Building a Healthier Hartlepool: The PFC Trust Strengthens Support for Local Food Partnership.

The PFC Trust has reaffirmed its commitment to improving Hartlepool’s food environment by releasing the second part of its £50,000 two-year funding package to support the Hartlepool Food Partnership. The funding, first agreed in 2024, has been instrumental in enabling the Food Partnership to deliver a wide range of community-focused projects aimed at creating “Healthy, Nutritious, Affordable and Sustainable Food for All in Hartlepool. ”In 2022, it was estimated that 39 per cent of Hartlepool children were growing up in poverty, and in some wards, the proportion was greater than 50% of children. The HFP is coordinated by Adam Guy, who began as a Junior Coordinator in May 2024 and took on the full Coordinator role in March 2025.

Working three days a week, he collaborates with local organisations, businesses and residents to make Hartlepool’s food system more resilient and inclusive. 

The role is supported by James Irvin and Julian Penton from Hartlepool Community Trust. Through the partnership and help from The PFC Trust, Hartlepool Borough Council, Thirteen and Larch, local children and families are being inspired to eat more healthily and learn where their food comes from. 

The HFP runs activity sessions in Hartlepool schools and youth groups, helping young people understand the importance of fruit, vegetables and sustainable eating. Adam said: “Hartlepool has an incredible community spirit, and the Food Partnership builds on that by helping to coordinate and connect existing food initiatives. Working individually, we can achieve positive outcomes, but working together, real magic happens. "Schools such as St Aidan’s and West View Primary have also benefitted from HFP’s food-growing support, helping pupils experience first-hand the journey from soil to plate.

Online, the Food Partnership’s website hosts healthy recipe videos, local “Breastfeeding Welcome” venues, and a dedicated “Kids’ Corner” featuring fun educational activities. 

A town-wide competition to design the first HFP mascot will soon launch to further encourage children’s engagement with food and health. 

The winning entry will be used across the organisation's work, particularly for children-based projects. In a time of rising costs, the Partnership also ensures residents can access affordable food through its ‘Low and No Cost’ Food outlets map, viewed around 500 times each month. Beyond affordability, the HFP is building a more sustainable and locally connected food system by supporting seed libraries in community hubs and maintaining a directory of hundreds of local food producers within a 100-mile radius. 

The initiative aims to encourage Hartlepool businesses and public institutions to buy local, cutting food miles, boosting the regional economy and strengthening local food resilience. Reflecting on the impact of the PFC Trust’s support, Adam said: “The PFC Trust is one of our two core funders, and without their help, much of our work simply wouldn’t happen. 

"Their funding allows us to connect schools, families, growers and local producers - helping make Hartlepool a healthier, fairer and more sustainable place to live.“For those individuals, organisations and businesses working in partnership with us, thank you for doing so. 

"Working individually, we can generate positive outcomes, but working together, magic synergism happens, and we can produce so much more good work."

*To learn more about the Partnership’s projects or to get involved, visit

www.hartlepoolfoodpartnership.co.uk or email AdamGuy@hartlepoolcommunitytrust.org.uk