Michelle Brannigan from Full Circle Food Project shares their approach to delicious food, culture and connection

Full Circle Food Project are a brilliant organisation that provides cooking classes, gardening groups, workshops, meals and more in Ashington and beyond - all with the aim of ensuring everyone has access to delicious healthy food. 

Over the summer we had the lovely opportunity to partner with Full Circle Food Project and Ashington Family Hub for our HAF 'Creativity Unleashed' workshops, providing creative activities alongside tasty, nutritious lunches. 

Full Circle Food Project provided a variety of customisable meals filled with gorgeous fresh fruit and vegetables, some of which were grown just down the road in their community allotment at Hirst Park. It was great to see the young people enjoying delicious healthy meals and stepping out of their comfort zones to try new foods. 
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For us it was also an opportunity to get to know Full Circle Food Projects' staff and volunteers better and find out more about their work. There is so much to learn from their approach to food and people!

For this guest blog we've invited their Chief Executive Michelle Brannigan to talk about their work, the importance of maintaining a strong food culture, and how we can all learn about sustainable growing and cooking and take small steps to tackle food insecurity. 

Check out the full blog below:

Michelle (pictured on the back row, second from the left) with her team at Full Circle Food Project.

​Tell us about Full Circle Food Project and your role in the organisation?
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Full Circle Food Project (FCFP) is a charity based in Ashington, focused on helping people lead a healthier, sustainable lifestyle. We believe food is central to health, well-being, and community connection, so we combine gardening, cooking, and group activities to make nutritious food more accessible and enjoyable. We aspire to create a future where everyone has access to nutritious food, understands its value, and embraces sustainable, healthy lifestyle and wellbeing practices.

As CEO, I’m responsible for the overall leadership and direction of the organisation. That means setting and delivering on our strategy, ensuring strong governance, and managing our finances so the charity remains sustainable and resilient. A big part of my role is also about building partnerships, securing funding, and making sure we have the right structures in place so that our team and volunteers can thrive. I work closely with our trustees to maintain good governance, and I represent the organisation externally, championing our mission and making sure the voices of the people we work with are heard. While I don’t always get to be hands-on in the garden or kitchen, my role is about creating the conditions for those projects to flourish and grow.

Photo from HAF Creativity Unleashed workshop

What’s it been like working with Mortal Fools on the HAF project? Is there anything you’ve learnt or will take away for future projects?

It’s been inspiring to work with Mortal Fools. Their creative approach brings a fresh dimension to our food projects, particularly with young people, making sessions not just practical but also fun and expressive. For our part, we ran a potato station and a pasta station, encouraging children to try different foods and to see how something as simple as a potato or pasta can be transformed into an enjoyable meal. By creating an experience around these staple foods, the young people were able to explore, taste, and learn in a way that felt engaging and non-intimidating. It showed us how combining creativity with food can really help young people build confidence and curiosity around healthy eating, and that’s something we’ll carry forward into future projects.

Photo from HAF Creativity Unleashed workshop

In what ways do you think food helps us connect and relate to each other?

Food is a universal connector. Sharing a meal, cooking side by side, or gardening together helps to break down barriers and build trust. It doesn’t matter what your background or culture is; food brings people together across generations and cultures. It’s a natural way to start conversations and build relationships.

Your organisation combines gardening, cooking and community activities. Why do you think it’s important to have a holistic approach to food?

We think about food as a whole journey (from farm to fork) rather than just what’s on the plate. Gardening connects people to nature and where food comes from. Cooking builds essential life skills and confidence. And the community activities give people a chance to share and learn from each other. This holistic approach creates longer-lasting change and a deeper appreciation of food, compared to tackling just one part of the picture.

Photo from HAF Creativity Unleashed workshop

Why do you think it’s particularly hard for people to access nutritious food now, and is there anything individuals can do to help?

The cost-of-living crisis, rising energy and food prices, and pressures on time and resources make nutritious food harder to access. For some, it’s also about confidence in the kitchen, knowing how to cook from scratch, how to eke out meals and make the most of what’s available, such as yellow sticker items or leftovers. Individuals can help by supporting local food projects, volunteering their time, sharing knowledge, or donating surplus produce. Even small actions, like cooking with friends or starting a conversation about food, can help build a stronger food culture.

How can people get involved with the work of Full Circle Food Project?
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There are lots of opportunities to get involved. People can volunteer in our community garden, in our cooking classes or at our engagement events, helping out on stalls or just help washing up! As well as help us to connect to more people and communities by advocating for our organisation and helping us spread the word about living a healthy lifestyle. We also welcome partnerships with local schools and organisations and support from individuals who share our vision. Anyone interested can reach us through our website or follow us on social media to find out more. Our email is [email protected].

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Big thank you to Michelle and everyone at Full Circle Food Project!

​We are excited to be working with Full Circle Good Project and Ashington Family Hub once again on 29th October to provide more fun creative activities and yummy food to young people in Ashington. 

Click the button below to check out our FREE Creative Sparks workshop for ages 5-11:

Click here to find out more and book our 'Creative Sparks' workshop