Co-creating a food system for Wales that’s good for people and the planet.
Our Vision
Food Sense Wales aims to influence and impact on how food is produced and consumed in Wales, ensuring that sustainable food, farming and fisheries are at the heart of a just, connected and prosperous food system.
Who we are and what we do
Founded in 2018, Food Sense Wales was established to drive forward a cross-sector approach to the food system in Wales.
Food Sense Wales works with communities, organisations, policymakers and Government across Wales to create a food and farming system that is good for people and good for the planet. We aim to influence and impact on how food is produced and consumed in Wales, ensuring that sustainable food, farming and fisheries are at the heart of a just, connected and prosperous food system.
In order to achieve this, we believe that the environment; health and wellbeing; social justice, and the economy should be integrated into all policy thinking in Wales.This ‘food in all policies’ approach can be achieved through research, cross sector collaboration and by mobilising a Wales Good Food Movement, increasing public awareness of food issues and encouraging widespread participation in food-related activity. Food Sense Wales is helping to develop this Good Food Movement by delivering a number of food-related programmes across Wales – many as part of UK partnerships.
Food Sense Wales is a fund within the Cardiff & Vale Health Charity and is hosted by the Cardiff and Vale Public Health team. We are supported by a range funding partners, including The National Lottery Community Fund and the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.
Our values
Through our activities and advocacy, Food Sense Wales promotes:
Collaboration
Forging positive working and strategic relationships both within Wales and across the UK, enabling us to help shape and co-create a more sustainable and prosperous food system for our nation - reiterating the importance of considering the food system as one whole.
Inclusivity
Bringing communities of interest together from all parts of Wales; removing barriers and stigma, and actively encouraging participation in our projects, programmes and campaigns.
Integrity
Promoting a fair, just and prosperous future for Wales and its people; determined to ensure all people of all ages in Wales have dignified access to healthy, good-quality food.
Agility
Being responsive to changes in society as well as any changes to areas of policy where food and food systems touch upon; being fleet of foot and being prepared to take action to make a difference to people’s lives.
Drive
Inspiring and influencing people and communities across Wales to engage with food; raising awareness of food issues and promoting innovative food related activities to drive and grow a Good Food Movement in Wales.
“There is much to be done, but there is also an insatiable appetite by those working in Wales’ food system to drive the change needed for our communities and our planet. As a team we feel enormously privileged to work in a space, both within Wales and with our UK stakeholders, where such passion, energy and relentless drive really does bring about hope and change – no matter how big the challenge.”
Katie Palmer, Programme Manager, Food Sense Wales.
Meet the team
Hannah Norman
Wales Community Food Manager
Hannah Norman
Wales Community Food Manager
Hannah joined Food Sense Wales in December 2021 as the Wales Community Food Manager. Her background is in small-scale sustainable edible production and the development of new entrant training. She has worked for a number of organisations, most recently Lantra and Soil Association, supporting both community and commercial horticulture enterprises with business development. Hannah is a fellow of the Winston Churchill Trust, and in 2016 travelled across five States in the USA researching the localisation of food systems in an urban environment.
Aside from policy and advocacy work, Hannah is a trained organic grower and has worked on a number of small-scale farms both in the UK and USA. She’s currently a grower for a community garden in South Wales and runs a small edible plant nursery in the Brecon Beacons. Prior to working in food and farming, Hannah worked as an events manager in music and the arts.
Pearl is a sustainability change-maker and is leading Cardiff’s Sustainable Food City programme through Food Cardiff. Pearl also sits on the Peas Please Project Board to support local place-based action through Veg Cities and facilitate and empower the people’s voice on veg.
Pearl previously led an ambitious and transformational sustainability programme at the Royal Agricultural University, winning multiple awards including the Guardian University Award for Sustainability Project in 2016. She also developed innovative engagement and behaviour change programmes with the National Union of Students. She holds a First-Class BSc in Marine Biology and Social Ecology (specialising in animal behaviour) and a MSc (Distinction) in Environmental Design of Buildings (specialising in human behaviour). She is also a Practitioner member of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment.
Katie is Programme Manager for Food Sense Wales. Katie has an MSc in Nutrition from Kings College London and in Food Policy from City University. She has worked in the world of food for over 20 years with experience in both the private sector (Volac International), and third and public sector (including 6 years on Food Standards Agency’s Welsh Food Advisory Committee).
Siân-Elin joined Food Sense Wales in October 2020 as Communications and Engagement Manager. Having worked in the fields of Communications, PR and Events for over twenty years, she most recently worked as a Principal Communications and PR Officer at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David. Prior to her time in the University sector, Siân-Elin spent six years as an Event Producer at BBC Wales and before that, enjoyed several years as a Press Officer at ITV Wales. Siân-Elin started her career working for a theatre company, Theatr na n’Og, as a Marketing and PR Officer and is still as passionate as she was then about engaging and communicating with a range of diverse communities and audiences in creative, relevant and innovative ways.
Here are the latest tweets from @foodsensewales
Jan 19
🫑Great news! @WelshGovernment support ensures that all primary-aged school children in #Wales can benefit from the #EatThemToDefeatThem @VegPowerUK campaign
🌽Here’s what @ktfoodpalmer @foodsensewales had to say: https://t.co/RTb31af7j1
Jan 19
🥕Newyddion gwych bod arian gan @LlywodraethCym yn sicrhau bod holl blant ysgolion cynradd #Cymru’n gallu elwa o ymgyrch ‘Bwytewch y Llysiau i’w Llethu’ @VegPowerUK
🥦Dyma ymateb @ktfoodpalmer o #SynnwyrBwydCymru https://t.co/UBUFi4FoAH
Jan 19
🆕 @WelshGovernment funding ensures all primary-aged school children in #Wales could benefit from this year's #EatThemToDefeatThem @VegPowerUK campaign!
Read more here⬇
https://t.co/mYSiRO5wUZ
