About us
Who we are
STOC Good Food is a collaborative partnership of local residents, community groups and organisations working together to create a more sustainable food system for South Tyneside.
Our Mission
To collaboratively deliver a more sustainable food system for South Tyneside, enabling access to food that is equitable and healthy for residents, organisations and the planet.
STOC Good Food is a collaborative partnership of local residents, community groups and organisations working together to create a more sustainable food system for South Tyneside.
By taking a whole-system approach, we aim to make food that is healthy, fair, culturally inclusive, environmentally responsible and accessible to everyone.
Our role is to connect people and activities, so they complement one another, provide a platform to celebrate and recognise local food initiatives, and embrace South Tyneside’s rich and diverse food heritage.
Through this collaboration across the public, voluntary and private sectors, we are co-designing and delivering a Sustainable Food Action Plan, whilst achieving recognition as a Sustainable Food Place.
Our Partners
Together, we aim to create a food system in South Tyneside that is:
Healthy
Enabling everyone
to access nutritious,
affordable food.
Fair
Supporting local food
businesses and ensuring
fair pay for producers.
Sustainable
Reducing food
waste, protecting natural
resources, and cutting
carbon emissions.
Inclusive
Ensuring everyone
has the opportunity to
engage with good food,
regardless of background
or circumstances.
Resilient
Strengthening
local supply chains and
empowering communities
to shape their own
food systems.
STOC Good Food is committed to championing sustainable food
practices where possible by taking action across the following areas:
Inspiring a Good Food Movement
Promoting Healthy and Sustainable Food
Tackling Food Poverty and Inequality
Reducing Food Waste
Supporting a Sustainable Food Economy
Growing and Producing Food Locally
Building Stronger Partnerships
Why strive for a more sustainable food system in South Tyneside?
South Tyneside is a metropolitan borough on the south bank of the River Tyne in the North East of England.
It comprises the towns of South Shields, Jarrow, Hebburn and several smaller villages. It borders the authorities of Sunderland, Gateshead, and Newcastle/North Tyneside. The borough combines a striking coastline along the North Sea, riverside settings and cultural landmarks such as Ocean Road, which, alongside a rich industrial heritage, make it an attractive visitor destination.
The borough’s population is 151,393 (2024 estimate), with a slight annual increase of 0.8%. Employment levels are lower than national averages: around 65% of residents aged 16-64 are in work, with an unemployment rate of 5.6% (above the England average of 4.2%).
The claimant count for December 2024 was 5.3%, representing 4,765 working-age residents. Only around 43% of the workforce both live and work in South Tyneside, with the remainder commuting across boundaries, reflecting its interconnected position within the wider Tyne and Wear economy.
Borough Population of:
Historically, South Tyneside’s economy was built on shipbuilding, coal and manufacturing, with major shipyards and coal mines providing employment and identity for local communities. These industries thrived through the 19th and early 20th centuries but declined sharply in the late 20th century due to global competition, technological changes and political decisions.
The area also had a modest but active fishing industry, with South Shields once supporting fleets that supplied local markets. Today, this industry has almost entirely disappeared, with only nearby North Shields Fish Quay remaining as the last significant hub on the Tyne. The loss of these industries left a legacy of economic restructuring and deprivation. Recent statistics show, nearly one in four residents lived in the most deprived 10% of areas nationally (2019).
The borough has also been shaped by its cultural diversity. South Shields hosts one of the earliest Yemeni communities in the UK, dating back to the 19th century, and this community’s heritage remains visible in local culture, cuisine and identity. According to the 2021 Census, about 5.6% of South Tyneside’s residents are from ethnic minority backgrounds: 2.9% Asian/Asian British, 0.5% Black or Black British, 1.4% Mixed/Multiple ethnicities, and 0.8% Other ethnic groups, with 94.4% identifying as White.
Farming and commercial agriculture is limited in South Tyneside. Most farmland is arable, with very few pastoral farms. Where livestock exists, it is largely restricted to horse liveries rather than commercial production. Food growing is more commonly community-led: the Council manages 23 allotment sites, comprising approximately 1,500 plots, with strong demand and growing involvement from schools, veterans and community groups.
Health and food insecurity remain pressing issues. 2023 data show 70% of adults are overweight or obese, compared to the England average of 64.5%.
Among Year 6 pupils, 40.1% are overweight or obese, again above the national rate (35.8%). Just 20.5% of adults achieve recommended fruit and vegetable consumption, significantly lower than England’s 31.3%.
Breastfeeding prevalence at 6-8 weeks is 34.2%, compared with 52.7% nationally. Nearly 1 in 5 households experiences food insecurity and demand for food banks has increased by over 40% in recent years.
Get in touch
Have a question, idea or opportunity to share? We’d love to hear from you.
Whether you’re a resident, local business, community group or organisation, the STOC Good Food partnership is here to connect people, share ideas and support good food activity across South Tyneside.
More About Good Food in South Tyneside
Find out more about the work we support, the organisations involved and how you can take part in South Tyneside’s food movement.