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Healthy Food

Good Food Principles

Camden Good Food Principles

Providing a good food service: recommendations from Camden’s Food Partnership Steering Group.

 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, food insecurity increased significantly across the Borough of Camden. This led to various voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations providing food support to vulnerable residents. While the initial focus was on emergency provision of free food, these organisations have since transitioned to offering more dignified and respectful food support, aligning with the core values of the Camden Food Partnership.

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Camden’s Food Partnership Steering Group has drawn up the following recommendations and information to help local VCS organisations reflect on their current food offer and consider what they may look to adapt, with support where needed.

The Good Food Principles
What does a good food service look like?

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  1. Ensures dignity and respect are at the heart of the offer and recognise the barriers individuals will have overcome to ask for support;

  2. Fully appreciates the benefit of using a cash-first principle, supporting residents to maximise their income while addressing any immediate food-related need;

  3. Works with a number of different partners providing specialist support to meet residents’ individual needs;

  4. Supports users with the skills to make money and food go further;

  5. Prioritises healthy and nutritious food - including fresh fruit and vegetables - as much as possible;

  6. Scales up as needed by taking a ‘Food Ladders’ approach where providing food for those in crisis is only the first step in building food secure communities;

  7. Is an active member of the Camden Food Partnership;

  8. Gathers, processes and stores data; recognising its value in informing decision-making to best meet individual residents’ needs.

What should
basic data
include?

  • Number of people/households supported

  • Number of people over 65

  • Number of people 6-17

  • Number of people 0-5

  • Ethnicity

  • Reason for the first approach to service

  • First or return approach

  • Information, Advice and Guidance provided

  • Financial status, FT/PT/Zero hours, not working, Benefits (full/awaiting/NRPF)

  • Changes in local need – this may be at an individual organisation’s level or through collective insight with other partners

The Seven Guiding Values of The Camden Food Partnership

The Food Ladder

The Camden Food Partnership encourages food provision services to climb the Food Ladder, ensuring that residents can access sustainable, wrap-around support.

So, what are the steps on the Food Ladder?

CATCHING

Provision of emergency food only, such as through food banks. 

CAPACITY BUILDING

Creating networks through food, such as through voucher schemes and food-based activities.

SELF-ORGANISED COMMUNITY CHANGE

Resilient, sustainable and self-organised food provision, such as community growing schemes.

How can Camden organisations get involved?

If your organisation offers a food service or food growing, you can get involved by subscribing to the Good Food Principles.


By subscribing to Camden's Good Food Principles, your organisation will be recognised for its commitment to food security and good practice in Camden.


Following this guidance can help with future funding opportunities further support Camden residents.


Your organisation will receive a digital badge showing you have subscribed to the Good Food Principles to add to your comms.

 

Please get in touch with the Camden Food Partnership Coordinator to find out more and access support.
 

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