Positive Voices' Vision Secures Funding

Tammy Quinn / 11 November 2025 / Categories: General

Marsden Heights Community College’s Positive Voice students have successfully secured £4,100 in funding to launch community food initiatives aimed at tackling food poverty and promoting sustainable growing in Nelson.

The funding includes £3,600 from the Nelson Town Council Finance Committee, who were inspired by the students’ passion and drive, and an additional £500 from Super Slow Way.

This financial support will enable students to visit London, where they will explore successful community food projects and learn how similar models can be adapted for their own community. They will be joined by Dana from the Taste of Transformation project and also plan to visit Parliament to meet their local MP and expand their understanding of how national government works.

Inspired by their work with Cooperation Town, a movement of 50 community food coops on street estates across the country, as well as Taste of Transformation, Food Nelson, Super Slow Way, and In-Situ, the students are already making progress locally. They are developing a food growing project at MHCC and expanding the school orchard, which has produced hundreds of apples, pears, plums, and berries this year.

Their future plans include educating the community about sustainable food growing, providing growing beds to help families start their own gardens, and raising awareness around food poverty, food waste, and local food production.

The ultimate goal is to leave a lasting legacy by creating a Cooperation Town Project in Nelson, tailored to the needs of the local community and inspired by successful models across the country.

Mashuq Hussain OBE, Senior Youth and Community Worker at Marsden Heights, said:

“We are extremely proud of our Positive Voices team and the confidence they demonstrated in planning their presentation and ‘selling’ their ambitious project plans to the Finance Committee. The Councillors were so impressed they allocated the funding immediately! These young people have powerful ideas, real insights and lived experiences that can help shape food systems that meet the needs of the community.”

With funding secured and plans underway, the Positive Voice team is ready to make a meaningful impact in Nelson.