Tipperary community food projects to benefit from €1.5 million healthy eating initiative
Three community projects across Tipperary are set to benefit from this funding.
Safefood today announced a significant €1.5 million investment in its Community Food Initiatives Programme 2025-28, with key projects across Tipperary set to receive funding.
This four-year initiative aims to positively influence the eating habits of people in low-income communities throughout the island of Ireland, fostering lasting change and strengthening community resilience around healthier eating.
The Tipperary-based organisations receiving funding are:
Knockanrawley Resource Centre
Serving communities in Tipperary town and surrounding areas, this project will deliver cooking and food waste initiatives to low-income families and vulnerable groups.
Digital food education and interactive content, such as live cooking demonstrations, recipe challenges, and Q&A sessions with nutritionists, will help keep topics engaging and accessible.
The project also aims to establish peer-led support networks – people trained as community ambassadors or peer educators – who will serve as role models and provide support to others. Pilot mobile food security units (such as pop-up stalls bringing fresh produce and nutrition information directly into under-served areas) are also planned.
Silver Arch Family Resource Centre
Serving communities in North Tipperary, this project will deliver the Healthy Food Made Easy model with elements of Stop Food Waste and Financial Literacy. It will focus on older adults living alone or socially isolated in the community and families with children.
The project also aims to create participant-led stories capturing personal experiences and the impact of their work in the community.
Mid West Simon Community
This project, serving communities in Limerick, Clare, and North Tipperary, will deliver classes in food budgeting, cooking, meal planning, and reducing food waste, as well as cultural food sharing events.
They also plan to create simple, participant-driven recipe collections and budgeting tips aimed at low-income households, vulnerable groups, and isolated individuals in the local community.
Welcoming the launch of Safefood’s Community Food Initiatives Programme, Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD said: “Unhealthy food choices are increasingly becoming the norm, impacting the health of our population. I am encouraged by the focus of Safefood’s Community Food Initiatives, which are more than just a source of learning about food; they build practical skills and knowledge at the grassroots level.
"I welcome that these local projects foster connections within communities, aiming to create a future where healthy eating is realistic, achievable, and accessible to all.”
The Safefood initiative will support each group to establish, manage, and sustain a local food initiative that promotes lasting behaviour change and strengthens community resilience around healthier eating.
For more information on The Community Food Initiatives (CFI) Programme 2025–2028 visit: www.safefood.net/community-food-initiatives.