H&F Council and the Food for all Partnership has developed this plan with a focus on sustainability, prevention, and transition from emergency support. The plan was created through consultations and workshops with a variety of partners including the voluntary sector, food and drinks sector, education, and health. This collaboration led to the identification of key actions in areas such as food poverty, health, and sustainability. Resident input was also gathered through research, interviews, and informal engagement.
This helped us to:
- Identify the range of existing services.
- Identify gaps in service.
- Identify priority communities and activities.
- Confirm the core values and priorities.
Ongoing consultation and engagement with partners and residents and an annual review of the action plan, will be essential in promoting a resilient and compassionate food culture.
Voluntary sector research and findings
Our third sector partners have worked with residents to make sure the Food Plan addresses the needs of different communities and priority groups. This includes research by the Hammersmith & Fulham Foodbank and the Nourish Hub (in case studies below), interviews, and informal engagement. Key findings have guided the recommendations in this plan.
Case Study 1: Impact Assessment by the Nourish Hub
UK Harvest conducted 'Our Hub Your Voice,' a comprehensive assessment of the social impact experienced by residents and volunteers who engage with Nourish Hub and its services. 96 volunteers and residents participated in the survey, interviews and focus groups.
Results showed that most residents benefitted from the hub's services, especially in mitigating the cost-of-living crisis. The hub also helped foster community connections for both residents and volunteers. Access to nutritious food was a significant support, with most agreeing that the hub helped offset increased costs and provided food they couldn't afford.
Case Study 2: Gousto 'Meal Kits' pilot with H&F Foodbank
The Meal Kits pilot was delivered by H&F Foodbank in partnership with London Borough of H&F, and Gousto to tackle low food security. The goal was to provide easy, nutritious, and affordable meal options to thirty existing Food Bank users. Gousto created plant-based recipes based on the Mediterranean diet, including global cuisines and fermented foods, which were simple and suited for microwave cooking. Participants received kits weekly for 12 weeks, each containing 10 meals and costing the same as regular Trussell Trust parcels, effectively eliminating hunger and reducing worries about affording food for the participants during the program
The aim of the pilot was to track the mental health impact of food aid over three months. It revealed that access to healthy food significantly improved the well-being and mood of participants, encouraging cooking and family bonding. Despite these positive outcomes, the food bank faced challenges with the increased costs and logistics of providing healthier food options, sometimes resorting to retail purchasing to fill gaps, and so the cost of the healthy food boxes soared. The experience highlighted the need for affordable, nutritious food for low-income individuals as a crucial aspect of food aid in the UK and that any opportunity to improve the standard of food made affordable to people living with low incomes in the borough, should be embraced.