East London Food Access (ELFA) is the coordinating body for a network of co-ops, projects and groups involved in facilitating access to affordable fresh fruit and vegetables within Hackney. It was formed in response to the growth of areas of 'Food Poverty' in East London: areas where good quality fresh fruit and vegetables are no longer locally available at an affordable price to people living on low incomes.

ELFA is a not for profit company limited by guarantee. We are driven by our aim to develop the local infrastructure in order to reduce 'Food Poverty', and thus encouraging local residents within the communities to improve their own and others health and well-being.

ELFA contracts with organisations involved in health and community development, and accesses charitable funding to carry out a range of food related activities including research, consultancy, project development and project co-ordination. We also co-ordinate the delivery of fresh fruit and vegetables to 6 food access projects, operated by ELFA volunteers, within Hackney and provide them with a range of support services to develop this community led intervention.

We have deliberately targeted our six stalls in areas of high deprivation in one of UK's poorest boroughs. The estates in which we operate, although physically regenerated, remain homes to residents facing chronic disadvantage. We operate on Woodberry Down Estate, Nightingale Estate, Haggerston Estate, Gascoyne 2 Estate, as well in Primary Schools in near Kingsmead Estate and Stamford Hill.

Many of our elderley customers simply cannot carry their bags home, our volunteers do that for them. Many parents with children bring a banknote with them and spend every penny on fresh produce. In the first week of the month they spend £20, by the last week its just £5.

We aim to recruit local volunteers and hold the Investors in Volunteers Chartermark.