Swansea Food Connections
Community Nutritionist, Asha Boyce, talks about the local food projects set up under the Swansea Food Connections project.
Evidence showed that the diets of the people of Swansea were (not eating) healthy (Health In Wales 2001/2002 - National Assembly for Wales (2000) Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation 2000). The research showed that there were inequalities in diet between those on higher and lower incomes, and the most striking difference was in the variation in the amounts of vegetables and, in particular, the amount of fruit, eaten by those with lower incomes.
Evidence also showed that those on low incomes, or those who had to rely on public transport, often found it difficult to access shops offering healthy food choices. In addition, the food available to them was likely to be more expensive. Thus the need to reduce the inequalities was identified.
The need to establish such a project was linked to
- the work on the Health, Social Care and Well-being Strategy for Swansea. This aims to improve the health, social care and well-being of all the citizens of Swansea, by ensuring that everyone is supported to achieve the best level of health and well-being possible. It also aims to ensure that communities and individuals are well informed and, as far as possible, take responsibility for their own health and well-being. Taking a preventative approach, one of the aims of the Strategy is to encourage organisations to work together to promote healthy food, and link this to physical activity.
- At a national level, the need for such a project was linked to the Welsh Assembly Government and Food Standards Agency Nutrition Strategy “Food and Well Being, 2003”. This aims to improve the diet of all people in Wales, particularly prioritising low income and vulnerable sectors of the population.
Aims and Objectives
Aim
The aim is to facilitate and support community members in setting up sustainable community food projects in the 12 identified areas.
Objectives
- Establishment of a working Steering Group Making initial links with people working in the 12 target areas of Swansea
- Mapping of activities/facilities in these areas Identifying needs in relation to food
- Support Communities to establish and sustain the solutions to food access and availability through community food activities
- Provide opportunities for networking
- Produce a sustainable guide to setting up and running community food activities
More details on the specifc projects run by Swansea food connections are in the annual project reports available below.
Partners
Swansea Public Health Team
Swansea NHS Trust Community Dietetics department
Swansea Council For Voluntary Service
MEWN Swansea (Minority Ethnic Women’s Network)
City & County of Swansea: Healthy Directions (HLC), Environmental Health – Food Hygiene, Sustainable Development Team, Community Regeneration Unit & Anti Poverty Unit
Age Concern
Methodology
Community Development Approach
The Project takes a community development approach to tackling the issues of inequality in access to, and availability of, healthy food choices in the 12 areas. This is a process of working with local people to identify issues and areas of need relating specifically to food; deciding on priorities and implementing collective action. The aim is to bring about change through this collective problem solving approach. Inbuilt into the approach is the need for constant reflection on action taken to ensure that the work is moving in the right direction and that adjustments are made where necessary.
Health Promotion
The Project is set in the Health Promotion arena and is in line with The Ottawa Charter definition of Health Promotion which puts people at the centre of action on health. It sees health promotion as “the process of enabling people to increase control over, and improve their health” (Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion. WHO, Geneva, 1986). Thus the Project aims to help people to make choices for themselves and take responsibility for their own health, in terms of a preventative approach.
Food Access Model
“The Food Access Model” developed in 1997 by Dowler and Dobson which was designed to assist initiatives tackling food and poverty issues. This looks at the choices people make in relation to food and outlines a variety of factors that influence choice. These are: availability of food; affordability of food; motivation and awareness needed to choose and buy certain foods; household politics; social and cultural factors. The Project works to identify which are the key factors in the 12 communities that act as barriers to people eating healthily.
Promotion
The project was publicised through community meetings, events and a newsletter. The team also produced leaflets stating the objectives of the project with contact details. Web links were created on the City and County of Swansea websites.
Resources
The Big Lottery Fund supported the three year project, the funds aimed to prevent cancer and reduce inequalities.
Staffing - 4 members of Staff were employed, One full time Community Nutritionist, part time Community Development work and part time Health Promotion Specialist and full time Administrator.
Venues -Venues for activities were negotiated with the communities and dependant on the needs of the particular activities.
Equipment - Sets of Cookery Boxes were purchased and were available on a loan system.
Evaluation
Process - Evaluation Undertaken to assess quality of service and appropriateness of activities.
Outcome - Evaluation Regular Annual Monitoring Report to the Big Lottery Fund
Qualitative Evaluation currently pending
Lessons Learned
The Big Lottery grant was only for three years. It was felt in the community, and at strategic level, that the project should have continued. Sustained fudning is a constant issue and we should plan to ensure overlap between funding cycles
Future Developments
Based on the successes of the Swansea Food Connections Project locally, the brand will remain to maintain consistency.
The Swansea Public Health Team are submitting bids to the Big Lottery Fund:people and places fund for
A) FACT bus (Food Action in the Community Team) which aims to be a mobile facility that will provide access to workshops and act as a delivery service.
B) How to .. Training aims to provide comprehensive training package for any one interested in setting and running their own community food activities.
Contact Details
Contact Name: Asha Boyce
Job Title: Community Nutritionist
Phone: 01792 784858
Email: asha.boyce@nphs.wales.nhs.uk
Fax: 01792
Website: 01792 784832
Organisation: National Public Health Service for Wales
Address: Swansea Public Health Team Kidwelly House Charter Court Phoenix Way Llansamlet Swansea SA7 9FS
Other Resources: