Gavin set up Cofarm Cambridge in January 2019 and thanks to excellent engagement from the local community and partners - and with the help of hundreds of volunteers and local donors - the organisation is now a thriving community farm positively impacting the local community.
Since its first harvest in July 2020, CoFarm has grown more than 10 tonnes of organically grown food, consisting of 55 varieties of fresh fruit and vegetables valued at over £40,000, all of which it donates to nine emergency food hubs supporting people experiencing food insecurity across the city.
The award recognises Gavin and CoFarm Cambridge’s remarkable achievements. Daniel Zeichner, Member of Parliament for Cambridge, said: “I am immensely pleased for Gavin for this remarkable and well-deserved achievement. From increasing access to sustainable food to donating produce to food hubs across the city, CoFarm Cambridge are doing critical work in the most difficult of circumstances, and this award, therefore, represents a fitting tribute and demonstration of Gavin’s immense contributions to the community."
Gavin Shelton, founder of CoFarm Cambridge, added: “CoFarm is all about communities coming together to positively address ‘larger than self’ issues such as climate change, health inequalities and biodiversity loss. By repositioning regenerative food and farming at the heart of our communities, we can overcome these challenges together. This Points of Light award shines light on all of our amazing co-farmers - over 325 to date - who have put so much love, time, energy and joy into co-designing and co-creating their own community farm here in Cambridge."