Food For Thought

Report by Jonathan Birchall, and Sam Collins

Pictured: Staff and Community volunteers with the awards received at the recent ceremony held at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Liverpool.

(back l-r) Anne Owen, Liz Tone, Ian Hughes, Angela Owen, Donna Horn.

(front l-r) Gill Molyneux (Community Involvement worker), Jackie Patterson (Health Development Manager), Donna Fisher, Ann Ackroyd (Community Involvement worker).

The Food Co-op in Huyton, an innovative project aimed at promoting healthy eating, has won a prestigious award. The scheme has won one of the Groundwork Merseyside 21 Awards for its unique approach to providing fresh fruit and vegetables to the local community. The Food Co-op is part of the Huyton Community Partnership which took top prize in the Merseyside Health Action Zone Sustainable Health Award for Communities in a ceremony recently.

Local volunteers now run the Co-op. They take orders from local people and because a local farmer supplies the produce in bulk, are able to offer the food to Co-op members at reduced prices. The initiative was applauded for helping to address the health inequalities in the area. The scheme is linked to Knowsley Council’s Health Plan and St Helens and Knowsley Health Authority's Health Improvement Plan.

Here, Jackie Patterson, Food Co-op Project Manager, talks to Huyton Today reporters Jonathan Birchall and Sam Collins.

Can you explain how the food Co-op works?

It's a way of getting local people together in order to sell fresh fruit and vegetables at affordable prices to the local community.

What does a Food Co-op Project Manager do?

They find out about people who need to improve their health, and identify fruit and vegetables that are good quality, and find funds to buy the fruit and vegetables for the local community.

Who supplies your food?

A local farm in Halewood.

Why is it important for people to eat healthily?

The government recommend a healthy diet of five portions of fresh fruit and vegetables per day. This will help reduce the levels of some forms of cancer and coronary heart disease - Knowsley has one of the highest rates.

Why were you given the award?

In recognition of our success in encouraging healthy eating among the community. Merseyside Health Action Zone presented the award.

Do you enjoy your job?

Yes, it is very fulfilling and very diverse. I firmly believe that linking the community development approach to health is the future for sustainable health changes in the long term.

Do you buy the food yourself, to sell to the community?

Yes, but we all buy it, together.

How many volunteers do you have to help run the Co-op?

We have two community workers, a development worker, an administrative worker and ten local volunteers who have received training. It was a difficult project to initiate, however, the local volunteers are the key to the success.

Who can help to run a Food Co-op?

Anyone, as long as they either live or work in the Huyton area. Even children can help to run a Food Co-op, providing they have parental permission.

Where are the current Food Co-op’s held in the Huyton area?

They are held in local schools and community houses: Beechwood Primary School and Sleaford and Filtern Community houses.