The Positive influence of the Community Food Initiatives in low income areas Joana Silva

What are Community Food Initiatives? CFIs are a means by which barriers to healthy eating can be addressed in a practical manner at a local level. They provide an excellent opportunity to combat food poverty in the local area, giving the power of choice and change back to local communities. CFIs can respond to the various identified determinants of food poverty including local food economies, local access issues, role of partnerships and networks and skills

Main Aim Community Food Initiative Programme (2010 – 2012) Demonstration Programme Main Aim The aim of the programme was “to promote greater access and availability of healthy food in low income areas through a programme of local projects using a community development approach”.

CFI projects Bogside and Brandywell Health Forum (BBHF): Derry~Londonderry East Belfast Mission (EBM): East Belfast Footprints Women’s Centre (FWC): Colin Neighbourhood Belfast Killarney Asylum Seekers Initiative (KASI): Killarney, Co. Kerry Limerick Food Partnership (PAUL): Southill and St. Munchin’s Limerick Northside Community Health Initiative (NICHE): Cork Northside RehabCare/Simon Community (RCSC): Dundalk, Co. Louth

What did the CFIs Achieve? 8228 individual attendances at one off events such e.g. food taster sessions or single workshops 195 separate food taster sessions, events or single topic workshops delivered across the seven CFIs 1849 individuals participated in longer term activities such as training courses in gardening, horticulture and cookery skills, regular meetings of a garden club or planning groups for events or for the development of a food garden 73 courses were held (typically six sessions each) 1097 gardening sessions were held involving around 200 people 10 programme networking meetings for CFI staff involving around 20 people per event with detailed follow up reports.

Overview of the Programme Main Successes: Programme achieved most or all of it’s objectives Each CFI reported making a difference to food poverty at a local level 1,849 participants engaged in longer-term activities such as training courses in gardening, horticulture and cookery skills 8,228 people attended one-off events including food taster sessions or workshops Main Challenges: Some CFIs advised that simplifying certain processes like the application process and financial reporting to reduce the resource burden of the programme Sustainability of each CFI

Community Food Initiative Programme (2013 – 2015) The programme built upon the key learnings and experiences from the initial Demonstration Programme of CFIs 2010–2012. Ten Community Food Initiatives received funding annually over a period of three years to set up, manage and sustain their project

CFI projects Ballybeg CDP (in partnership with Barnardos): Co. Waterford Mayo North East LEADER Partnership Company Teoranta and Mayo Travellers Support Group: Ballina, Co. Mayo Blanchardstown Area Partnership: Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 Cloughmills Community Action Team: Cloughmills, Co. Antrim Doras Buí: Coolock, Dublin 17 Dunmanway Family Resource Centre: Dunmanway, Co. Cork Fatima Groups United: Fatima, Dublin 8 Fettercairn Community and Youth Centre: Tallaght, Dublin 24 Owenkillew Development Company: Gortin, Co. Tyrone Windsor Women’s Centre: Belfast

Overview of the Programme Main Successes: All or most planned objectives were achieved (n=10) Administrative structures in place as well as budgets being met (n=5) Positive engagement with local community and schools Main Challenges: Maintaining and increasing the number of participants (n=7) Motivating volunteers (n=7) Sustainability of project (n=6)

Reach of the programme During the three years of the programme, almost 30,000 individuals took part in a CFI activity, including 9,381 individuals who took part in healthy eating activities, 7,635 individuals who engaged in Gardening/growing activities, and 4,940 individuals who took part in activities related to learning cooking skills.

Strategies suggested by the CFIs for promoting the sustainability: Maintaining and show-casing the community and school gardens. Special events e.g., BBQs, themed evenings. Show people you believe in them e.g., training, time, allow them to consume the produce. Target adults and children separately. Networking/ Build relationships locally. Recruit the right people to lead the project. Identify alternative sources of funding. Access to specialist staff/advisors e.g., gardener, nutritionist, chef. Not to allow the memories or experience to fade.

Main Aim Community Food Initiative Programme (2016-2018) The main aim of the Community Food Initiative Programme 2016-18 is to positively influence eating habits of families in the community setting by mainstreaming healthy food in the local setting. It works to promote a greater access and availability of healthy and safe food in low income areas, using a community development approach.

5 Health & Social Care Trusts in NI

9 Community Healthcare Organisations in ROI

Community Food Initiative Leaders Community-led organisations with a legal status and appropriate governance structure Experienced in the management of public funds which support social inclusion initiatives Professionals with community development experience

Community Food Initiative Leaders Experience of working with the target groups identified Support broader community initiatives through their work Work across communities irrespective of age, race or creed Show the capacity to utilise the lessons learned from delivery of the CFI Programme within their services into the future

Programme Launched on the 24th of May 2016 “This new funding stream being announced today will build on those previous programmes and support existing facilities and structures that are present at local level. As well as increasing awareness and knowledge around healthy eating, we look forward to these projects acting as local champions to promote initiatives for example, healthy shopping, improved meal-planning and budgeting as well as enhanced cooking skills. All of these are tangible, transferable skills that can benefit an entire community.”

CFI Leaders Avondhu Blackwater Partnership: HSE Area 5 Ballyhoura Development: HSE Area 3 Belfast Food Network: Belfast Health and Social Care Trust Carlow County Development Partnership: HSE Area 5 Co Wicklow Partnership / Southside Partnership DLR: HSE Area 6 & 9 Inishowen Development Partnership: HSE Area 1 Laois Community & Enterprise Development Co: HSE Area 8

CFI Leaders (cont.) Monaghan Integrated Development: HSE Area 1 South Lough Neagh Regeneration Association: Southern Health and Social Care Trust South Tipperary Development: HSE Area 5 South West Mayo Development Co: HSE Area 2 SPACE: Southern Health and Social Care Trust The Resurgam Trust: South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust

Role of CFI Leaders Co-ordination of the overall CFI in the local area Facilitation of the steering group Staging a minimum of 2 networking events each year Overseeing the 3 small projects Support will be provided over three years to projects that support three specific targets groups: - Low income families with pre-school children (year 1) - Low income families with older children (year 2) - Youth (year 3)

Steering Group The role of the Steering Group will be to identify and promote best practice under the CFI themes: Supporting an increased awareness/knowledge around healthy eating Healthy shopping Budgeting and food/meal planning skills Cooking skills Improving the availability and access to safe and healthy food in the community and complementing existing structures that offer healthy options, e.g. community café’s, events etc. Preventing food wastage, food safety and hygiene.

Networking Events Theme for the first Networking Event each year will be ‘Learning from the Experts’. Range of demonstrations and discussions based on the CFI themes and specifically shaped for the target audience. This will be supported by related food demonstrations and practical advice from experts. Provide opportunity for safefood and the CFI partners in each area to promote their own work and services available to target group members.

Three Small Projects Projects will provide support to the target group under one or more of the 6 CFI themes Activity must provide a ‘learning environment’ Small projects must take place between Networking Showcase Events 1 and 2

Networking Events Theme for the second Networking Event each year will be ‘Learning from each other’. Provide the opportunity for each of the three Small Projects to share their learnings. Provide opportunity for safefood and the CFI partners in each area to promote their own work and services available to target group members.

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