Friends
The special support that we receive from our Friends underpins three key areas of work: education, campaigns and local food programmes. Together they help us to engage with the public, transform food culture, and support 'planet friendly', local, seasonal and organic food.
Education
Our award-winning Food for Life programme is transforming school meals and food culture in schools and hospitals, creating a new generation of active citizens.
We want every schoolchild under the age of 11 to have an opportunity to visit at least one of our 100 organic farms in our organic farm network in order to make the vital connections between the food they eat and where it comes from.
Campaigns
Our reports challenge the increasing industrialisation of farming and the fast food culture. They have been ahead of their time on a range of issues from antibiotics to school meals, from genetic engineering to foot and mouth disease.
Our aim is to create a policy climate where sustainable agriculture becomes the norm, both nationally and internationally.
Local Food
The Soil Association supports the development of local food through farmers’ markets, vegetable box schemes, food co-ops buying from local producers, and other projects which shorten the journey between farm and table.
Our staff throughout the UK offers direct support to local farmers, producers and organic businesses – as well as pioneering new ways to engage with citizens.
Become a friend of the Soil Association
A gift of £25 a month could:
Help cover the costs of one of our groundbreaking campaign reports on issues such as the widespread use of antibiotics in farming, pesticide residues or GM.
A gift of £50 a month could:
Support one of our demonstration farms, enabling a vibrant programme of visits, training and public events throughout the year.
Our Friends, like all members of the Soil Association, have access to a wealth of information and special offers on organic food and drink. These include:
- A wealth of information to help you lead a green and organic lifestyle in tune with the needs of the planet
- Regular editions of our supporter magazine Living Earth - packed full of thought-provoking articles, updates on our campaigns and policy work, reader offers and regular columns on organic cooking and gardening
- Up to 25% off our Organic farm school courses - learn traditional skills from chicken keeping, bread making, hedge laying, bee keeping, cider making, meat curing and many more
- Organic farm school - A monthly members only e-newsletter providing up to the minute information, hints and tips plus you can often find special member only offers and fabulous discounts on organic products
- FREE 'No GM in this fridge' magnet!
- Special invitations to inspirational events such as farm walks, debates and lectures.
As a Friend, you will also receive:
- Invitations to special Friends of the Soil Association events, where you will have opportunities to meet our Directors
- Personalised updates from our Director, focusing on the work you are helping to fund and how your support is making a difference