Food and Health Team

How We Work and What Sort of Activities We Can Offer

• Although the food and health team sit within the Children’s and Young People Team we work with individuals and groups of all ages throughout the borough. We prioritise work with those communities most in need of support who may face barriers to healthy eating due to income, budget, knowledge, skills, access to food and facilities.
• We use a community development approach to offer practical advice and support on food and health issues. We aim to empower and enable people to identify and express their own food and health needs and develop confidence in their knowledge and skills to make healthier lifestyle choices.
• As a team we respond to the needs and wants of individuals or groups, so advice activities or initiatives are tailored specifically to them.
• Our roles involve being ‘facilitators’, which means we help groups to identify solutions to their own needs. As facilitators we aim to listen and understand, value and learn from people’s experiences and concerns about food.
• To act as a resource, to provide unbiased, up to date and evidence based information on nutrition to colleagues in the PCT, partnership agencies, the public and the media.

Who do we work with?

• A range of individuals and groups from a variety of backgrounds such as; Post natal groups, toddler groups, pre-school and nursery children, young people, families, adults, older adults, carers, individuals with learning difficulties, refugee and asylum seekers, individuals living in sheltered housing, refuge’s and hostels. Groups from a range of ethnicities, groups with mental health illness and groups in rehabilitation.

Examples of Activities:

• • Cook & Taste – opportunities to develop practical cooking skills, build confidence and try new cheap, nutritious meal ideas. Browse our recipe book for family meal idea’s. (Link to recipe book)
• Displays and workshops at community and multi-agency events
• Discussion groups on all aspects of healthy eating
• Fun and informative healthy eating sessions in primary schools, supporting the Healthy Schools initiative
• Ready, Steady, Cook Off – practical sessions for groups of young people to raise awareness of healthy eating and improve practical skills to support independent living.
• Short courses – for youth groups in basic nutrition and aspects of food safety, practical food preparation, shopping, budgeting and meal planning.
• Staff training – ½ day workshops on the general principles of healthy eating for those staff that may have an opportunity to influence the client group they are working with.

Where Do We Accept Referrals From and How Can I Refer?

We accept referrals from:

• Other health professionals such as: health visitors, school nurses etc
• Partnership agencies such as Children’s Centre Staff
• Family support workers
• Youth Offending Team
• Youth Services
• Schools
• Voluntary sector agencies
• Charitable organisations
• Community groups and residents associations
• Training providers

If you work with an individual or group who you feel might benefit from Food and Health Team input or support, please contact the Team at Lever Chambers on 01204 462694.

Children’s Centres

A number of activities provided by the Food and Health team are delivered within and in conjunction with Bolton’s Children’s Centres. Examples include:

• Big Cook, Tiny Cook – parent and child activity providing practical opportunites for younger children to get involved in cooking and baking.
• Weight Management Drop-ins – informal advice and support for parents/carers who want to loose weight and provide themselves and their families with a healthy diet.
• Cook & Taste
• Fun Food Activities – held at Nurseries and parent and toddler groups
• Weaning Parties – advice on introduction of solid foods
• Toddler Parties – advice on toddler diets and faddy eating
• Weaning clubs – held at baby clinic
• Discussion groups at post natal sessions

If you are interested in any of the above sessions and have a child aged 0-5years you may be eligible to access these activities. For more information contact your local Children’s Centre:

• Oxford Grove Children’s Centre
  TEL: 01204 337 090
• Alexandra Children’s Centre
  TEL: 01204 337 347
• Great Lever Children’s Centre
  TEL: 01204 337 333
• Lord Street Children’s Centre
  TEL: 01204 337 338
• Tonge Children’s Centre
  TEL: 01204 336 745
• Harvey Children’s Centre
  TEL: 01204 337 390