Overview
Community Mapping (sometimes called asset mapping) is all about involving residents in identifying the assets of their neighbourhood, looking at opportunities and creating a picture of what it is like to live there. The exercise is a valuable and effective method of community engagement simply because maps are visual and easy to relate to; like photos and videos they cut through communication difficulties to reveal feelings and ideas which otherwise might be hard to express.
Every community has assets; facilities such as libraries and community centres, valued businesses, parks and forests are obvious. But most importantly the people and their capacities; organised community groups or individuals who have skills and talents. All of these things can be mapped to create a picture of the community which shows its capacity and its potential.
Introduction
There are three main types of assets to look for:
1. Individual based asset
Clearly as the individual assets cannot be plotted onto a geographical map, this kind of mapping is not always appropriate. The mapping of individual assets is usually more appropriate within an organised group – for instance a community association or youth club. When contained within a group, this kind of activity has also been called a ‘skills audit’. It is also extremely useful for groups which are newly formed, partly as a means of integrating the group but also for defining it; deciding what the priorities, the values and the capacity for action.
2. Community Street based asset
The Community Street Audit process has been around for some years, the idea is to gather local residents, services and councillors and send them out into the neighbourhood equipped with clipboards and cameras. Traditionally all participants would come back with a long list of issues, and photos of vandalism, damaged infrastructure, poorly maintained amenities and anything else they could find that was ugly or in need of repair. The findings of the Street Audit would then be compiled into a long report of challenges which could then be circulated to the services and agencies that had a responsibility for that area. This is the very model of a ‘deficit approach’, almost as if the process encourages a wilful denial of all the positives that exist in a neighbourhood.
3. Strength-based asset
Strength-based community mapping is a positive, asset-focused approach used in community development and planning. Unlike traditional methods that often start with identifying problems and needs, strength-based mapping focuses on recognizing and utilising the existing assets within a community. This method is grounded in the belief that every community has inherent strengths, resources, and capabilities that can be harnessed to improve the quality of life for its members and address challenges more effectively.
Food Waste Community Map
Mapping the local community food waste movement involves a comprehensive exploration and visualisation of initiatives, resources, and stakeholders dedicated to addressing food waste issues within a specific geographic area.
The process begins by identifying and cataloguing key players, including local businesses, nonprofits, government agencies, and community organisations actively involved in food waste reduction efforts. Utilising geographical information systems (GIS) or other mapping tools, facilitators can visually represent the locations of food waste generators, collection points, and distribution centres.
Additionally, mapping can highlight community gardens, composting sites, and innovative projects focused on repurposing surplus food. The map serves as a dynamic tool to showcase the interconnected network of individuals and organisations working collaboratively to combat food waste. Beyond spatial representation, the mapping process can incorporate layers of information, such as data on food waste volumes, success stories, and areas in need of additional support. This comprehensive overview aids in fostering collaboration, identifying gaps in resources, and promoting awareness within the local community, ultimately contributing to a more efficient and impactful food waste reduction movement.
Aim:
- Increase awareness and understanding of the environmental and social impacts of food waste.
- Provide knowledge to identify stakeholders involved in food waste management.
- Empower participants with practical strategies and tools to effectively prevent and minimise food waste.
- To raise awareness about the issue of food waste in the local community.
- To create a sense of community engagement and collective responsibility concerning food waste reduction.
Expected Outcomes
- Knowledge
- Learn how to identify key stakeholders involved in food waste management and their roles and interests.
- Educate participants on the importance of redistributing food to those in need.
- Be able to generate ideas and develop action plans for implementing food waste reduction initiatives.
- Participants will be able to identify opportunities for collaboration and engagement within the local community to reduce food waste collectively.
Skills:
- Stimulate participants’ creativity concerning food waste alternatives.
- Plan actionable steps to create a local food redistribution program.
- Create an action plan and involve stakeholders.
- Creating delicious recipes using common food waste items.
Attitudes:
- Raise awareness about food waste in the local community
- Empower participants to take action by conducting a food waste analysis
- Initiate the process of establishing a community food-sharing network.
- Involve the key decision-makers in the community concerning food waste.
Duration
Ca. 6 hours.
Instruction to Organise the Workshop
TASK 1
Participants will be divided into small groups; each group will receive sticky notes and markers, and every group will be asked to identify community stakeholders involved in food waste management. Once they identify them, they will need to write their names on individual sticky notes and place them on a flip-chart, trying to categorise them into different stakeholder groups; the trainer will support each group to ensure that the stakeholder will be divided into the proper category.
Discuss with the participants roles and interests of different stakeholder groups concerning food waste, and the potential benefits of engaging them in a plan to improve food waste management.
Once the stakeholders are identified and categorised, every group will devise a plan to reduce food waste, by considering different strategies on different aspects, like preventing food waste, redistributing food to the community and recycling food waste.
With the help of the sticky notes that represent the stakeholders in the community, every group will create an action plan on their flip chart by indicating each step to be followed and the stakeholder’s role in that action.
Each group will then present to the big group the stakeholders that they have identified and their action plan for fighting food waste.
The trainer will facilitate a discussion to finalise the action plan based on the participant’s input and give feedback, suggestions, and additional ideas to make the action plan more effective.
TASK 2
Begin the workshop by explaining the concept of food waste and its impact on the environment, economy, and society, focusing on the importance of the local community’s involvement in reducing food waste and highlighting the positive outcomes that can be achieved through collective action.
Continue by explaining how to check the quality and usability of each item, considering factors such as look, smell, and texture, and discuss with the group the alternative uses for imperfect or expiring food.
Divide the participants into small groups and distribute the imperfect or almost expired food items among them; each group will need to evaluate the condition of each item and identify potential uses; participants will need to create solutions for utilising the food items effectively.
In the case it is not possible to provide real food items, the alternative is to provide images of food with a relevant description, for example “a tomato that has some ugly imperfection” or a “pack of eggs that will expire tomorrow”.
Participants can have online access to recipe resources; they will need to select a few food items from their set of items to create a recipe that incorporates those leftovers.
If there is the possibility, participants will have to create and cook a recipe involving those ingredients, otherwise each group will need to present their recipe to the rest of the participants, explaining the food items used and the steps involved.
They may provide alternative ideas like: with this expired eggs I can do circus.
An alternative workshop can be on painting with natural based colours taken from food.
TASK 3
Share examples to highlight the importance of addressing food waste and its connection to hunger and the community’s equality and needs.
Divide participants into small groups and ask them to research different models of food redistribution, like, for example, community fridges and existing food rescue initiatives and community redistribution programs in communities analysing case studies and the positive impact of these initiatives on reducing food waste.
Instruct participants to discuss ideas for establishing a local community food-sharing network by considering identifying potential food donors, partnering with local organisations, and logistics of food collection and distribution.
Each group will need to create a strategy to create a food-sharing initiative in the community. Each group presents their ideas and recommendations by a digital visual presentation or a poster with the key points results of their idea.
Is useful to provide them a big paper sheet, post-it and colours.
Wrap up Activity
Encourage participants to share their thoughts, feedback, and ideas on how to further reduce food waste through creative recipes and different cooking techniques.
Summarise the key points from the workshop, highlighting the potential impact of reducing food waste on the local community.
Initiate a discussion on how participants can integrate the lessons learned into their daily lives, such as through meal planning, proper storage, and sharing knowledge with others in their community.
Materials provided and how to use them
Presentation – the presentation will help guide the workshop. The slides provide an overview of the key topics that will be covered, as well as some discussion questions and activities to facilitate learning.
As the workshop proceeds through each section, the facilitator will display the relevant slides to introduce new concepts, share examples and data, and pose questions to the group. Participants can feel free to take notes or jot down thoughts directly on the printed handouts of the slides that have been provided.
Why We Care About Food Waste: three stories of taking action at home and in the community
Food Waste: The Hidden Cost of the Food We Throw Out
Ugly food: a solution to food wastage?
Assessment
Assessment questions:
Why reducing food waste is essential for the local community?
How can individuals contribute to reducing food waste in their daily lives?
List some strategies or initiatives discussed in the workshop that can empower the local community to reduce food waste.
What challenges or barriers may the local community face in implementing food waste reduction practices?
What is the primary goal of a community food-sharing network?
Describe the benefits that a community can experience by establishing a food-sharing network.
What are some key considerations or logistical challenges in setting up a food rescue mission in the local community?
What are the key stakeholder groups in a community’s food waste management?
What challenges arise when engaging different stakeholder groups, and how can they be solved?
Can you explain the roles and interests of at least two stakeholders and how they contribute to addressing food waste?