How to rebuild community through food

In the coastal town of Carrickfergus, a group of locals has rebuilt a sense of community using nothing more than food, friendship and a shared belief that real change starts at home

Our Fair Future has teamed up with Antidote to bring you stories of people building a future that works, and they’re doing it in communities just like yours, showing what’s possible when we take charge together.

For years, people in Northern Ireland have been told that progress will come from the outside—from politicians, investors or experts swooping in to save the day. But a new the community of Carrickfergus tells a very different story.

At its heart is Carrickfergus Green Grocers, a community-owned co-operative that’s proving local people can take charge of their own future. The idea was simple: sell as much locally grown produce as possible while supporting nearby farmers and makers. The execution, however, has been extraordinary.

Instead of relying on government grants, the founders turned to their neighbours—and the response was overwhelming. They raised £34,000 entirely from the community, a remarkable show of trust and belief in what they were trying to do.

And it paid off. The shop’s cautious business plan predicted just £625 in early revenue. In reality, the tills rang up £10,000, a ten-fold success that’s silenced the sceptics and filled the town with fresh energy.

But the story goes beyond money. The project’s founders speak of something deeper—a longing for connection and meaning in a world that feels increasingly fractured. “We’re a bit lost at the minute,” one organiser says in the video

Their philosophy is disarmingly simple: people don’t need saving. They already have the skills, knowledge and compassion to create better lives—if only they work together. “We already know how to do it,” says another. “It’s really good for your soul.”

Now, the Carrickfergus team hopes their success will inspire others to act. Whether it’s a greengrocer, café or community garden, the message is the same: stop waiting for someone else to fix things.

In Carrickfergus, a small shop on a quiet street has become something far bigger—proof that when people come together, even the most ordinary ideas can grow into something extraordinary.

Watch the video below to find out more.