Community Food and Health Scotland - Helensburgh & Lomond Foodbank

e-bulletin : 17 January 2022

Community food networks near you

The CFHS programme has been working with the Scottish Government Diet and Healthy Weight team and community food networks to map strategic and practical support for community food activities across Scotland. The mapping snapshot is almost complete and we will update sections of our website with this information over the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, we found food networks or food partnerships in many areas across Scotland. Many of these are new or established Sustainable Food Places where agencies and community organisations come together to work across food agendas. Some Sustainable Food Places have developed food action plans, such as Aberdeen’s Granite City Food, Edible Edinburgh and Glasgow Food Policy Partnership.

Other local networks provide maps of how to access community food or food aid in the area, such as Inverclyde Community Food. Local authorities are involved in most of the networks and may lead them, such as Shetland Council. Others are co-ordinated by local Third Sector Interfaces such as East Renfrewshire Food Dignity Network. You can see what networks are established near you on the CFHS website.

Ending the need for food banks

The closing date for responding to the Scottish Government’s ‘Ending the Need for Food Banks’ consultation is 25 January.

The consultation is available on the Scottish Government website.

Reports

Glasgow, tackling food poverty with a city plan: pathways to a just recovery Research report from Glasgow Community Food Network’s Strategic Community Response Project that makes recommendations for a more resilient local food system for the consideration of the Scottish Government, Glasgow city council and third sector partners.

The report is available on the Glasgow Community Food Network’s website. Tools for tackling food poverty This publication from Sustain showcases some of the tools used by local food poverty alliances from around the UK, including approaches to evaluation, mapping community food service provision and building and strengthening community food networks through collective action. The report is available on the Sustain website. Healthy Valleys Food Insecurity Community Consultation: solutions for rural food poverty The pandemic has highlighted food insecurity in rural communities and, with funding from Investing in Communities Fund, Healthy Valleys commissioned Community Enterprise to carry out a community consultation. The consultation is available on the Healthy Valleys website.

New healthy eating resources for BSL users

The Eatwell Guide is now available on the NHS Inform website as a series of eight videos featuring the different food groups and recommendations on how to maintain a healthy, balanced and nutritious diet.

There are also Keeping Active guidelines, which comprise four videos with advice for all ages on how to keep healthy physical activity activities.

Children’s Healthier Eating Toolkit

This toolkit contains ten different activities to support families to make positive changes to their diet and can be used in a variety of settings.

The toolkit is available to download here.

Climate Action Hubs

The Scottish Government has supported the development of two Climate Action hubs; one run by Thurso Community Development Trust and covering activities in the North Highlands and Islands, and the other run by Aberdeen Climate Action, covering Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. The aim of the hubs is to embed community-led climate action throughout these regions.

The North Highlands and Islands Climate Hub has funding available for community-led climate action projects throughout the area to carry out community engagement, or provide seed funding for a project. You can contact the development officer on enquiries@nhclimatehub.co.uk or alternatively visit www.nhclimatehub.co.uk

Unexpected gardens near you in 2022

The Dandelion project is a six-month celebration of collaboration, creation and collective action and seeks to transform and reset our relationship with food and growing. The project is planning several programmes including: Unexpected Gardens, Sow Grow Share, the School growing initiative and Harvest Festivals. The projects also incorporate miniature vertical farms, art installations, music and citizen science.

Find out more on the Dandelion website

Tesco Community Grants

info session for food and growing projects

19 January 2022 4.30 pm online

This session gives an overview of the process to support applications for projects that support food security, cooking and growing skills, local food growing, sustainable food provision or tackle food poverty.

More information on the Greenspace Scotland website.

The African and Caribbean Eatwell Guide

19 January 2002 8 pm – 9 pm online

Watch this webinar to expand your skills in providing culturally appropriate advice to African and Caribbean communities, and learn how to use this unique African and Caribbean Eatwell Guide in practice.

More information and registration available on the MyNutriWeb website.

How can we build community wealth through food and farming?

25 January 2022 10 am – 11.15 an online

This webinar, hosted by Sustain, explores what community wealth building is and how it can be used to build resilient local food economies.

More information on the Sustain website.

Food for health not wealth

27 January 2022 10 am – 12 pm online

A conference from Inn Churches for those who want to broaden their understanding of the food agenda and how we can build sustainable and inclusive food networks.

More information and registration on the Eventbrite website.

Setting up a community kitchen: our story

2 February 2022 10.30 am – 12.00 pm online (donations requested)

This event shares what Brighton and Hove Food Partnership staff have learned through their experience of starting and running a community kitchen.

More information on their website.

Save the date

CHEX annual conference 2022

16 March 2022

This year’s CHEX conference will focus on mental health and community-led health. More details to follow. Sign up to the Snippets newsletter to hear the latest .

Winter Support Small Grant Fund

This Scottish Government fund has reopened for applications, with a closing date of 2 February. The Corra Foundation is encouraging applications as soon as possible, as it may close earlier than this if a high number of applications are received.

More information on the Corra Foundation website.

Supporting communities safely

This SCDC/Public Health Scotland online resource for community groups, organisations and volunteer networks adapting to life with Covid-19 has been newly updated to reflect the latest guidance on the Omicron variant.

The resource can be accessed on the SCDC website.

Community Food and Health (Scotland), Public Health Scotland, Meridian Court, 5 Cadogan Street, Glasgow G2 6QE tel: 0141 414 2890 • email: phs.cfhs@phs.scot

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