The First Bite! April ‘‘‘04‘04 --- June ‘‘‘05‘050505

Swansea Food Connections - The First Bite! 2004 - 2005 CONTENTS

Page Number ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS SUMMARY INTRODUCTION A NEED IDENTIFIED STEERING GROUP 1 STAFF 2 WHO FUNDS THE PROJECT? 2 SWANSEA FOOD CONNECTIONS IS BORN 2 LOGO 2 WHERE DOES THE PROJECT OPERATE? 3 HOW DOES THE PROJECT WORK? 4 WHAT DOES THE PROJECT AIM TO DO? 5 - 6

WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED SO FAR? • Establishment of the Steering Group 6 • Making initial links with people working in the 12 areas 6 - 9 • Mapping of activities/facilities in these areas 10 - 14 • Identifying needs in relation to food 15 - 17 • Promotion of Swansea Food Connections’ existence 17 - 19 • A pictorial flavour of some specific activities 20 - 28

THE FUTURE • An Event 29 • A Pamphlet 29 • Training 29 • Mapping and Networking 29 • Support and Development of Initiatives 29

IN CONCLUSION 30

Swansea Food Connections - The First Bite! 2004 - 2005 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Swansea Food Connections has received tremendous support from a wide range of organisations and individuals too numerous to identify by name. However, we would like to say a special thanks to all those members of the 12 communities who have worked with us so far, and we look forward to closer work in the future.

We must thank all those on our Steering Group who have helped guide and nurture us through our first year.

In addition we would like to thank all those statutory, and voluntary agencies/organisations/networks who have helped us and worked with us both on the ground in the communities and at a more distant level.

For their inspiration we would like to make particular reference to East Sussex Food and Health Partnership and Community Food Enterprise, Newham, who have shown us a vision of what is possible.

We thank our colleagues in the Swansea Public Health Team for their constant support and encouragement, together with staff of the Velindre NHS Trust, in particular the Finance Department, who have kept us on track with our funding.

Last but not least we thank the Big Lottery for the financial contribution that has made this work possible, and for their belief in the idea.

Asha, Jenny and Viv

Swansea Food Connections - The First Bite! 2004 - 2005 SUMMARY

This is the first annual report on the work of Swansea Food Connections, for the year 2004/05. We hope that it will give people a flavour of the work undertaken over the first period of the three year funded project.

In the report we have looked briefly at how the need for the project was identified and the process of setting it up. Based on existing understanding and knowledge that there are inequalities in access to, and availability of, healthy food choices, Swansea Food Connections has the task of looking at this in 12 communities in Swansea - Blaenymaes, Bonymaen, Castle, Clase / Caemawr, Dulais East, Gorseinon East, Graigfelen/Clydach, Hafod, Penlan, Plasmarl, Port Tennant and Townhill / Mayhill.

The report outlines the community development method of working, within a Health Promotion context, where the aim is to support local community groups and activists to look at the issues, and find ways to deal with them. By supporting local action it is hoped to encourage long term sustainability, thus encouraging long term improvements in health and well being.

We have looked at the progress made so far, set against the original aims identified for the Project, and have given some examples of specific activities that we have been involved in. In addition we have highlighted the next steps for the Project in the forthcoming year, which have grown organically from what we have learnt from the communities themselves.

The report is not only aimed at our funders, The Big Lottery, but is also for the 12 communities we aim to assist, and for all those with whom we have worked in partnership with over this period. We hope that it will also act as a catalyst for those with whom we have not yet had the opportunity to work, and as further inspiration for those already starting to take action. The issue of food is huge for all of us!

Through careful recording of information, together with photographic evidence, and through looking back on the work done (reflective practice), we are able to monitor progress, evaluate the work and make adjustments where necessary.

We hope that all who read this report will share with us any thoughts they may have, which will help guide us. We always welcome constructive criticism as well as positive support!

Asha, Jenny and Viv

Contact us on 01792 784858 or at Raglan House, Charter Court, Phoenix Way, Llansamlet, Swansea, SA7 9DD, or email asha.boyce, jennifer.evans, viv.makin @nphs.wales.nhs.uk

Swansea Food Connections - The First Bite! 2004 - 2005

INTRODUCTION

An eventful year has passed since the inception of The Big Lottery funded community food project, set up under the Swansea Public Health Team. A considerable amount of work has been undertaken and links made with an increasing network of local community members and people working with them in the target areas and the wider Swansea area. In addition links have been made to national networks and organisations. Working in partnership, the project has begun to focus on locally identified need relating to access and availability of healthy food.

A NEED IDENTIFIED

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 also 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.

THE PROJECT STEERING GROUP

Nothing would have happened if it had not been for the insight and forethought of a group of committed individuals representing a variety of organisations in Swansea, who had the vision and initiated the process of setting up the project.

Key to this process were the Swansea Public Health Team and the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics of the Swansea NHS Trust.

Since the start, the Steering Group has expanded to draw in a variety of people with varying knowledge and expertise in community and health related fields, who now guide the project and support the project team.

Swansea Food Connections - The First Bite! 2004 - 2005

STAFF

Initially the Project was to consist of three members - a Community Nutritionist, a Community Food Development Worker and an Administrative Assistant. From a start date of 5th July 2004, Asha Boyce (nee Jadhav) was employed as the Community Nutritionist and Viv Makin as a part time Community Food Worker. It was not until November that Jennifer Evans, joined the team as a part time Community Food Worker. Administrative support is provided by the Swansea Public Health Team.

WHO FUNDS THE PROJECT?

The Project exists from funding secured through The Big Lottery out of its Cancer Prevention Programme. The grant covers a three year period which will end in June 2007. The major part of the funding goes towards salaries of the workers with additional money to help establish projects, and to cover training, administration, transport and travel. A total of £298,508 has been granted. The funding is held by the Velindre NHS Trust and its Finance Department oversees all the financial aspects of the Project.

SWANSEA FOOD CONNECTIONS IS BORN

There was some hilarity amongst the staff when brainstorming ideas for a name for the project, but Swansea Food Connections emerged from the myriad of weird and wonderful suggestions. The Steering Group, much to the relief of the workers, opted for this name out of a small selection of possibilities. The idea of links within and between communities in Swansea, and the wider global connections with our existing food systems, seemed to hit the nail on the head. It is something that can be built on, with a vision for a whole network of inter- related community food projects, linking to local producers and providers where possible.

LOGO

A distinctive logo is always helpful in promotion, and so the Steering Group opted for the linked apples - the apple reflecting the idea of healthy eating and the linking apples standing for the interconnectedness of communities both locally and globally particularly in relation to food.

Swansea Food Connections - The First Bite! 2004 - 2005

WHERE DOES THE PROJECT OPERATE?

It was a tall order for a three year project, but the aim was to work with twelve targeted communities in the Swansea area. These are the areas which come under the Objective One Priority 3 criteria and the areas targeted through the Communities First programme, as follows: Blaenymaes, Townhill/Mayhill, Penlan, Graigfelen/Clydach, Castle, Bonymaen, Hafod, Plasmarl, Gorseinon, Port Tennant, Dulais East and Clase/Caemawr. These are outlined on the following map:

MAP OUTLINING THE AREAS COVERED BY THE PROJECT

DULAIS EAST

GORSEINON EAST

PLASMARL

HAFO D

PORT TENNANT

Swansea Food Connections - The First Bite! 2004 - 2005

HOW DOES THE PROJECT WORK?

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.

Community The Project is set in the Health Development In addition to the above we also Promotion arena and is in line Approach work within “The Food Access with The Ottawa Charter Model” developed in 1997 definition of Health by Dowler and Dobson Promotion which puts which was designed to people at the centre of assist initiatives action on health. tackling food and It sees health promotion Health Food poverty issues. This as “the process of Promotion Access looks at the choices enabling people to Model people make in relation increase control over, to food and outlines a and improve their health” variety of factors that (Ottawa Charter for influence choice. These are: Health Promotion. WHO, Geneva, 1986). availability of food; affordability Thus the Project aims to help people to of food; motivation and awareness make choices for themselves and take needed to choose and buy certain responsibility for their own health, in terms of foods; household politics; social and a preventative approach. cultural factors. The Project works

to identify which are the key factors in the 12 communities that act as barriers to people eating healthily.

“Go with the people, Live with them, Love them. Start with what they know, Build with what they have. But of the best leaders, When the job is done, The task accomplished, the people will say, ‘We have done this ourselves’ ” Lao Tsu, China, 700BC

Community Development is not a new idea!

Swansea Food Connections - The First Bite! 2004 - 2005

WHAT DOES THE PROJECT AIM TO DO?

The first meeting of the Steering Group looked at a statement to sum up what the Project was about and decided on the following words to explain it:

“Swansea Food Connections will work with 12 targeted communities in the Swansea area to improve access to healthy food choices through the development of community led and run food projects.”

So the aim is to facilitate and support community members in setting up sustainable community food projects in the 12 identified areas. These will cater for the needs of local people, as identified by them. The focus on challenging the inequalities in access and availability of healthy food. The help that the Project can offer covers training and skills development, support and advice, and the purchase of small scale equipment.

The objectives set out in the original bid to the Big Lottery were to:

• Establish an infrastructure that focuses on healthy eating initiatives in the community setting. • Target children and their families in Communities First and Objective 1 Priority 3 areas of Swansea. • In year 1, conduct food mapping and needs assessments within the 12 regeneration areas of Swansea.

Swansea Food Connections - The First Bite! 2004 - 2005

• In year 2, plan and implement community food projects in 6 regeneration areas depending on the results of year 1. • In year 3, plan and implement community food projects in 6 regeneration areas depending on the results of year 1.

WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED SO FAR ...... Year One Objectives

• Establishing a Steering Group

The first steering group introduced the recruited staff members to the original collaborators. The need was expressed for the group to have a broader range of members encompassing organisations which would lend the right combination of expertise, and paving the way to good partnership working.

The table below shows the membership as it stands. It is hoped to widen the membership to incorporate representatives from the communities in the future. The first full Steering Group was convened in late November 2004.

SWANSEA FOOD CONNECTIONS STEERING GROUP MEMBERSHIP

Swansea Public Health Team Community Dietetics Department, Swansea NHS Trust

Swansea Council For Voluntary Service MEWN Swansea (Minority Ethnic Women’s Network)

City & County of Swansea: Healthy Directions, The Healthy Environmental Health – Food Hygiene Living Centre, Winch Wen Sustainable Development Community Regeneration Unit Anti Poverty Unit

The terms of reference for this group were agreed as:

• To determine the direction of the project • To undertake financial monitoring • To receive regular progress reports • To approve the Annual Monitoring Report • To provide a supportive framework

Meetings were held frequently in the first year of the project to keep the project on track and to ensure that the group was well established.

• Making initial links with people working in the 12 areas

Initial contact with Communities First and Regeneration Officers was one of the first tasks. These meetings gave an insight into the structure of the communities and the level of activity in these areas.

Swansea Food Connections - The First Bite! 2004 - 2005

The list that follows shows the groups and organisations contacted in the first year of the project.

Blaenymaes BPP Development Trust ARC Centre - houses a community café and IT suite, also is the main base for the

Communities First Team SPARK Centre - Family Centre which provides Nursery and basic skills opportunities for young parents. 104 Community House - Job shop and community house

Bonymaen

Communities First Team Healthy Directions - Healthy Living Centre encouraging various routes for the community to change their lifestyle. Bontawe House - Community House set up and run by the community. Also houses COBRA (Community Organisation Bringing Regeneration for All) Roots ‘N’ Fruits Fruit and Veg Coop Eastside Family Support Project (Surestart) - supporting parents and pre school age children Community View Publishers

Castle Communities First Team Swansea Young Single Homeless Project - supporting young people in housing and lifestyle issues Minority Ethnic Women’s Network Swansea Women’s Centre

Swansea People First

Clase / Caemawr Communities First Team Friends of Clase - parents association linked with Clase Primary School Events Committee - community members overseeing the community events

Clase/Caemawr Community Forum

Graigfelen Cwmni Clydach Development Trust Manager Children First - Young parents group supported by Surestart and Communities First Development Worker Surestart Graigfelen Communities First Forge Fach Project Manager Forge Fach Working Group Outreach Youth Workers Clydach/Graigfelen

Penlan Communities First Team Penlan South Community Centre Penlan North Community Centre

Swansea Food Connections - The First Bite! 2004 - 2005

Townhill TOPIC House - Project Manager and Team Phoenix Development Trust - Chief Executive Communities First Team Mayhill Family Centre Manager and Team Mayhill Community Centre Volunteers Youth Workers Swansea College, Area Coordinator, Community Operations Local community members Community Heart Team HOTTAP - Arts Project Mayhill Mothers Group Baptist Church leaders

Port Tennant GPS Project manager - SCVS GPS Development Worker - SCVS Residents Association Community meetings - group of interested community members

Plasmarl Plasmarl Community Centre - Management Committee Plasmarl Primary School

Hafod Community Regeneration Unit Development Worker Pentrehafod Out of Hours Development Worker

Gorseinon Gorseinon Development Trust - Regeneration Manager Friends of Parc Melin Mynach

Dulais East SCVS Rural Community Development Worker Welsh Development Agency, Community Regeneration Executive Community Activists involved with Dulais East Residents Partnership

Swansea Food Connections - The First Bite! 2004 - 2005

In addition to the above links made with the targeted areas, contact was also made with the following organisations/groups/departments:

Environment Centre Sustainable Swansea, City & County of Swansea Dietetics department , Swansea NHS Trust Health Visitors, Swansea NHS Trust Youth Service, City & County of Swansea Age Concern Swan Gardens - Chinese Residential Accommodation Parks Department, City & County of Swansea Swansea Foyer Swansea Community Farm Ethnic Youth Support Team Swansea College Open College Network, Llanelli Healthforce, City & County of Swansea Community Regeneration Unit, City & County of Swansea Planning Department City & County of Swansea Swansea Anti Poverty Network Local to Global Group Anti Poverty Unit, City & County of Swansea

Networks and contacts made over the last year have provided the opportunity to work with a wide range of people, and greatly enhanced the work of the Project.

Swansea Food Connections - The First Bite! 2004 - 2005

• Mapping of activities already happening in these areas

To obtain a picture of the areas it was decided to pull together a community map. This process helped project staff to get a clearer picture of what was happening in the areas and to open discussions with local people about what they felt was needed in the terms of food provision.

The Planning Department of the City & County of Swansea was extremely helpful and provided maps for use with community groups and workers which enabled them to identify various structures, vacant land etc within their communities.

The maps have been used in a variety of settings to identify key aspects of each community - one to one with community members, in groups and at events. In addition to the maps, general information has been collected which fell into 5 broad categories:

• Key people, active groups, individuals and organisations working in the area

• Physical Structures - schools, community centres, local meeting places and land

• Food - Shops, fast food outlets, food delivery vans, existing food projects

• Transport - local transport & public transport routes / services

• Ideas for future projects & locally identified need

The mapping is an ongoing process both in the areas where considerable work has been undertaken, as well as in those areas where work has been slower.

The table below gives a summary of food related activity so far identified in each of the areas, together with an indication of the stages of development for each activity.

Swansea Food Connections - The First Bite! 2004 - 2005

ACTIVITY Blaenymaes Bonymaen Castle Clydach/ Penlan Townhill/ Clase/ Dulais Gorseinon Hafod Plasmarl Port Graigfelen Mayhill Caemawr East Tennant Food Co-op Growing scheme Cookery clubs Community café Allotments Gardening Club Luncheon club Community Garden Nutrition courses Fruit/ Veg Delivery vans

KEY

- fully functional - interest expressed - tried previously

11 11

Swansea Food Connecti ons - The First Bite! 2004 - 2005

Detailed description of food related activity linked to table

Blaenymaes

SPARK Centre Food co-op - established but collapsed due to a variety of factors Now holding nutrition sessions , and healthy eating cookery classes

ARC Centre Community café which caterers for meetings, events, courses and serves as local drop in for the community

Youth Service – Youth Centre Had approval for development of a new kitchen in which they hope to encourage healthy eating

Fruit/ Veg Van Delivery to three areas in Swansea (Blaenymaes, Clase and Townhill) coming from the Merthyr Tydfil area.

Community Farm at Cadle, based just outside the area, but useful links made which may result in future joint activities.

Expressed interest

There has been a lot of interest in allotments - potential sites have been suggested and a group already active has undertaken various environmental projects.

Bonymaen

Back Flat Food co-op - supported by Healthy Directions, Rural Regeneration Unit ,Swansea Food Connections , set up and run by community members

Bontawe House Cookery classes held at the Community House with the Mother and Toddlers Group, with some support from Swansea Food Connections.

Gardening Club previously operated at Bontawe

Cefn Hengoed School

Nutrition courses - looking mainly at Food Diaries and making small changes towards a healthier diet. Run by Swansea College

Expressed interest Eastside Family Support Project (Talfan Road) - Potential growing project.

Swansea Food Connecti ons - The First Bite! 2004 - 2005

Castle

Women’s Centre: Cookery classes held for women - basic nutrition messages and skills. Supported by Women’s Centre Outreach Worker and Swansea Food Connections. Health and Well Being Project established by the Centre with dedicated Development Worker

Swansea Young Single Homeless Project: Developed excellent cookery book as resource to use with clients. Undertake life skills training with clients, including basic cooking, healthy eating, creative cookery and budgeting. Cookery Book out of print.

Age Concern: At their base at Brunswick Court run a Luncheon Club. Cookery demonstration conducted by Swansea Food Connections as part of the Keep Well This Winter campaign 2004/5. Request made for repeat of this 2005/6 - will be conducted by locally identified tutor who is working closely with Swansea Food Connections.

Clase / Caemawr

Through a committed Health Visitor, cookery activities were undertaken as a part of the Parent & Toddler Group.

Fruit & veg delivery van from the Merthyr Tydfil area.

Graigfelen / Clydach

Cookery club: previously running

Healthforce run a variety of exercise classes including pilates, line dancing, aerobics, Tai chi. Less Fat Club. Undertake health checks/assessments/screening.

Forge Fach development - potential community café and growing scheme.

Children First - Parent & Toddler group supported by Surestart, offer healthy snacks for children and parents, with potential to do more.

Penlan

Luncheon Club running in South Penlan Community Centre

Expressed interest Potential to develop a food co-op

Swansea Food Connecti ons - The First Bite! 2004 - 2005

Townhill / Mayhill

Food co-op to be run out of Lady of Lourdes Charity Shop -supported by Rural Regeneration Unit, Swansea Food Connections, Townhill/Mayhill Communities First and TOPIC House..

Cookery Classes run by local community member with support from Swansea Food Connections and Swansea Women’s Centre

Fruit/ Veg Van - Delivery to three areas in Swansea (Blaenymaes, Clase and Townhill) coming from the Merthyr Area.

Expressed interest

Possible restart of Townhill allotments

Port Tennant / GSP

Allotment site is situated in this area with possible potential for new holders to gain plots

Plasmarl

Cookery classes have been run at Plasmarl Community Centre. Potential for further cookery sessions

Plasmarl Primary School Potential Food co-op -supported by Swansea Food Connections and Rural Regeneration

Unit

Hafod

Parent & Toddler Groups at Community Centre may offer potential for food activity

Gorseinon East

Allotments These are now well established with Green Gym having allotments allocated for their project Parc Melin Mynach -future development of large open space with potential for a food input at later date.

Dulais East

Fruit and Vegetable delivery van on two days - local farmer Potential work with Dulais East Residents Partnership

Swansea Food Connecti ons - The First Bite! 2004 - 2005

• Identifying needs in relation to food

The Project has found that in various groups/settings with active community members, knowledge levels about food are quite high, but the problem is in translating knowledge into everyday practice. However there is also an acknowledgement that cooking skills and knowledge about food/nutrition, particularly amongst some young parents is very limited.

Barriers to healthy eating Through discussions with a wide range of individuals and groups in the communities, barriers to healthy eating have been identified including: • lack of knowledge • cost • time pressures because both parents work, or single parent households • easy availability of ‘convenience food’ • lack of cooking skills.

Nutrition training As a result of an inspiring conference in Newhaven run by the East Sussex Food and Health Partnership, the Team followed up by looking into accredited courses in Nutrition, and identified a pilot course being run by the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG). This pilot, after adjustment, is due to be rolled out Wales-wide with a complete resource pack. Negotiations are ongoing with Open College Network Cymru, Swansea College and Swansea Food Connections with a view to this being delivered locally. With this on the horizon, the level of interest amongst community members is being gauged and names of interested parties are being gathered. The list is growing!! Once trained it is hoped that there will be a pool of skilled people who can be called upon to deliver sessions in the twelve areas where need is identified.

Balance of Good Health Model Bread, other cereals Fruit and vegetables and potatoes

Meat, fish and alternatives Milk and dairy foods Foods containing fat Foods containing sugar 15

Swansea Food Connecti ons - The First Bite! 2004 - 2005

Cookery Classes Quite early in the project’s life, several community members/groups/professionals had identified a need for, and interest in, increasing skills in cookery. Through contacts in Blaenymaes it was discovered that cookery classes were already being held in the SPARK Centre. The project then arranged to roll out this programme to the following areas: Bontawe Community House in Bonymaen working in partnership with Healthy Directions (HLC) The Women’s Centre in Castle ward, working in partnership with the Women’s Centre Outreach Development Worker. Mayhill Community Centre working in partnership with the Women’s Centre Outreach Development Worker.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, urgent arrangements had to be made at these three sites for alternative tutors to cover the programme.

In Mayhill a local person, was identified who had catering expertise and teaching skills, which made her an ideal choice. This has given her an opportunity to use these skills again after some years in other employment, and the chance to work within her local community.

“I am passionate about food, and this will give me the chance to go back into this kind of work .With the problems of balancing childcare and doing something for myself, this opportunity has given me a way forward within my local community as a start” Karen

For the Project, it means a person is now available to deliver sessions in various locations in the future as the need arises.

Tasting the fruits of their labour - Mayhill cookery Group

Swansea Food Connecti ons - The First Bite! 2004 - 2005

In Bonymaen a tutor from the Catering Department of Neath/Port Talbot College was identified to deliver basic cookery sessions to a group of young mothers from Bontawe Community House.

At the Women’s Centre, the Outreach Development Worker, who had previously run classes in Plasmarl, agreed to deliver the sessions at the Centre.

Swansea Food Connections played a key role in identifying and supporting the tutors as well as providing the equipment and ingredients.

• Promotion of the projects existence

Activities and meeting needs

In the first year there have been key opportunities to promote the project through various events - see later in report.

Promotional leaflet and article

A leaflet was produced to highlight the type of work that the Project could support. These continue to be distributed at every opportunity through the community groups and organisations that are identified within the communities and in wider networks of local people and professionals. Hence the Project’s existence is gradually being broadcast and its net cast wider.

Interest from the leaflet Several people have contacted the Project as a result of the leaflet, both within the Project areas and outside them. Requests for support/help from other areas are being carefully monitored, to determine if there is a need for the Project to be rolled out County wide. Early indications are that there is a huge need out there for support on food related issues.

The leaflet has also been welcomed by those working with people having learning difficulties, as it is accessible for those with all abilities - visually clear and pictorial.

Swansea Food Connecti ons - The First Bite! 2004 - 2005

Local newsletters allowed a route for further promotion at a community level.

An article in the Community Magazine, a local A5 newsletter which is distributed in localised editions to various areas through out Swansea, proved to be a good link and may provide a future means of broadcasting news and seeking responses.

Some response came as a result of the article in the Gorseinon & District edition.

Articles in community newspapers

Several of the communities targeted have their own newsletters run by local people which offers another means of accessing hard to reach groups. “Community View” in Bonymaen has already run an article for the project, thus raising SFC profile in that community. Even though no specific response was received, people will recognise the logo in future links.

It was an article in “View from the Hill” in Townhill/Mayhill that inspired one of our cookery tutors to make initial contact. An extremely positive result for the Project.

Again, an article in GSP newsletter in Port Tennant has helped raise the profile of SFC for the future.

Good links have already been made in Clase/Caemawr, and an article in the Clase Forum Newsletter offered the Project a chance to reinforce those links and spread the word further.

Word of mouth

Word of mouth always seems to be a good way of getting known, and knowledge of SFC has been spread over the first year by the people with whom the project has worked, and by those met in conferences and events. Working at grassroots level has enabled Project staff to get to know individuals and groups in some of the communities targeted.

Swansea Food Connecti ons - The First Bite! 2004 - 2005

• Linking with people who work on food projects

Throughout the first year people have been identified who work in the wider context on food related projects, and Project staff have gained many useful insights and knowledge from them. It is always good to know that you are not working alone and that there are people whom the Project can call on for additional expertise, advice, information and support. By working in partnership, the Project is able to advise and encourage communities on best practice and draw on the lessons learnt from partners. The Project has worked particularly closely with the Rural Regeneration Unit in its work on fruit and vegetable cooperatives. This is a particularly valuable link for the project.

Swansea Food Connecti ons - The First Bite! 2004 - 2005

A Pictorial Flavour of Some Specific Activities

GLOBAL A FAYRES

ACTIVITY: Global A Fayres: • Swansea Central 6.10.04 • Pentrehafod 9.10.04 • Event in Clase/Caemawr 4.12.04 • Penclawdd 18.12.04

An event with African music

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Local to Global group of the SPAN (Anti Poverty Network) aims to link issues of poverty from local to a global level.

Raising issues about food poverty and a looking at the wider issues of food production and distribution at a local and global level.

INTERVENTION: Food miles display board Tawe Organics display Information on healthy eating – leaflets their produce Project Promotion

EVALUATION: (effectiveness) This gave SFC a chance to promote the project and a good opportunity to meet community members and professional working on the

ground. It was felt that it may not have been most effective use of time but did give the opportunity to see what else is happening in

the community. SFC Links to the world OUTCOMES: Improved links to SPAN Contact with community members

Swansea Food Connecti ons - The First Bite! 2004 - 2005

LIFE BEGINS @ 50+

ACTIVITY:

BRANGWYN HALL (CASTLE)

PENYRHEOL (GORSEINON)

PENLAN LEISURE CENTRE (PENLAN)

Engaging with participants

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Invited to attend as health related project. Project promotion in three target areas.

Project Promotion

INTERVENTION: Stand with healthy eating information and information about Swansea Food Connections.

• At Brangwyn conducted Balance of Good Health exercise • At Penyrheol and Gorseinon supplied fruit kebabs

EVALUATION (effectiveness): • Brangwyn - BOGH exercise not useable in big group setting. The setting was loud, noisy, difficult to keep attention. Could be conducted in smaller workshop setting • Better planning needed - not enough information received before the event • Penyrheol/Penlan - well received • Enticing people with fruit kebabs helps to engage people. • In general events are useful as promotional fora and for establishing links with local community members.

OUTCOMES: • Brangwyn - Networked with wide variety of professionals - especially useful contact with TOPIC House. • Subsequent feedback indicated people were using information supplied e.g. for losing weight. • Some community contacts made at satellite events. General promotion of the project. • Interest expressed in food issues and demand for information identified.

Swansea Food Connecti ons - The First Bite! 2004 - 2005

Keep Well This Winter

ACTIVITY: Brunswick Church 8.12.04

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: • Request made by Age Concern as part of the Keep Well This Winter Campaign aimed at older people to increase awareness of healthy eating in winter months The team in full flow

INTERVENTION: • Cookery demonstration • Provision of healthy eating information - leaflets and group discussion. • Healthy eating recipes

EVALUATION (effectiveness): • Good opportunity for Team to establish itself • Opportunity to meet community members • Well received by participants

The team get cooking ATTENDANCE LEVELS: • 25 elderly people attended from a wide area of Swansea.

OUTCOMES: • Request made by the audience for more sessions. • FSA Wales - KWTW - offering the opportunity to train peer educators. SFC looking at recruiting local volunteers to attend and then deliver courses to this target group.

Much appreciated tasters “When can we do this again?”

Swansea Food Connecti ons - The First Bite! 2004 - 2005

ACTIVITY: Swan Gardens (KWTW) – Chinese Sheltered Accommodation 11.1.05

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Through contacts made with Age Concern, Swan Gardens requested healthy eating information aimed at the elderly Chinese community. Establishing good links with Chinese Community Aim of the event was to raise awareness about a range of organisations which could offer support and help to this community

INTERVENTION:

The Dietetic Department provided a translated display relating to diabetes and high

blood pressure and the impact of diet on these conditions.

Discussions with groups of community members about healthy eating (translator was provided at each of the stands)

EVALUATION (effectiveness): • Well-organised event. Well attended. Opportunity to meet and make links with this minority ethnic group and their extended families.

ATTENDANCE LEVELS: • 9 Organisations • 50 people

A well supported event OUTCOMES: It was very well received and request was made to attend a similar event in the Morriston area in the future

Swansea Food Connecti ons - The First Bite! 2004 - 2005

Keep Well Keep Warm Keep Safe

Newsletter

Keep Well This Winter

March 2005

Strategic Partners: Age Concern Cymru, Welsh Assembly Government, Care & Repair Cymru, Food Standards Agency, Energy Saving Trust Wales (also representing the Energy Efficiency Advice Centres), EAGA Partnership, NHS Direct Wales, National Public Health Service, RNIB, Wales Youth Agency, Wales Pension Service, Wales Fire Service

Chinese Community Reached in Swansea

Swansea has been bustling with Keep Well this Winter activity this year.

The public health team’s ‘Food Connections’ have been involved with two very successful events held by Age Concern Swansea. At a Healthy Eating Session the Food Connections team gave a demonstration session on healthy eating for older people. The team also attended a Health and Wellbeing day at Swan Gardens, a sheltered accommodation for older Chinese people which was attended by a variety of

Residents of Swan Gardens Sheltered Housing organisations including the complex with KWTW materials. Police, Alzheimer’s Society, the Fire Service, and Swansea Care & Repair. Information on healthy eating was available in Chinese characters and translators were available to assist at the event, which was well attended and well received.

Swansea Food Connecti ons - The First Bite! 2004 - 2005

HEALTH CHALLENGE WALES

ACTIVITY: Health Challenge Wales Events – Townhill/Mayhill • 26.1.05 Mayhill Community Centre • 9.2.05 Gorseinon Community Centre • 22.2.05 Townhill Community Centre • 1.3.05 Mayhill Family Centre • 31.3.05 Phoenix Centre

Information & mapping

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: WAG initiative to encourage health lifestyles across Wales The events at local level were aimed at promoting organisations and information sharing at grassroots.

INTERVENTION: Information stand, project promotion, Information gathering.

Swansea College Catering

EVALUATION (effectiveness): Students offer tasters • Useful for networking purposes and making some contacts within the community. • Failed to attract many new community members

ATTENDANCE LEVELS: • 30 service providers • 142 community members

Lots of activity at Mayhill Family Centre OUTCOMES: • Information collection for project work. • Invitation to participate in Healthy Eating ‘Foods of the World’ event for young people.

Swansea Food Connecti ons - The First Bite! 2004 - 2005

ROOTS ‘N’ FRUITS - BONYMAEN

ACTIVITY: Bonymaen Roots N Fruits Launch Day 11.3.05

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Through supporting the development of the food co-op in the Bonymaen area a request was made by Healthy Directions (Healthy Living Centre) for SFC to do a food tasting demonstration.

The aim of the launch was to attract more members and volunteers to the food co- op.

INTERVENTION: Cookery demonstration Displays illustrating food miles and promotion of project Information on nutrition and healthy eating - leaflets

Jen creates an excellent soup

EVALUATION (effectiveness):

Team: Opportunity to meet community members and professionals. Opportunity to promote project Venue was not very practical for the delivery of a cookery demonstration.

Target Audience: Healthy Directions indicated positive feedback from all community members who attended. People tucked into the soup so SFC were happy! ATTENDANCE LEVELS: Male 8 Female 36 Total 44

OUTCOMES:

Continue supporting Roots N Fruits Co-op. Identification of potential volunteers for the food co-op.

Swansea Food Connecti ons - The First Bite! 2004 - 2005

HEALTHY PACKED LUNCH

ACTIVITY: Penllergaer Primary School Healthy Lunchbox Workshops 15.3.05

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: To raise children’s and parent’s awareness of healthy eating particularly in relation to different options for

healthy packed lunches

INTERVENTION:

• Workshops with all junior classes in Penllergaer Primary School, using Healthy Lunchbox game and fruit tasters Attentive audience!

• Workshop with parents offering advice on alternatives for healthy packed lunches with food tasting for parents and children

EVALUATION (effectiveness): Very well received covering large number of pupils in short time. Very good feed back from parents session. Pupils get fully involved Food tasting - children tasted and enjoyed all foods! Able to replicate something developed and used in Neath/Port Talbot

ATTENDANCE LEVELS:

Approximately 150 children

Approximately 14 parents

OUTCOMES: One off event but reflected need for this to be undertaken regularly in schools and other venues. Follow up needed possibly through PTA events/fayres

She has them under her spell!

Swansea Food Connecti ons - The First Bite! 2004 - 2005

HEALTHY EATING WORKSHOP FOR YOUTH SERVICE CONFERENCE

ACTIVITY:

Youth Service Healthy Eating Workshop 19.3.05

BACKGROUND AND AIMS:

Initial presentation about the project made to The Team at work fulltime youth workers led to the invitation to facilitate a workshop at the youth service conference

Providing nutritional information and practical activities to enable youth workers to relay healthy eating messages to the young people they work with. (Training the trainers)

INTERVENTION: The content of the workshop; • Presentation outlining project • Information regarding healthy diet – leaflets, presentation and information packs • Balance of good health game

EVALUATION (effectiveness): Jen explains all

Team: Opportunity to promote project and meet with professionals some of whom work in SFC target areas. Through the workshop awareness was raised of the kinds of activities that can be utilised to deliver healthy eating messages. It is hoped that youth workers will implement some of the ideas.

Target Audience: Evaluation feedback from the workshop indicated that the workshop was • Informative • Well delivered • Enjoyable • Motivational

ATTENDANCE LEVELS:

17 youth workers. Participants in workshop session

Swansea Food Connecti ons - The First Bite! 2004 - 2005

The Future Over the past year a vision of what can be achieved under the Project has evolved, as a result of research, discussions at all levels and needs assessments within the communities. To help in the process of reaching this long term vision, the following steps will be taken.

An Event As a way of bringing the communities together to share their knowledge and experience, and to show what is happening in the 12 areas, an event is planned for November. This will bring community activists together with a variety of expert practitioners in a participatory conference. The aim is to inspire people to go back to their communities to take further action or instigate new action to improve access and availability of healthy food at a local level.

A Pamphlet With information gathered at the event feeding into it, a pamphlet will be produced as a “How To…..” guide on a range of food related activities.

This will act as a step by step guide for those wishing to take action in their own communities.

Training The need for Nutrition training and cookery skills have been identified in most of the areas, as previously referred to, and work will continue to put in place the appropriate courses. During delivery of the cookery skills sessions, the need to address food hygiene issues has been identified. All training will proceed in partnership with local training providers to ensure that initiatives taken by the Project are sustainable in the long term. Food hygiene training will soon be starting with many people expressing an interest.

It is envisaged that additional training needs will be identified e.g. in gardening, horticulture etc, and close links will be maintained with training providers at all levels to ensure that action can be pursued in communities with as much speed as possible.

Mapping and Networking This process is an ongoing one and wider links are expected to be made within the communities and in the wider area over the forthcoming year.

Support & Development of Initiatives As a result of the Event referred to above, and work already undertaken, it is anticipated that ideas for food initiatives will emerge in more areas, which Swansea Food Connections will nurture, encourage and support.

Swansea Food Connecti ons - The First Bite! 2004 - 2005

IN CONCLUSION

The first year has been quite hectic, with a new team learning about each other and gelling, setting up the necessary support systems and procedures, clarifying the Project’s direction and linking in to the 12 communities. It is felt by all closely involved that the Project’s foundations have been well laid and that the path is set for some exciting and hopefully life changing work in and with the communities. Much more of the work in setting up projects/initiatives at the grassroots is expected to start following the November event.