The Newcastle Community Food Initiative was originally set up to address food issues by supporting community groups and organisations with the set up or development of projects known as community food initiatives.
This Health Action Zone project was initiated through a multi-agency group who got together in 1998 to look at a number of food issues, for example:
- local food shops in some of the deprived areas of the city are either non-existent or sell only expensive and poor quality food
- people who don't own cars cannot get to out of town supermarkets and have to rely on public transport
- for many people take away and convenience food are less hassle, less wasteful and more easily available than "healthy" alternatives
Time line for Newcastle Community Food Initiative
2011
CFI has newly defined strategic and developmental role
Development of Eat Well JSNA & Action Plan
New CFI Food Grants begin
Final Infood newsletter distributed
Edible Elswick
2010
Grow, Cook & Eat event at Ouseburn Farm
Citywide Food Network event at
Mapping of food and health activities to identify gaps in provision of services to meet specific needs of BME communities
Local Food Waste partners meet at a Citizen’s Assembly event, facilitated by CFI
Report of food and health activities in
Directory of food and health activities
Eat Well group established (sub group of Newcastle Wellbeing & Health Partnership)
CFI local Food Networks cease (partnerships continue through Change 4 Life Newcastle West and Lean East)
2009
CFI Food e-Bulletin introduced
Citywide audit of food and health activities
North East Community Food Forum continues (Sustain facilitation ends)
2008
Facilitation of food networks, membership exceeds 100
2007
Regional food network further developed with Sustain
Obesity Strategy for
2006
CFI Conference at Assembly Rooms
Food Network Support worker begins
2004
New Co-ordinator begins
Development of Health Eating Action Plan
2003
Food growing initiative begins – 2 workers employed
Food growing networking event
Event at Scotswood Natural Community Garden-Grub in the Garden
5 a day begins
Regional food network established led by
Evaluation of the food networks
2002
The Strongest Link Forging the Food Chain conference
Exchange organised with CFIs in
2001
Interim evaluation completed. Supported by
Going for Growing Conference
West end food network established
2000
Co-ordinator employed
Infood conference
East end food network established
More than just a shop conference
School Food Initiative begins
1999
Key Initiatives Training and Research commissioned to map CFIs across the city
1998
Health Action Zone
