Free conference bringing together community voices, businesses and policy makers to transform Stoke-on-Trent's food system through lived experience, breakout sessions and an expert panel.
The Stoke-on-Trent Food Partnership is hosting its Winter Conference, Impact 2026, at The Bridge Centre on Friday 6 November. It's a full day that brings together community voices, policy makers, businesses and innovators to look at how the city's food system can become fairer, greener and more resilient. The whole thing is built around the idea of co-creating practical solutions to make nutritious food more affordable, available and sustainable across the city.
Lived experience is the thread that runs through the day. Local people are given a platform to speak their truth to power, and there's inspiration drawn from real-world projects working across the city. The format mixes those lived-experience spotlights with interactive breakout sessions that draw on local food projects, and an expert panel to close the day. Rev Geoff Eze is compering, and Gareth Snell MP will provide the closing words.
There are two keynote speakers: Samir Karnik Hinks, Communities Lead at Feeding Liverpool, and Dr Rosa Fernandez Martin, Senior Lecturer in Economics and Finance at Keele University. The day ends with 'The Wrap', an expert panel hosted by Lloyd Cooke, CEO of Saltbox, with Jon Rouse CBE from Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Corrine Boden from Stoke-on-Trent Foodbank, Angus Dalton from Farm Carbon Toolkit and Glenn Parkes MBE from Temple Street Methodist Church. The breakout sessions pull in local projects like Birches Head Get Growing, Brickhouse, Expert Citizens and Wild Pickle, and lunch is provided by Food Partnership member Asha North Staffordshire.
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It runs from 9:45am to 4:15pm at The Bridge Centre, Birches Head Road, Hanley, ST2 8DD, and entry is free.
