Hunts for Good Food Project
"The Hunts for Good Food Project" is a nutrition project that is based on community development, healthy eating and allotment/ garden regeneration.
Aims and Objectives
The Hunts for Good Food programme is a portfolio of activities that aim to:
- Support schools to develop some elements of the "Food in Schools Toolkit".
- Promote the Department of Health's "5 a day" and "Balance of Good Health" initiatives.
- Promote locally sourced produce through developing allotments and school based gardens.
- Develop cooking skills and food safety skills in the wider community.
Partner Organisations
For the last 3 years Huntingdonshire District Council and Huntingdonshire Primary Care Trust jointly funded a Health Improvement Worker who supports the partners to develop the programme. The Primary Care Trust has provided health visiting staff and school nurse staff throughout the programme to deliver nutrition based work and link the project to the most needy families. The two organisations also commission gardening and community development staff from a charity, Cambridgeshire ACRE who deliver many of the project's activities.
Methodology
School-based vegetable and fruit gardens and community-based allotments have been developed to increase access to fresh fruit and vegetables and encourage people to understand the process from soil to plate.
Community-based shop, cook and eat programmes have started as well as healthy food preparation at community events with community volunteers.
Youth Centres have also run practical cooking sessions to encourage young people to choose a healthier diet.
Schools have had the opportunity to link fresh produce with their food technology classes with surprising success.
Evaluation
The project has worked successfully developing skills in the community with four schools, mums groups and the youth centre in the Oxmoor area from 2003 - 2005, at which point the Children's Centre took ownership over the projects. A teacher's TV production has been about the area.
Four schools have been actively involved in the project in the more rural area of Ramsey including a large secondary school. An ancient walled garden trust has gained some publicity as a result of their participation. One primary school has a thriving garden that has been developed over 3 years and they display their healthy produce, giving tasters of their famous leek and potato soup in the local farmer's market.
In the newest area, St Neots, shop, cook and eat pilots have revealed an enormous amount of community development capacity. This has created oppurtunties for social enterprise. Three schools are developing their skills in gardening so far. One school is starting up a cooking club with the project staff's experience and help.
Resources
The District Council has supported the project through staff in the Environmental and Community Health Services department. The Primary Care Trust has provided health visiting and school nurse staff to run elements of the project. Funds have been contributed from both organisations for running costs and commissioning the services of Cambridgeshire ACRE. In some instances, local Regeneration Schemes like Oxmoor Opportunities and Family Learning Partnership have contributed to the running costs and on the ground staffing of the projects. These partnerships have been invaluable as they have such strong community links.
Lessons Learnt
- School based garden projects need at least 3 years to develop and this may rely heavily on community members' enthusiasm.
- Local partners in commmunity development enable statutory organisations to use their resources more effectively.
- Projects that engage the community take time.
Future Developments
The "Hunts for Good Food" project is to be highlighted in the coming year through the Huntingdonshire Food Festival which tries to celebrate food in commercial industry and local allotments and gardens. All of the staff that are involved with the programme are to be receiving nutrition training to support their role as health promoters.
Contact Details
Name: Veronica Martin
Phone: 01480 388296
Email: veronica.martin@huntsdc.gov.uk
Fax: 01480 388361
Organisation: Huntingdonshire District Council
Address: Pathfinder House St Mary Street Huntingdon Cambridgeshire PE27 3TN