Rethinking Food Waste: The Food Use Places Approach

This session will explore how community spaces can help reduce food waste by shifting towards a 'food use' approach. It will showcase ‘Food Use Places’ – a growing network of community venues across Sussex helping people reduce food and packaging waste through simple, everyday actions.

Across cafés, community centres, schools, gardens and more, local people are learning to cook, share surplus food, compost, and rethink everyday habits. These spaces engage people often left out of climate conversations, building skills, confidence and connection.

Discover how nearly 400 volunteers and over 15 organisations are working together to turn small actions into meaningful change. The session will introduce 'Food Use Confidence' and bring to life real stories from communities involved.

By focusing on what we can do — rather than what we throw away — communities are taking positive climate action, saving food, and strengthening connections.

The Brighton & Hove Food Partnership puts food at the heart of all we do. Growing, cooking and eating food can improve people’s lives. For over fifteen years we have worked with communities, helping people learn to cook, grow their own food, eat a healthier diet and waste less, creating lasting positive change.

Meet your speaker

Meli Stanley, Project Manager – Food Use Places, Brighton & Hove Food Partnership

Meli has worked at Brighton & Hove Food Partnership for over a year, with a background in community engagement across the non-profit sector. Their experience spans from food waste to mental health support, always focused on connecting people through stories and inspiring positive behaviour change. Meli’s passion for food waste began through volunteering and has grown into their current role managing 17 partner organisations delivering Food Use Places. They are inspired by the diversity of communities involved and the stories that bring this work to life.

More information

We welcome visitors to the Port to come and experience our unique environment and learn more about us. While enjoying your time here, please be aware that this is a working Port and moving vehicles, uneven ground and deep water all feature within our footprint.

Please be careful as you explore; keep away from the water’s edge and bear the weather conditions in mind. While here you must follow any instructions provided by our team, and stay on marked walkways at all times.

Please make sure you wear suitable footwear and weather-appropriate clothing.

How to get here

With sustainability in mind, we are a short walk from the train station at Southwick, right on the Stagecoach 700 bus route, and have a lot of room for cycles. If you choose to drive, there are a limited number of parking spaces available at Shoreham Port, including disabled spaces.

We ask that attendees ensure to allow plenty of time to get to where you need to be, for most events we would advise arriving 10 minutes before the advertised start time. There is no need to print tickets, please just give your name to a member of the team at the entrance.