Access to Food

Our Public Health Nutrition Team support local organisations and community groups to address health and economic food issues, particularly with staff who work with vulnerable individuals and families.

Our approach has a strong emphasis on building capacity, engagement and a focus on sustainability.

Enabling organisations to be the catalyst and lead in their own communities to use food activities as a mechanism or vehicle to promote positive changes in health.

Areas of work include:

• Nutrition Resources – Developing resources and toolkits to support delivery of national nutrition messages at a local level.
• Training – For staff and volunteers within NHS, local authority and voluntary organisations.
• Funding – Providing opportunities for organisations to host their own food activities.
• Campaigns – Raise awareness of key nutrition messages through a variety of marketing and social media strategies.

Current programmes include: Mini Steps, Make and Taste, Cooking Skills, Food Waste and Budgeting, Grow Your Own and Sustainable Eating for good health and our planet.

Visit our Nutrition Resources or Grow and Cook web pages to view or download the resources and recipes that support us to deliver our programmes.

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Community Food Development

Community Food Development Workers (CFDW’s) are part of NHS Forth Valley’s Public Health Nutrition Team. We work in partnership with NHS Forth Valley’s Health Promotion and Oral Health Teams and partners in local authorities and third sector or voluntary organisations.

Community Food Development Workers role significantly contributes to supporting food and growing activities with local organisations, building capacity using existing and developing community assets.

Our team of Community Food Development Workers are expert in creating strong partnerships with voluntary organisations empowering communities to be active in food initiatives that that are right for them and their community. For example rather than Community Food Development Workers delivering an activity, organisations are empowered to run their own food and / or growing activities.

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Addressing Food Insecurity in Forth Valley

Forth Environment Link were commissioned by NHS Forth Valley to carry out an in-depth analysis of sustainable and dignified solutions to food insecurity in Forth Valley.

They make seven recommendations in the report for the area including the use of the Sustainable Food Places Framework and for each local authority to have its own approach and coordinate action.

• Sustainable and Dignified Solutions to Food Insecurity in Forth Valley
• See the powerpoint presentation
• View the online Forth Valley Food Map of local community food groups, food banks, growing groups and other supportive organisations

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Looking for local support

Clackmannanshire

• Clacks Good Food – Is a partnership lead by NHS Forth Valley supported by Clackmannanshire Council and Clackmannanshire Third Sector Interface (CTSI) and its local third sector members to make Clackmannanshire a good food leader region for Scotland.  The partnership aims to support and promote good food and advocates for a more sustainable food system that is fairer for everyone.  Sign up to the Clacks Good Food Newsletter here  or download their Charter here. Clacks Good Food have a Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Account.
• Worrying about money? Where to get help in Clackmannanshire
• Clackmannanshire Council – Find out about Free School meals and School Lunches
• Clackmannanshire Third Sector Interface (CTSI) – CTSI is a ‘single door’ access point for a wide range of support and services for charitable organisations, community and voluntary action groups, volunteering and social enterprise in Clackmannanshire. They aim to provide help and support to people living in Clackmannanshire who want advice on running or starting any type of charitable, social enterprise or voluntary group, as well as volunteering and community work.

Falkirk

• Falkirk Food Futures –  Is a partnership project funded by the UK Government through the UK Community Renewal Fund. The partnership comprises of Forth Environment Link, Falkirk Council, NHS Forth Valley and CVS Falkirk. Forth Environment Link have a Facebook, Twitter and Instagram account.
• Worrying about money? Where to get help in Falkirk
• Falkirk Council – Find out about Free School Meals or School Clothing Grants
• Falkirk Council run a Support for people helpline that can provide access to food, medicines/prescriptions and other essential services for those who are affected by COVID-19 and have no other means of doing this. Lines are open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm: 0800 100 3161.
• Welfare Benefits Guide – Fairer Falkirk developed this guide to increase uptake of welfare benefits and entitlements by young people and families on a low income. They developed this to help increase staff and parental knowledge of benefits available for families.
• CVS Falkirk – Supporting, developing and representing community groups, voluntary organisations, social enterprises and volunteering.

Stirling

• Stirling Food Partnership – The Stirling Food Partnership comprises of NHS Forth Valley, Stirling Council, Stirling Voluntary Enterprise, Start Up Stirling, The Kitchen at 44 King Street and Forth Valley Food and Drink Network. Their goal is to build and maintain a resilient and vibrant local food system for Stirling inclusive to all in their community. Stirling Food Partnership have a Facebook and Instagram account.  Sign up to the Stirling Food Partnership Newsletter here.
• Worrying about money? Where to get help in Stirling
• Stirling Council – Find out about School Meals and Uniforms
• Emergency Contacts Leaflet – This leaflet provides information about a wide range of organisations that offer support in times of a crisis and guidance at other times.
• Stirling Voluntary Enterprise – SVE is Stirling’s third sector interface; a membership organisation of locally based charities, social enterprises and volunteer-led community organisations. They aim to strengthen the third-sector and broker partnerships that deliver real change by connecting people, ideas and resources.
• Start Up Stirling – Help local people across Stirling who are experiencing hardship. They run two foodbanks each week in St Ninians and Raploch and they operate a mobile foodbank for those who cannot get to a foodbank.

Food and Drink in Forth Valley

Forth Valley Food and Drink – There’s never been a better time to enjoy and explore Forth Valley’s rich local larder.  From food festivals to farmers’ markets; artisan producers to agricultural tours; dairies to distilleries; our region is overflowing with the finest food and drink experiences.  Forth Valley Food and Drink also have a Facebook, Twitter and Instagram account.

Vitamin D Supplement Advice and How to Access Locally

It is important that we all get enough vitamin D because it has a number of important functions; in particular, it is needed to support good bone and muscle health.

Our main source of vitamin D is sunlight and in Scotland from October to March, we don’t get enough sunlight, therefore we need to rely on vitamin D from food. Since vitamin D is found naturally in only in a small number of foods.eg oily fish and eggs or it is added to some foods like breakfast cereal and spreads it is difficult to get enough from food alone. It is therefore important that we take a daily supplement containing vitamin D.

During the winter months October to March everyone including children should consider taking a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms (µg) of vitamin D.

It is also recommended that some people are at higher risk of vitamin D deficiency and they should take a daily supplement all year round.

• Find out more about Vitamin D – advice for all age groups
• Vitamin D and You – Leaflet
• Are you and your family getting enough Vitamin D all year round? (NHS Forth Valley)
• Why do you need vitamin D supplements? (Food Standards Scotland)

Pregnant Women

Healthy Start vitamins, which contain10µg of vitamin D, are available free to all pregnant women in Scotland.

Ask your midwife or health visitor for further information.

Breastfeeding Women, Babies and Young Children

Breastfeeding women and babies under 12 months in Scotland can get free vitamin D supplements containing 10µg the recommended daily amount of vitamin D. Please speak to your family nurse or health visitor to find out if your baby or child needs a vitamin D supplement.

Vitamin D supplements can also be purchased from supermarkets, pharmacies or online. Please do not buy a vitamin D supplement that contains more than the recommended daily dose of 10µg.

Where can I get FREE vitamin D Tablets and Drops in Forth Valley?

Vitamin D tablets and drops for breastfed infants and children up to 3 years old are available for parents or carers to pick up from the following health centre reception staff.

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Further Financial Support

Citizens Advice Scotland

Free, impartial and confidential advice on benefits, debt, money and housing

• Money Map Tool – This tool provides clear self-help options on improving your income and cutting your living costs.
• Scotland’s Citizens Advice Helpline – 0800 028 1456 – Open Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm
• Money Talk Team – If you are struggling with money, call for free and get advice – call 0800 085 7145.

Money Advice Scotland

Offer help to people in debt, support money advisers and influence policy.

• Visit the Money Advice Scotland website.

Social Security Scotland – 5 Family Payments

Social Security Scotland have 5 payments for families who live in Scotland and who get tax credits or certain benefits to help balance the costs of looking after young children.

• Best Start Foods – a prepaid card to buy food for your kids under 3.
• Best Start Grant (Pregnancy and Baby Payment, Early Learning Payment and School Age Payment) – one-off payments at key stages during your child’s early years.
• Scottish Child Payment – £40 every 4 weeks for children under 6.

Find out more:

• Read more about the 5 Family Payments
• For further information call Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222. It’s free and confidential.
• Like Social Security Scotland on Facebook and follow on Twitter @SocSecScot.

Forth Valley Recovery Community (FVRC)

The FVRC is a community of people committed to making recovery happen in Forth Valley. They deliver a variety of different events every week throughout the area. The events are run by volunteers who are in recovery.

They also run local recovery cafes that are alcohol and drug free venues where people can socialise, enjoy some home baking, cooking, holistic therapies and participate in leisure, sporting and recreational opportunities with access to 12 step fellowship and SMART meetings.

• Forth Valley Recovers
• Get the App
• Find out more

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Useful Links, Resources and Apps

• Apps – There are several Apps you can download to access local food either free or at a reduced cost, making sure food gets eaten and not wasted – Too Good To Go or Olio.
• BBC Food – Budget recipes and advice – Includes money saving and energy saving tips.
• Eat Well, Spend Less – Food Fact Sheets (British Dietetic Association)
• Community Food and Health Scotland – Aims to ensure that everyone in Scotland, has the opportunity, ability and confidence to access a healthy diet.
• Cyrenians Good Food – A Picture Recipe Book
• Food Aid Network – the UK network for independent food aid providers.
• Food Train – Food Train is an innovative volunteer-led grocery shopping delivery service which brings vital fresh food to vulnerable older people in need.
• Meal Makers is a subsidiary of the award winning Scottish Charity Food Train. Meal Makers is a local neighbourhood food-sharing project that connects people who love cooking, and who are happy to share an extra portion of home cooked food, with an older neighbour who would really appreciate a freshly prepared meal and a friendly chat.
• Nourish Scotland – a charity focusing on food policy and practice.
• Parent Club – Quick and easy low cost recipes.
• Poverty Alliance – Scotland’s network of organisations and individuals working together to end food poverty.
• Sustainable Food Places – Working across all aspects of the food system to solve some of today’s most pressing social, environmental and economic issues. They have an Award scheme which is designed to recognise and celebrate the success of those places taking a joined up, holistic approach to food and that are achieving significant positive change on a range of key food issues.
• Sustain – Food Power – Tackling food poverty through people.
• Forth Environment Link – Is a Scottish environmental charity, based in Forth Valley, leading the way on connecting people and place on actions which make a positive response to the Climate Emergency.
• Food Standards Scotland – Is the public sector food body for Scotland, they aim to protect consumers in Scotland from food safety risks and promote healthy eating.
• Love Food, Hate Waste – Reduce food waste, plan meals and save money.