PDF Ebook The right to a healthy diet
The resurgence of the national debate on food poverty has its roots within the present government’s commitment to reduce inequality in general and health inequalities in particular. Community groups across the country are joining in the struggle to ensure that those on low incomes are able to benefit from a healthy diet. The community’s fight in Newham is well underway, supported initially by the Health Action Zone and now winning new support from the Primary Care Trust and the London Borough of Newham.
This report has been commissioned to aid that fight by establishing how food poverty fits into the current climate of thinking at national and local level, by evaluating the successes of food projects in Newham and by recommending methods of overcoming obstacles.
We found that food projects in Newham not only provided access to a healthier diet, but were successful on many other levels as well. These included meeting the specific needs of a diverse community, bolstering community networks and social cohesion and providing opportunities for local people to be involved in creating local solutions. The main challenges faced by food projects were the development of volunteers, the attainment of long-term sustainability (including funding and infrastructure), and the need for more effective co-ordination.
In deciding on a way forward, Newham food projects need to consider how they can best work together to fulfil their aims across the borough and how they can respond to the multitude of issues that lead to foo
poverty. Below is a summary of our recommendations:
- That the Newham Food Access Partnership, already developed as part of this work, is formally established. That the Partnership agrees to appoint a co-ordinating body from amongst its members to lead the implementation of the recommended plan of action.
- That the Partnership addresses joint issues, such as raising the profile of its members’ work, increasing understanding of food poverty, securing funds, developing common standards, developing shared policies and procedures in relation to volunteers, the buying of produce and pricing.
That food projects are developed alongside other community activities to increase awareness, access and community involvement and reduce any stigma that may be associated with them. That, as part of this work, food projects should plan activities that fill the knowledge gap that exists about what good food is, how it is prepared and how to eat healthily on a low income. - That the Partnership ensure that its members are keyed into local agencies and projects working towards similar health and social outcomes, in order to mutually benefit from joint working. This joint working should include regional and national organisations and it is recommended that the Partnership affiliates itself to national campaigns as part of its lobbying for change.
- That the partnership recognises that the geographical notion of food deserts is of limited value as it masks the true experience of food poverty across Newham and fails to see that food poverty is also about knowledge and equitable access. Therefore, the Partnership should seek to utilise the Borough’s ten community forums to develop local food strategies and should continue to ensure a diverse range of produce and activities that meet the needs of Newham’s diverse population, including its white working class residents and refugee populations.
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