Cardiff Food and Health
A poor diet is one of the main causes of ill health and premature death. It has been estimated that about one third of deaths from heart disease and one quarter from cancer in the UK can be attributed to poor diet (Food Standards Agency, 2003).
For several years a partnership approach to food and health has operated in Cardiff, led by the Food and Health Steering Group.
The Food and Health Strategy identifies five overarching themes:
- Nutrition
- Food provision
- Food safety
- Food sustainability
- Food education and training.
The Strategy builds on the national perspective "Food and Well Being" (Food Standards Agency Wales/Welsh Assembly Government, 2003), "Food and Fitness for Children and Young People" (WAG 2005) and will now be informed by "Appetite for Life" and "Quality of Food Strategy" (WAG 2007/08) and local priorities.
In Cardiff the multi-agency approach encourages links across food initiatives to provide strength and ensure consistency through collaboration between community dietetics, public health, food sustainability, regulatory services, trading standards, social services, schools catering, further/higher education and the voluntary sector.
- Cardiff Food & Health Network established in 2006 to promote and share best practice in food provision, food safety and food education throughout Cardiff.
- Consideration of health impact assessment through a multi-agency workshop focused on "Health Impact Assessment on Food in Schools".
Targeted Age Groups
- BIG Lottery funded "Food Matters" / Bwyd o Bwys 3 year project with children and young people in Ely and Caerau delivered with national recognition and development of evidence base.
- BIG Lottery funded Young People Matter project commenced September 2006 in St Mellons.
Education and Training
- Implementation of standardised and accredited OCN Community Food Nutrition skills training programme, delivered by dietitians.
- WAG and Flying Start funding secured to increase dietetic capacity to inform, train and support communities in developing food and nutrition skills. Sustaining work with early years and schools through continuation and rolling of good practice and policy development across Cardiff.
- Further development of the community food worker role to support service delivery at local level.
Access to Food
- Activities delivered through community health development initiatives, for example, three food co-ops, cooking skills courses.
Reward Excellence
- Piloted healthy option award established for businesses in Cardiff.
- Healthy Snack Award Scheme for early years establishments piloted.
Enabling and supporting people to access a healthy balanced diet through a holistic and co-ordinated approach
- To increase the procurement and provision of safe, nutritious and sustainable food for the whole population through large public organisations, businesses, community groups and events organisers.
- To increase the uptake of safe, nutritious and sustainable food through policy development, education and training and food provision in the identified target groups.
- To identify and influence policies and strategies that could impact on food and nutrition/health issues where appropriate.
Cardiff Food and Physical Activity Network
The Cardiff Food and Physical Activity Network is a partnership between a wide range of organisations and agencies within the NHS, Local Authority, Voluntary and Community sectors with the focus on both food and physical activity and how these affect the health of the local population in Cardiff.
The Network provides an opportunity for all those working in food and physical activity related areas to meet and share information, best practise, and learning opportunities.
Partners on the Food and Health Steering Group
Key Documents
Other Web Links
