In August 2025, Tell Us North worked with Full Circle Food Project (FCFP) to complete a strategic planning programme to support their next phase of growth and impact.
Full Circle Food Project works with local communities to tackle food poverty, reduce food waste and address social isolation by bringing people together through food, cooking and gardening.
The charity supports healthier lifestyles while creating inclusive, welcoming spaces where people of all ages can learn, share meals and build stronger community connections.
Through our strategic approach, Tell Us North brought together the charity’s CEO and trustees to reflect on its objectives, core activities and long-term vision. As demand for the charity’s services continues to grow, the process focused on ensuring Full Circle Food Project’s work remains aligned with its mission while enabling sustainable, well-planned expansion into new communities.
“When you’re deeply ingrained in an organisation, it can be very difficult to step back and look at the bigger picture objectively.“
“We brought in Tell Us North to help us really interrogate what we do, why we do it, and whether our activities are genuinely meeting our objectives.”
“They were excellent at asking the second question – challenging assumptions and personal bias in a constructive way. That was invaluable, particularly at trustee level, where strategic direction is so important.”
– Michelle Brannigan, CEO – Full Circle Food Project
The one-day strategy workshop, supported by preparatory and follow-up work, resulted in a clear three-year vision for the charity. As a direct outcome, Full Circle Food Project restructured its staffing model, streamlined job roles, and strengthened its recruitment approach. The charity has also expanded delivery into additional communities while gaining confidence in making informed decisions about future partnerships and growth.
Our support came as Full Circle Food Project began preparation for further development, including the launch of a new community hub, reinforcing its commitment to healthier lifestyles and stronger, more connected communities across Northumberland.
“Having a clear strategy and vision has transformed how we make decisions. It’s enabled us to say yes in the right places and no in the right places, which is crucial as we grow and become more widely known.”
– Michelle Brannigan, CEO – Full Circle Food Project
Our work also supported Full Circle Food Project to strengthen how it measures and evidences its impact.
By linking clear ‘theory of change’ to each objective, we helped the charity to better demonstrate how its activities contribute to reducing food poverty, improved food education through hands on cooking and gardening classes, tackling food waste and building stronger community connections.
“It’s been brilliant to support another VCSE organisation in shaping their business strategy.
When we share what we have learned and work through challenges together, we are not just helping one organisation, we are strengthening the whole sector and making sure health and wellbeing services can keep making a real difference.”
– Courtney Peel, Business Services Manager – Tell Us North
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