The Independent Food Aid Network (IFAN) supports and advocates on behalf of independent food aid providers operating across the UK while the need for charitable food aid exists. The network's membership includes hundreds of independent food banks as well as other types of food aid provider including food pantries. IFAN’s vision is of a country without the need for charitable food aid where adequate and nutritious food is affordable to all.

IFAN supports and advocates on behalf of its member organisations in a range of ways including:

• sharing advice, guidelines, best practice and funding opportunities
• running regular meetings, webinars and conferences for member organisations to share concerns, ideas and best practice
• collating and reporting on data from member independent food banks and using these figures to advocate for policy changes
• leading work across the UK to co-develop local Worrying About Money? resources
• advocating for a cash first or income-focused approach to food insecurity when providing comments, information and written submissions on members' behalf through the media, at events, within advisory groups, through evidence-gathering inquiries, in collaborative work with academics and other anti-poverty charities, and at meetings with central, national and local government teams as well as elected representatives
• facilitating member contributions in media coverage, national surveys, research projects, events and conferences

You can sign up to IFAN as a member using our membership form below. Please note IFAN member organisations are often part of local alliances and food partnerships but wouldn't also be simultaneously members of other national networks such as as Trussell community of food banks or the Salvation Army network. If you have any questions about joining IFAN please contact us at admin@foodaidnetwork.org.uk.