A UK government press release dated 30 September 2026 set out plans to invest almost £10 million across 45 communities in England to improve access to healthy, affordable food in areas described as the most deprived. Under the reported plan, each of the 45 local authorities identified as having the greatest levels of deprivation and childhood obesity would receive £222,000.

The release said the Good Food Neighbourhoods funding could support community food shops, mobile greengrocers, lunch clubs, community kitchens and cooking and nutrition programmes. It cited figures that 9% of people lived in food insecure households in 2024/25, and said children in the most deprived communities are significantly more likely to experience obesity and related health inequalities. The programme was developed after work by the Citizen's Advisory Council and conversations with civil society organisations, the release said, and would work with businesses, charities and philanthropy alongside government funding.

The release listed recipient councils including Birmingham City Council, Manchester City Council, Liverpool City Council, Leeds-adjacent Bradford, Barnsley, Doncaster, Hull and a range of London boroughs such as Barking and Dagenham, Enfield, Greenwich and Newham. The funding figures and list of councils reflect the plan as reported on 30 September 2026.