Fellow’s Profile
Marsha Smith
Fellow’s Profile
Marsha Smith
Shaping A UK Canteen Culture Through European Benchmarking
Fellowship
Themes
Focus
Establishing a UK and European Public Canteen and Social Eating Network
Countries
Fellowship year
2025
Supported by
Locality
East Midlands
Contact
Biography
I am a University of Nottingham researcher focused on inclusive food cultures. My current research explores how state-supported public canteens can address food insecurity and social isolation in the UK.
Inspired by historical British restaurants and successful European models, my Fellowship will examine the policies, funding, governance and delivery systems behind initiatives such as People's Restaurants in Turkiye, Milk Bars in Poland, the Netherlands' People's Kitchens and Denmark's Absalom initiatives. I'll also meet food sustainability teams in Denmark and EU policy advocates in Belgium.
My Fellowship aim is to generate practical insights into how public food provision can be reimagined to deliver nutritious meals, build social cohesion and strengthen civic infrastructure. These findings will inform the creation of a UK Canteen Culture Coalition and shape a national agenda for inclusive, state-supported public dining. Building upon my experience in leading social eating projects and my current involvement in public health and food security networks, I will use this Fellowship to develop evidence, partnerships and momentum to influence future UK food policy.
Disclaimer
All Reports are copyright © the author. The moral right of the author has been asserted. The views and opinions expressed by any Fellow are those of the Fellow and not of the Churchill Fellowship or its partners, which have no responsibility or liability for any part of them.
Disclaimer
All Reports are copyright © the author. The moral right of the author has been asserted. The views and opinions expressed by any Fellow are those of the Fellow and not of the Churchill Fellowship or its partners, which have no responsibility or liability for any part of them.