Mayor’s priorities and proposals

Mayor’s priorities and proposals

Figure 15: There are 57 Foodbanks are under the Trussell Trust organisation in London.

(Trussell Trust, 2020)

Based on my calculation in London, excluding the greater London area, there are a total of 57 foodbanks in London. (Figure 15) It considers a healthy number as the average of each borough of London is about 1.78 with a minimum of 1 foodbank in each London borough. According to Beyond the Foodbank report, there are a lot of food poverty action plan being line up. I was interested in highlighting out the success Borough of London under the Action Plan and see whether there is any opportunity using the community to petition and apply foodbank as a program in the borough.

Figure 16 : Strategic food poverty action plan in each borough.

(Beyond Food Bank, 2019)

Mayor of London suggests that each council should download Sustain’s Guide and review examples of other areas’ plans. Besides, the council should hold an initial workshop or summit bringing together a wide range of organisations addressing food poverty. Moreover, the Mayor of London advice each council try to carry out a needs analysis and map current activities across the borough. (Figure 16) If possible, publish a plan agreed with a wide range of stakeholders committed to taking action and monitor and report on progress over time. (Reynolds, 2009)

Increase the uptake of Healthy Start Vouchers

Figure 17: Promoting Healthy Start vouchers council program.

(Beyond Food Bank, 2019)

A highlighted action undertaken by Enfield is training staff as Health Visitors, Early Years professionals and put them to serve with faith and community groups to help promote the uptake of Healthy Start vouchers and vitamins. (Figure 17) Lambeth is working with local market traders to sign up/register as retailers to accept vouchers and voucher program for most deprived wards. While Lewisham has given free food vouchers and vitamin D coupons to new births, Newham is deliver training called ‘Vitamin D - A Healthy Start’ and other micronutrients training at nursery and children’s centre services. (Beyond Food Bank, 2019)

Based on my understanding, Healthy Start vouchers play a vital role in how to influence the social community in different places. From the success action mentioned, those venues are the key location to promote Healthy Start vouchers. Indirectly, more food-related program will take into design consideration to the faith groups, community groups, local market, hospital, nursery and children centre. (Lucas, Jessiman and Cameron, 2015)

Support, protect and promote breastfeeding to boost the health of infants and mothers

Figure 18: Breastfeeding in public in the capital in terms of cracking the tabou that accompanies it.

(Daily Mail, 2018)

Bexley promotes breastfeeding in all Children’s Centres. There are six ‘breastfeeding key workers’ in the 0 – 19 Children’s Public Health Service as well as an Infant Feeding Lead. Havering has Infant Feeding Cafés in the room next door to Health Visiting clinics. Lambeth is implementing a tenyear programme about breastfeeding for children under four years of age in the most deprived wards in the borough. Merton Health Visiting is developing a pathway to support mothers in maternity services, health visiting and the specialist breastfeeding service. Barnet Breastfeeding Support Services promote and support breastfeeding through social media. (Beyond Food Bank, 2019)

In my perception, the breastfeeding program that took happen in Children’s Centres, Infant Feeding Cafes, Health Visiting clinics, and social media platform are golden opportunity to gather community and share food. A more educational program can be added to break the taboo of breastfeeding in the public. (Figure 18)

Provide high-quality, affordable childcare and maximise the value of children’s centres

Figure 19: Taking actions to address food poverty via children’s centres and childcare provision.

(Evening Standard, 2020)

Barnet provides a nutritionist and qualified chef to deliver sessions within the Children’s Centres. Camden provides food bank vouchers for children’s centres. Croydon tried to collaboration to Mayor of London’s Healthy Early Years programme. Havering children’s centres are all registered distribution sites for the Trussell Trust Food Bank vouchers. (Beyond Food Bank, 2019)

From a user experience perspective, I am glad that children’s centres are well supported in London as they partner to the food bank. I need to credit to the borough of Barnet where they provide nutritionist and chef for the kids. (Figure 19) As I am a food bank user, I got my chef and nutritionist also. It’s quite rare to have this service as they do care about the health of the user. This leading the community a sense of home feeling. Indirectly, sense of belonging took place in the child centre. More and more food-related program will be added on.

Improve the implementation and uptake of free school meals and support breakfast clubs.

Figure 20: Promoting the government program about free school meals and breakfast clubs

. (The Sun, 2020)

Redbridge has 51 schools that operate a breakfast club with a meal under hosted by Shine breakfast club, Young Aspirations and Barracudas. Hackney Marsh Adventure Playground are currently involved in the Mayor’s Fund for London Kitchen Social project. The council partner with charity FoodCycle to provide a free community meal every week at the new Kingshold Community Centre. (Beyond Food Bank, 2019)

Figure 21: FoodCycle Charity

Figure 20 and Figure 21 shows FoodCycle serve food in the school. In my FF, they are a partner to FoodCycle also. Once or two I will join their free meal program on Sunday. The good news is you can bring unlimited guests and there is no referral system needed under this charity.

Secure children’s access to food during the holidays

Figure 22: Staff at the Kitchen cafe in Bermondsey, London, are providing free school meals for children over the half-term holidays.

(Beyond Food Bank, 2020)

Greenwich provides 23 lunch sessions per week at 13 children centre in the borough. Lambeth runs Holiday Hunger projects and partners with One O’clock Clubs, adventure playgrounds, local projects supporting vulnerable families on a low income, youth and community trusts, after-school clubs, community centres and libraries. Southwark partners with Mercato Metropolitano to run the holiday club with activities ranged from martial arts to yoga, circus skills to planting workshops for children and their parents. (Beyond Food Bank, 2019)

Ensure all residents have physical access to good food

Figure 23: Community led fruit and vegetable in Chalton Street Market.

(Beyond Food Bank, 2019)

Bexley has community fridges in Belvedere Community Centre and Bostall Library, which provides with surplus food from supermarkets. Croydon has local retailers’ participation in Healthy Start. Camden has community-led fruit and vegetable stall located on a Camden market. Haringey has partnered with Sustain to take action on sugar reduction and healthier food. (Beyond Food Bank, 2019)

Community-led program done by the Borough of Camden by setting up a stall in a market is an excellent action plan. A success action plan is led by the community, not by the government. When the user has a sense of belonging, the more community-led program will take place. (Figure 23)