Edible Islington is a £1m capital fund founded in 2009 by 10:10 Launch Council, LB Islington, to establish and support the development of at least 60 new community food growing spaces. Projects have to be delivered by a constituted group, not an individual, and must also incorporate water harvesting.

 The fund employs three officers and is overseen by a project board comprising of key borough partners and a steering group made up of the officers who have overall responsibility for the different programme components. Grants are either large (£3k to £15k) or small (£300 to £3k ). The large grants are for exemplar projects where community groups can prove that there is real need for a larger scale food growing project.  The Edible Islington officers directly support community groups with large grant application and delivery.  All large grants go to a steering group for a decision.

 As part of the scheme Islington is planning to establish 3 new allotment sites, the first new allotments in the borough for a long time (and in an inner London borough that is under no obligation to provide allotment sites!). They are also working with the London Orchard Project to establish 5 new community orchards as part of the Edible Islington programme.

 The fund is working with Garden Organic to establish a network of 40 Master Gardeners, who will receive accredited training and will be committed to in turn training at least 10 additional individuals/community groups. In 2009 it also funded a borough Horticultural Show run by the Islington Organic Gardeners Network and will also fund the show in the autumn 2010 which will serve as a celebration for the achievements of the groups supported through the programme.

 www.islington.gov.uk/Environment/sustainability/sus_food/edible.asp