Priority c) Connecting communities coming together Objective: No-one in the borough has to eat alone

"Connection keeps me alive. I don't feel emptiness anymore now that I come to Nourish Hub every day." Nourish Hub user 2024 'Our hub, your voice'

What do we know in H&F

Food and social interaction are deeply intertwined. Food is often shared and represents a way of connecting with others: through cooking, mealtimes and at times of celebrations.²⁷
Several community organisations, allotments, food banks and religious / faith groups regularly provide food to their communities and those in need. Community organisations will be key in delivering the work of the Food Plan in increasing community resilience and responding to need. Opportunities include celebration events that bring people together that highlight the cultural importance of food, to providing access to cooking facilities to those that have limited access. The role of the voluntary and community sector continues to be key in achieving the priorities of this plan.
There is a good foundation of community groups, food providers and food growing groups that have engaged in the food plan since 2021.
The support people receive from their community and social connections helps build household resilience to food insecurity.²⁸
Social isolation and loneliness are associated with reduced physical activity, accessing less healthy food and increased risk of under-nutrition among older people, with one in ten older people in the UK are suffering from or at risk of malnutrition.²⁹

Food helps to reduce social isolation and wellbeing is increased.
Increased household food resilience though social and community connections.
To bring communities together and support priority groups reducing the divisions of inequality.

Explore opportunities to develop and test community approaches to sustainable food, particularly intergenerational approaches that reach across communities and to those at higher risk of isolation, in particular engaging with and providing opportunities for older people.³⁰
Through our work, celebrate the diverse cultures in our community through food, whilst also promoting 'a culture of healthy eating.
Existing activities tackling social isolation are encouraged to embed cooking and shared meals as part of their neighbourhood offer.
Ensure that residents know where to access a shared meal and cooking classes in their locality.
Explore pilot projects such as 'Meal Makers' by the 'Food Train'. Meal Makers connects people who enjoy cooking ('Cook') with a neighbour aged 55 or over ('Diners'), who lives in their local community and would really appreciate a home cooked meal.
Explore pilot projects which offer a diverse group of asylum seekers a chance to come together, identify a dish that is meaningful to them to cook and eat together.
Scale up community-led food initiatives by developing/sharing best practice. Identify successful models that can be replicated in other communities.