Thrive Together is the first educational project under FoodCloud Academy, FoodCloud’s education programme. Our mission is to educate communities on the role of food in climate change, inspire people through the social and environmental benefits of food sharing, and support our communities to take action for a more equitable, inclusive and circular food system.

Thrive Together is funded through Pobal’s Community Climate Action Programme, which aims to develop a capacity building educational programme for FoodCloud’s network of community partners through courses, case studies, toolkit, webinars and workshops. 

Thrive Together learning journey is built around 3 activities: 

• Educate: Offering opportunities to explore food waste and discover individual and community roles in solving this issue.
• Inspire: Sharing research, best practices, and connecting ‘communities of practice’ to foster innovation for a circular economy.
• Take Action: Encouraging direct involvement in reducing food waste at home, work, and in the community.

Education

1.  Sustainable Food Surplus Practices course

In 2023, FoodCloud Academy collaborated with Atlantic Technological University (ATU) to create an Accredited Sustainable Food Surplus Practices course, funded through Pobal’s Community Climate Action Programme. This QQI Level 6 online part-time 30 credit programme offers four stand-alone courses, alongside one compulsory course (Introduction to Surplus Food) and an optional practical course (Community Outreach Project), each of which are awarded with 5/10 credit certificates. Two courses are offered in the January semester (Food Legislation and Safety, Surplus Food Distribution) and two courses are offered in the September semester (Repurposing Surplus Food, Sustainable Surplus Food Management). The semester runs over a fifteen-week period, with a one hour live lecture each week. For the first three semesters we offered a FoodCloud Academy grant to cover course fees. 

“It was a great opportunity to have access to a course, through FoodCloud, that was a profound eye opener on the extent of food waste and its detrimental impact on our environment. We gained a clearer understanding of the importance of a circular economy and its potential to address this pressing issue. The programme equipped us with valuable insights on how to effectively raise awareness among the general public for a collective action towards a more sustainable future as we discovered the stigma often associated with food banks. We were able to use the Clonmany community pantry model as a practical, inspiring example of how to promote the circular economy in a way that respects dignity and fosters inclusivity when we were working on ways to palliate to stigma. ‍This model didn't hold any stigma and also demonstrated the meaningful benefits it brings to the community, fostering a sense of solidarity when addressing food waste. Through Foodcloud, we were able to access a course that was structured with clarity and the concepts were easy to understand for everyone.” - Dominique McDaid, Clonmany Community Centre

“The ATU Certificate in Sustainable Food Surplus Practice with a focus on Food Safety & Legislation has been an invaluable experience. The course provided me with a comprehensive understanding of the complex issues surrounding food waste and food insecurity. The practical insights and up-to-date knowledge on food safety and legal regulations have equipped me with the necessary skills to make a real impact in my community. The online format was flexible and allowed me to balance my studies with work commitments. I highly recommend this course to anyone passionate about sustainable food systems and reducing food waste. The content was comprehensive and easy to understand, even for someone with no prior knowledge of food safety regulations. The module covered all the essential aspects of food safety, including hygiene, temperature control, and labeling requirements. I particularly appreciated the practical examples and real-world scenarios that were used to illustrate the concepts. The module also provided a clear overview of the legal framework surrounding food safety and surplus food redistribution. This knowledge is crucial for anyone working in the food industry, especially those involved in handling surplus food. The course materials were well-organized and easy to navigate, making it convenient to study at my own pace. Overall, I highly recommend this module to anyone who is interested in learning more about food safety and legislation in the context of food surplus. It is a valuable tool for anyone working in the food industry, whether you are a volunteer, a community organization, or a business owner.” - Laura Madden, The Rediscovery Centre

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2. Free online courses

FoodCloud Academy developed two free online courses with Atlantic Technological University (ATU) in 2023/24. FoodCloud’s first course Reducing Food Waste in the Home, in collaboration with the EPA, and the second course, Repurposing Surplus Food, in collaboration with the Department of Health and Nutritional Sciences, were built within ATU’s Higher Education 4.0 (HE4.0) project. These are both online, self-directed learning courses (QQI Level 5 and Level 6 respectively), accessible to everyone free of cost and awarded with an ATU digital badge.

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Inspiration

We created case studies and webinars to inspire communities to value surplus food sharing. Community groups that collaborate with FoodCloud provide a diverse range of services to their local communities. These case studies showcase four of these community groups, highlighting their exemplary approaches to food redistribution and how they've extended their services beyond just food. We then delivered a webinar series focusing on these case studies. 

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Taking action

We supported community members to take action in their local communities and homes using our toolkit which is a step by step guide to setting up a food sharing project, using our online tips to avoid food waste and through participating in our community workshops in partnership with local development companies. 

We are excited to carry forward the reflections, lessons learned, and valuable resources developed through Thrive Together as we continue to expand our education pillar, FoodCloud Academy. These tools and insights will remain at the heart of our efforts to inspire and drive meaningful action, providing ongoing support for sustainable, community-led solutions to food waste. FoodCloud Academy is committed to building on this strong foundation, ensuring these impactful resources reach more communities and foster lasting positive change well into the future.