Research Fieldwork & International Collaboration

These photographs document selected fieldwork and participant observation activities undertaken as part of the Surplus Food Systems Research programme. They illustrate research settings and engagement activities but do not present research findings.

Lagos Food Bank Initiative Fieldwork

Participant Observation & Practitioner Engagement | Lagos, Nigeria | 2024

I undertook my first doctoral fieldwork with the Lagos Food Bank Initiative (LFBI) to explore the social, economic, and environmental dimensions of surplus food redistribution. Through participant observation, practitioner engagement, and involvement in selected food distribution and recovery activities, the fieldwork provided me with first-hand insights into how food redistribution systems operate within the Nigerian context. The experience contributed to a deeper understanding of organisational practices, stakeholder relationships, food access challenges, and the wider role of redistribution initiatives in addressing food insecurity and food waste. I also gained a new perspective and clarified my assumptions on food access and hunger in Nigeria.

Audience: Practitioners, volunteers, community organisations

Contribution: Volunteer researcher and participant observer

Selected Fieldwork Activities (Lagos Food Bank Initiative)

Two people smiling outdoors in a green field, with outdoor equipment and water tanks in the background.
Two people shopping for snacks at a grocery store, filling black baskets with chips, cookies, and other snack foods.
People loading boxes into a white Edufood van, with one person carrying a large stack of boxes, outdoors on a cloudy day.
People handing over a cardboard box to a woman in front of a green building with other women and a vehicle in the background.
Three women smiling at an indoor charity event, with one woman holding a sign that says 'GIVE HUNGER THE BOOT!'. The woman on the right wears glasses and a red shirt, while the woman in the middle wears glasses, a black shirt, and blue jeans. The woman on the left wears glasses, a green shirt, and a black cap. There are stacked bags in the background.
Group of people holding signs with messages about charity and ending world hunger, standing in an indoor room with posters and a TV on the wall.
Women in line distributing boxes at an outdoor community event under a white tent with blue logo, surrounded by seated people and a lime green building.
Group of nine people smiling and holding award bottles and green tote bags in a room with lime green walls, during a Lagos Food Bank event.

Fig 1: Selected fieldwork activities at the Lagos Food Bank Initiative (2024). Images show food recovery, sorting and distribution activities, community outreach programmes, volunteer engagement, and participant observation undertaken during doctoral fieldwork. The fieldwork provided me with first-hand insight into the organisational practices, partnerships, and operational processes that support food redistribution and food access initiatives in Lagos, Nigeria.

Stacked cups of ice cream in a grocery store freezer, with flavors visible through clear plastic containers, including vanilla and chocolate.
Multiple pallets of food products and boxed items stored on industrial shelving in a warehouse.

FareShare Merseyside Fieldwork

Participant Observation & Practitioner Engagement | Liverpool, UK | 2025

As part of my UK doctoral fieldwork, I spent time with FareShare Merseyside exploring the operational and logistical dimensions of surplus food redistribution. Activities included warehouse observation and participation, engagement with staff and volunteers, and accompanying redistribution deliveries from the Liverpool depot to community organisations in Chester and Wrexham. This fieldwork provided first-hand insight into how surplus food is sourced, sorted, stored, and redistributed through regional networks. The experience deepened my understanding of the infrastructure, partnerships, and governance arrangements underpinning large-scale food redistribution systems in the UK.

Audience: Practitioners, volunteers, community food organisations & researchers

Contribution: Volunteer researcher and participant observer.

Selected Fieldwork Activities (FARESHARE MERSEYSIDE)

Inside a warehouse with metal shelves stocked with boxes and goods, aisle in the center, high ceilings with skylights, and a large garage door at the back.
The back of a service vehicle with tools and storage boxes, including plastic crates, a dolly, and a small roller, used for maintenance or delivery work.
Stacks of green and blue plastic crates with organic produce and papers, placed on a wheeled platform against a plain white wall.
A worker wearing an orange safety vest inside a Fareshare delivery van, handling green plastic crates.
A woman and a man are inside a truck, both are smiling. The woman is wearing glasses, a green headscarf, a high-visibility vest, and earrings. The man is driving and is wearing an orange high-visibility shirt with reflective stripes.
Exterior of a community store with a large sign that reads 'Community Store' and includes messages about alleviating food poverty and reducing food waste, along with various notices and items on tables outside.
Inside a fast-food restaurant, digital signs display information and efforts to promote sustainability. Empty green plastic crates are on the floor near the counter, and a worker in an orange uniform is nearby.
View of a highway with multiple cars, a sign indicating an upcoming exit to Chester and Wrexham, and a blue directional sign for motorway M53.
Pallet of boxed oranges wrapped in plastic with a 'WASTE NOT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION' sign.
Bowl of food with French fries, lettuce, tomatoes, grilled chicken, and a piece of grilled meat with sauce on a white table, surrounded by drinks and utensils.

Fig. 2: Selected fieldwork activities at FareShare Merseyside (2025). Following the journey of surplus food through the FareShare Merseyside redistribution network. Fieldwork activities included warehouse observations, accompanying deliveries, engaging with practitioners and volunteers, and observing how surplus food reaches community organisations across North West England and North Wales.

Commercial kitchen with three large stainless steel refrigerators, green crates, and a person working in the background.

Bwyd Da Môn Fieldwork

Participant Observation & Practitioner Engagement | Anglesey, Wales, UK | 2025

Through a three-month volunteering placement with Bwyd Da Môn, I gained first-hand experience of community-based food redistribution and food access initiatives in North Wales. Activities included food sorting, stock management, supporting daily operations, and engaging with staff, volunteers, and service users. The placement provided valuable insight into how surplus food is transformed into an accessible community resource while balancing operational realities, dignity, and local needs. It also highlighted the importance of relationships, trust, and community-centred approaches within food redistribution systems.

Audience: Practitioners, volunteers, community food organisations & researchers

Contribution: Volunteer researcher and participant observer.

Selected Fieldwork Activities (Bwyd Da Môn)

Small grocery store or food pantry with shelves filled with packaged foods and supplies near a door and window.
A woman with curly hair and glasses taking a selfie inside a grocery store, with shelves stocked with various foods.
A metal shelving unit filled with various groceries on multiple shelves, including fruits, bread, snacks, bottled drinks, and household items, in a store or storage room.
A commercial freezer with a digital temperature display reading -20°F. A sign on the freezer instructs that items should not be placed inside without being dated.

Fig. 3: Selected fieldwork activities at Bwyd Da Môn (2025). Images show food storage facilities, community food provision spaces, and participant observation activities carried out during a three-month volunteering placement. The fieldwork provided me with insight into the everyday practices, relationships, and operational processes that support community-based food redistribution in North Wales.

Small brick building with large windows and a sign indicating Porth Dree, located near a road with bollards, with trees and houses on a hill in the background.

Porthi Dre Fieldwork

Participant Observation & Practitioner Engagement | Caernarfon, Wales, UK | 2026

Volunteering with Porthi Dre gave me the opportunity to explore how food redistribution operates within a locally embedded, community-focused organisation. Through participation in food access activities and engagement with staff, volunteers, and community members, I observed how surplus food redistribution intersects with broader issues of wellbeing, inclusion, and community resilience. The experience deepened my understanding of the social dimensions of food redistribution and the role that local organisations play in supporting food access while fostering strong community connections.

Audience: Practitioners, volunteers, community food organisations & researchers

Contribution: Volunteer researcher and participant observer.

Selected Fieldwork Activities (Porthi Dre)

Waiting area with assorted chairs, a coffee table with mugs and plates, a large monitor, and a bulletin board with notices; adjacent to a bakery counter visible in the background.
Assorted desserts on metal trays, including petit fours with white icing and fruit jam, crumbly granola bars, and slices of lemon bars, arranged on a glass display table in a bakery or cafe setting.
Inside a grocery store with various food items like bread, veggies, and packaged goods on display counters and shelves. There are colorful decorations and signs, with a counter manned by staff in the background.
A bulletin board with various flyers and notices in both English and Welsh, including information about opportunities, jobs, events, and Wi-Fi, mounted on a wooden wall.
Commercial kitchen with stainless steel appliances including an oven, stove, and prep areas. Kitchen utensils hang on the wall, and a fire blanket is mounted on the wall. Items on counters include a bowl, scissors, and cleaning supplies.
A cluttered kitchen or break room with a man preparing food. The counter is filled with bananas, packaged bread, cups, bowls, and various food items. There is a rice cooker in the center of the counter. The background includes microwaves, posters, and a door leading outside with trash bins visible.
A woman taking a selfie in a kitchen with three people in the background. The kitchen has stainless steel appliances and counters, with bananas and other groceries on the counter.

Fig. 4: Selected fieldwork activities at Porthi Dre (2026). The images show community spaces, volunteer activities, food preparation areas, shared meals, and information resources observed during participant observation. The fieldwork highlighted how surplus food redistribution is integrated within broader community wellbeing initiatives, fostering social connection, inclusion, and local resilience.