How a volunteer-led Sheffield collective is putting 'solidarity, not charity' on the menu
The volunteer-run network hosts a free monthly potluck at Mums United while providing food, resources and practical help across the city.
When we think of community food support, we often picture traditional charities or food banks. But for Sheffield Radical Mutual Aid, better known as RADMASH, food is about much more than just a handout. Operating firmly on the principle of "solidarity, not charity", this grassroots network sees sharing food as a deeply political act and a vital tool for building community resilience.
Drawing inspiration from the Black Panthers' community programmes, RADMASH views mutual aid as an essential, community-led alternative to traditional systems. Completely volunteer-run with a core organising team of about ten to fifteen people, the group steps up wherever the community needs them.
Their most visible initiative is a free, welcoming public meal held on the last Saturday of every month from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm at Mums United (Wicker Chambers, 19-21 Wicker). Monthly potluck meals are open to everyone. Bring a dish to share, enjoy a hot meal, and connect with local residents and community activists.
Beyond their monthly meals, RADMASH provides essential "food solidarity" for local justice movements. If there is a community mobilising in Sheffield, RADMASH is often there keeping them fed. Recently, they catered for 100 people at the Sheffield Transformed festival and provided food for meetings held by South Yorkshire Migration and Asylum Action Group (SYMAAG), Lift the Ban, and the No Palantir in the NHS campaign. Over the past couple of years, they have also been a comforting presence on local picket lines, handing out teas, coffees, and hot food to striking doctors, teachers, and Veolia bin workers.
But their mutual aid network goes beyond the kitchen. Members share tools and resources, offer advice on navigating disability benefits and housing issues, and provide practical support whether that means helping a neighbour move house or offering support to someone who has experienced racist or other kinds of abuse. Ahead of the June counter-demonstrations, they teamed up with Walkley and South Sheffield Anti-Fascist groups for street outreach along the Wicker, letting local shops and residents know what was happening while providing food at Mums United as a welcoming space for the community.
Looking ahead, RADMASH hopes to host more educational events that blend food, activism, and community care. For now, their message to Sheffield is simple: get involved. Whether you want to attend a monthly meal, donate to their solidarity fund, or join the mutual aid network, you can find out more by following @sheff_radical_mutual_aid on Instagram.
This is part of ShefFood’s Fast Food series, a local spotlight on some of the organisations in our city helping field Sheffield folk. Learn more at ShefFood.org.uk.