Food for life
FOOD CHAMPION APPLICATION: Improving community diet and nutrition
The coastal strip from Skegness to Mablethorpe has been identified by Lincolnshire PCT as most at risk from obesity and related illness’s.
Martin Walmsley and Tracy Brown of East Lindsey District Council’s Food For Life project outline their aims to overcome these problems by delivering healthy eating cook and taste sessions, a weight loss programme and a range of 6 week cookery courses along the coastal strip.
Food for Life started in January 2008 and is part of the council strategy encouraging “participation in activities with a health benefit” The project has full support of the leader of the council and is lead by ELDC and Lincs PCT. ELDC has taken on the project as it wants to reduce inequalities towards exercise and diet related issues and to promote 5 a day and the eat well plate.
Aims and Objectives
- To deliver ‘cook and eat’ sessions focusing on healthy menu planning using healthy fresh ingredients and healthy cooking methods.
- To develop a community programme of activity in specifically identified areas, (food and exercise).
- To deliver a rolling weight loss programme by educating the client to an all-round healthier lifestyle.
- Food safety training to be set up and run .
- Evaluation mechanisms set up.
- Promotional campaign developed
- Retailers report in changes in purchasing .
Partners
Lincolnshire PCT and East Lindsey District Council
Methodology
The two project officers work in conjunction with both health trainers and exercise referral specialists who are based in sports centres, area offices and doctors surgeries in Skegness and Mablethorpe and along the coastal strip. The Food for life team, the Health trainers, and exercise referral specialists all work for Health, Arts and Sports in East Lindsey District Council.
- The key method by which the project delivers its message is by ‘cook and eat’ sessions, a weight loss programme and 6 week cookery courses. The focus of these sessions is on healthy menu planning and healthy fresh ingredients using healthy cooking methods. Sessions are based around the new Eatwell plate and 5 a day message . Recipes are planned by the food for life team (which includes a trained chef) who both have a level 4 diploma in nutrition and level 4 food safety management qualification. These sessions are delivered in Village Halls and community centres, local libraries, childrens centres, youth centres, doctor’s surgeries, linkage centres and community medical groups. The team also give advice and talk to prospective clients in sports centres about their dietary needs. The project is supported by Tesco’s where the team deliver healthy cook and taste sessions in store using Tesco produce, (Skegness store).
- Up to March 09 the cook and eat sessions also sold fresh fruit and vegetable boxes to clients at a 50% reduction to cost (the client pays £2 for a box that would cost between £4 & £5) The boxes are provided by three local producers who grow what they can themselves, keeping the boxes seasonal.
- From June 08 the project has delivered the Level 1 Food Safety Qualification to our clients; this is an accredited qualification from the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health.
- Starting Nov 09 the food for life team will be working as part of the FAST (families and schools together) programme, solely on the healthy eating and cookery part of the programme. This is a world wide programme which originates from Canada.
- The 6 week cookery courses for community groups include – feed 4 for a fiver, fast food alternatives, cooking for one and feeding the family well.
Promotion
The project is advertised in relevant local press, leaflets are delivered (5,300 up to now) with community magazines and newsletters. To promote the project locally it is ensured that clubs and halls that are at the heart of the communities are used. Posters are in doctors surgeries, Gyms, Shops, Tourist information centres, pubs, clubs, food shops, community centres and local council offices. The project has been on local radio twice.
In addition Health Trainers listen, support and sign post clients to local services including our project and Exercise referral specialists work with GP referred patients with BMI over 30 , obesity related illness’s and also refer clients to our sessions.
Resources
The project is funded by Lincs PCT through East Lindsey District Council. The team consists of one Food For Life Officer, and one Food For Life worker.
Outgoings include: Rent on village halls, community centres etc.
Catering equipment – enough to deliver all the different aspects of the project.
Promotional banners, two promotional portable work station, information booklets (FSA, British H/Foundation, Dairy council, diabetes UK)
Evaluation
Up to March 09 the project has had 195 different people attend 211 village hall sessions, that is a total of 1274 attendances, some clients attending a session every week. 89 further community and one off sessions reached a further 1771 clients. In the same period we sold 1848 boxes of fruit and vegetables.
The projects success is measured against Choosing Health Action Planning.
Lessons Learned
Getting people to attend and keep attending the sessions has been difficult. We realise we need to keep promoting, keep repeating the message, keep advertising, get out into the community and raise our profile, working with ERS & HT to get a whole message across.
Needed to hand over the fruit and veg box scheme to another source due to the time it took away from the main points of the project.
Future Developments
The project has met with the local Community Cardiology Nurse who is going to promote Food For Life to her clients in the area, also been passed on to diabetic team. The project is also trying to establish working partnerships with Lidl and CO-OP stores in Mablethorpe.
Other key aims: Set up and run more food safety courses. Establish retailers reports to show changes in purchasing. Carry on delivering more cook and taste sessions. Expand our working area inland from the coast
Contact Details
Contact Name: Martin Walmsley
Job Title: Food for Life Officer
Phone: 07950046758
Email: martin.walmsley@e-lindsey.gov.uk
Organisation: East Lindsey District Council
Address: Tedder Hall, Manby Park, Louth, Lincs LN11 8UP
This case study was first added June 2008 and last updated 26/11/09