Healthy Me Healthy Communities is proud to play a strategic role in shaping Manchester’s food future, with our CEO, Rich Browning, serving as Co-Chair of the Manchester Food Board. As part of this work, we have developed Good Food Gorton - a practical, community-led food programme based at our Gorton Central HQ. 

“Gorton Central is my friend, my family. I’ve really achieved a lot at the centre”

Launched in March 2026, Good Food Gorton builds on our many years of food security work across Manchester, and brings together affordable food access, growing, shared meals, adult education, and community power in one joined-up model. Supported initially by The National Lottery and further developed with Jigsaw Foundation funding, the programme aims to support the development of sustainable neighbourhood food systems.   

Launched in March 2026, Good Food Gorton builds on our many years of food security work across Manchester, and This matters in Gorton, where high unemployment, high levels of benefit claimants and some of the highest obesity rates in the city sit alongside significant local strengths. There are many VCFSE and statutory organisations in the area working to improve health and wellbeing, many growing spaces locally (including our own award-winning community garden), a diverse and engaged local population, investment in civic spaces such as Gorton Hub and the new town square, and £20m of Pride in Place funding. We also bring significant experience in community power approaches via our work managing the Making Manchester Fairer Community Forum and Manchester Community Power Forum. Good Food Gorton has been shaped around these local assets as well as local need.

At the heart of the programme is our flagship community grocers offering redistributed surplus food, particularly fresh fruit and vegetables, at low cost. Alongside this, residents can take part in accredited courses including L2 Food Safety and L2 Eat Well, Teach Well, plant-rich cooking workshops, growing activities and shared meals. Popular sessions have included mushroom growing and West African vegan cookery, and an upcoming Iraqi vegetarian cookery session will be led by a former learner. These activities do more than improve food access: they build confidence, share skills, create connection and support healthier, more sustainable ways of eating.

Good Food Gorton is not simply a food support offer. It is an example of how a local food system can be built from the ground up: practical, preventative and rooted in community participation. With partnerships including Sow the City and Farm Urban, related research projects on food aid and plant-rich diets, and strong alignment with Greater Manchester’s Live Well approach, the programme shows how local organisations can help shape healthier, fairer and more sustainable food futures.