Connecting communities

Supporting climate-friendly diets in Cambridgeshire food hubs and clubs

Access to nutritious and sustainable foods is a growing priority in food policy, public health, and environmental discussions. However, systemic inequality and logistical barriers often prevent the adoption of these diets among those most affected by food insecurity. This research explores how food hubs and clubs in Cambridge, and those who use them, face barriers that prevent the uptake of sustainable food choices. ThinkLab at the University of Cambridge and Cambridge Sustainable Food partnered on this collaborative research enquiry responding to a research question set by Cambridge Sustainable Food. The project was funded by University of Cambridge Public Engagement and seeks to centre community experience in the pursuit of food sustainability. Food hubs and clubs are more than distribution sites; they are places of dignity, resilience, and community connection.

"For sustainable food to be truly sustainable it needs to be affordable and accessible to everyone. We need to move beyond the narrative of individual responsibility and recognise the systemic reasons why sustainable eating isn’t always an easy choice - or even a choice at all. And we need interventions that change our food systems and food environments so that everyone has access to healthy and sustainable food. To do this effectively, it is vital to understand the daily life experiences of those facing the greatest barriers. That is what makes research like this so important - because the better we understand the barriers low-income communities face to eating sustainable diets, the better we can start to address them and make sustainable diets an affordable and accessible option for everyone in our communities." - Claire Ives, Cambridge Sustainable Food

"This project has been a wonderful example of what ThinkLab was designed to do: bringing together diverse student expertise from across Cambridge and channel it into real-world, community-focused impact. Working alongside Cambridge Sustainable Food and local food hubs and clubs have helped us gain some rich insights into just how interconnected sustainability, community, and everyday food decisions are. It was a thrill for us to be part of a fantastic Cambridge Festival event that highlighted the importance of dialogue, care, and meaningful collaboration with our communities." - Tyler Shores, ThinkLab Director

In March 2025 the team of collaborators welcomed the public to the Cambridge Union during the Cambridge Festival sharing insights into their research and engaging audiences in learning and debate around climate diets. To find out more about the project read ThinkLab team member Maureen Able's reflections on the collaboration.

"Participating in this project has been a profoundly meaningful experience, both professionally and personally. Through in-depth interviews with local food hub and club leaders, I came to understand that sustainable diets are not just about ingredients, emissions, or nutritional content, but also about people, identity, and dignity. These conversations highlighted the importance of a community-driven approach that respects cultural traditions and acknowledges the lived realities of those most affected by climate breakdown.

Also, as someone who researches the intersections of climate and culture, I found this collaboration deeply affirming. It provided a rare opportunity to explore how food is not only a climate issue but also a cultural and justice issue. Climate justice begins at the table - and that includes the food table. This project reminded me that any transition toward sustainability must be inclusive, rooted in lived experience, and co-created with the communities it aims to serve." — Maureen Abel, Researcher, ThinkLab-CSF Climate Diets and Behaviour Change Project

Read the full report on this link.

Crafting our Creative Northstowe

Earlier this year Northstowe Arts, local creatives Chloe Leaper and Matthew Wood, Dept of Architecture, University of Cambridge, and Cambridge Room teamed up to work on an innovative project funded by University of Cambridge Public Engagement. The collaborative research project created a model of creative approaches to asset mapping and community dialogue in new town environments to spark meaningful, ongoing dialogue around place‑based creative ambitions.

Mari O'Neill describes her motivations for developing the collaboration...

"Northstowe is still a growing community, and creativity plays a key role in shaping how it develops. But creativity isn’t always easy to define or measure. We know it’s happening, we see it in the music groups, the local artists, the craft workshops, and the street art that brightens our spaces, but we want to document it, celebrate it, and learn from it.

"We’re working alongside researchers from the University of Cambridge [The Cambridge Room] to explore the impact of creativity in our community and understand what it means to the people who live here. By capturing real stories and experiences, we can...

• Highlight the benefits – Creativity boosts our mental and physical wellbeing, whether we’re actively making something or just enjoying it.
• Strengthen our community – Shared creative experiences bring people together, fostering friendships and connections.
• Shape Northstowe’s future – Creative spaces and events turn a town into a place that feels like home.

"This isn’t just about what Northstowe Arts is doing, it’s about what all of us are creating, every day."

If you are interested in reading more about this project Ummiye Seyda Mutlu - Doctoral Researcher, Department of Architecture, University of Cambridge reflects on the collaboration and the wider context of development in Cambridge in this blog.

Full report out soon.