Minutes of the London Food Access Forum
Beethoven Centre, Third Avenue, Queens Park, W10 4LJ
17th July 2007
Present Symone Conner - Greenwich Co-operative Development Agency (GCDA)
Sarah Cannon - Food Access Network (Sustain)
Gail Dinner - London Sustainability Exchange (LSX)
Jessica Eastwood - Haringey Primary Care Trust
Janita Golding-Richards – Camden Primary Care Trust
Dan Keech - New Economics Foundation (nef)
Anna Kitt - Kensington and Chelsea Primary Care Trust
Kelly Morris - Kensington and Chelsea Primary Care Trust
Ben Reynolds - London Food Link (Sustain)
Julie Ritchie - Community Kitchens Co-ordinator (Manor Gardens)
Anna Russell - Fareshare
Wendy Smith - Age Concern Greenwich
Debbie Wilkins - Haringey Primary Care Trust
Hannah Williams - North Paddington Food Co-op
Sarah Williams - Newham Food Access Partnership (NFAP)
Lisa Wilson - Food Access Network (FAN), Sustain
Apologies Michael Calderbank - East London Food Access
Sarah Davies - Food Links UK (FLUK)
Laura Willoughby - The Food Chain
Eric Samuels - Community Food Enterprise
1) Notes and matters arising from the meeting 18th December 2006
The meeting was happy with the notes from the last meeting and copies of the evaluation presentation given by Laura Davies are available from Lisa at the Food Access Network, lisa@sustainweb.org
2) Newham Food Access Partnership – Sarah Williams
Sarah Williams of NFAP, presented ‘An appetite for healthy eating?: A study of food access and healthy eating amongst older people in Newham’. The study that this presentation is based on is attached to these notes.
During questions, there was discussion about the opportunities and challenges in communicating with older people in their homes, to encourage them to participate in and make use of food access services. Lisa suggested that making contacts with the local GP or District Nurse is a good avenue for connecting with older people, or to liaise with the community warden of sheltered housing.
There was also discussion around meals on wheels services, and it was noted that the Camden Centre of Excellence is developing guidelines for sustainable food contracts for meals on wheels services.
Action: Ben will circulate the Camden Centre of Excellence guidelines to the group.
3) Food access & older people – Lisa Wilson, Sustain
Lisa gave a presentation on her work with older people, and discussed the need to turn well-known policy recommendations into tangible policy changes. To pursue this, Lisa is working with a range of charities who work with older people to explore how best to focus on a number of recommendations and achieve some success in the short to medium term.
Presentation available on request.
4) Greenwich Community Development Agency – Symone Conner and Age Concern Greenwich - Wendy Smith
Symone and Wendy both gave presentations about their work. Discussion focused on the development model used for setting up the pilot Age Concern Healthy Living Project, and the pros and cons of various approaches for encouraging the inclusion of the views of people who will use the project. Dan from nef mentioned that Manchester City Council tested a street market, based on research with potential customers, which may be of interest to Symone and others.
Presentation available on request.
5) General discussion
It was apparent that various people present were working or planning to work on projects specifically on food access and older people
Action: All to get in touch with Lisa at FAN to share this work.
The City Bridge Trust (previously the Bridgehouse Trust) used to offer small and medium sized grants to organisations working with older people. Lisa suggested that people check this source, as they also used to offer long term funding.
There was discussion around the recent release of the results of the Low Income Diet and Nutrition Survey (LIDNS) by the Food Standards Agency. The FSA had concluded that the diets of people on low incomes were not as poor as many had expected. Various issues were raised, including the lack of funding for promoting public health, and in flaws in the methodology used for the research. Concern was expressed that this interpretation of the survey results could reduce the funding available for community food projects. Lisa reported that the next edition of FANMail and Sustain’s Digest would be addressing these issues and others related to the LIDNS.
Action: All to contact Lisa with any evidence that funding for community projects is threatened, due to publicity around the publication of the LIDNS.
Action: Lisa to circulate article on the LIDNS report which she has prepared
Anna noted that her organisation was seeking longer term funding for their PCT funded food coop and asked if anyone knew of research showing that food coops could address some of the wider determinants of health . Lisa suggested that there is evidence that food coops are more successful at creating community cohesion than at changing what people eat.
Action: Lisa will send this research to Anna Kitt
6) Update on future of the London Food Access Forum
Ben and Lisa ran through the previous draft “futures” document on the possibilities for developing the London Food Access Forum, namely
- Continuing as it is
- Getting a volunteer on board
- Paying a part or full-time development worker
Ben told the group that a new volunteer was due to start at LFL in a few weeks time and that she may be able to take on the role of coordinating the London Food Access Forum(LFAF). Ben also mentioned that Sarah Cannon had been exploring funding sources for a Small Grants Scheme, and noted the imminent decision from the Big Lottery fund on the Well London bid. Either or both of these might provide opportunities for a funded post for LFAF.
7) Any other business
Lisa mentioned an event happening at City Hall on Local Area Agreements (LAA) and older people that is taking place on Wednesday.
Action: Lisa will circulate information and papers.
8) Date of next meeting
Members were asked to circulate suggestions for themes for the next meeting, and the date will be confirmed nearer the time.
Registered charity (no.