The Independent Food Aid Network (IFAN) is the UK's largest network of independent food aid providers. IFAN advocates for a 'cash first' or income-focused approach to food insecurity. IFAN's vision is a country without the need for charitable food aid where adequate and nutritious food is affordable to all.

Through its support of member food aid organisations and its 'Worrying About Money?' resources project, IFAN aims to help people facing financial hardship while also calling for 'cash first' policy changes to reduce food insecurity at a local, regional, national, and UK-wide level. IFAN publishes data, reports, briefings, and infographics, and provides evidence gathered from the food aid frontline frequently appearing in national and local media.

The Independent Food Aid Network (IFAN) was initially set up by Seb Mayfield in collaboration with Professor Jon May, Steph Ellis, and Chris Sunderland in 2016. The idea for a network of grassroots food aid providers outside of the established Trussell Trust emerged following Seb's visit to Canada as a Churchill Fellow. Here, food banks had already existed for decades and Seb saw the potential for an alternative approach to food poverty as practised in Canada through Community Food Centres.

In late 2016, Sabine Goodwin approached Seb with a proposal to map independent food banks outside of the Trussell Trust and this research undertaken on behalf of IFAN was published exclusively in The Guardian in May 2017. Sabine began to coordinate the day-to-day running of IFAN as a volunteer in May 2018. In October 2018, IFAN became a Charitable Incorporated Organisation registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales.

Annual reports to the Charity Commission

IFAN became a Charitable Incorporated Organisation in October 2018 and its annual reports to the Charity Commission are listed below:

With thanks

IFAN is very grateful to Maria Marshall (2020-24), Abby Preston (2022-25), Katie Wright (2021-22), Annie Connolly (2020), Megan Waugh (2020) for their invaluable work as part of IFAN's team as well as to all the former trustees and volunteers who have contributed so much to IFAN's development: Seb Mayfield (2016-18), Steph Ellis (2016-19), Chris Sunderland (2016-19), Ren Piercy (2018), Lucy Cullen (2018), Sharon Ball (2018), Dr David Beck (2018), Dr Katie Gordon (2019 -20), Rajesh Makwana (2019-2024), Laura Gent (2021), Anna Gavurin (2023-24), Clare Gavurin (2024), and Alex Tate (2024).