the city’s local food system for the better, building a fairer and more sustainable food future for all in Cambridge.
Cambridge Sustainable Food CIC are thrilled to see that Sam’s dedication and hard work has been recognised through this MBE. Congratulations on this outstanding achievement.
If you wish to learn more about the city’s Covid-19 emergency food response over the last year, see our latest report, Cambridge: A Community at Work.