Terms of Reference
The aim of a food network for Barnsley is to provide an opportunity for different people working on food issues from the field to the plate and including breastfeeding to come together to share resources and information on firstly local eating patterns and habits that will help to identify future areas of work needed and secondly on the delivery of food projects. It will provide a co-ordinated and strategic approach to food issues across the borough, which will avoid duplication of resources and enable people to feel supported in their individual work and linked to a broader network working on similar issues. The network will enable agencies to gain a clearer perspective on where their work fits into the overall picture and to provide advice and guidance on national and local initiatives and schemes relating to food. Through this it is hoped that opportunities will arise for the development of partnerships in service delivery linked to food and will encourage a shared vision for local food and the promotion of a healthy diet.
The Barnsley Food & Health Policy Charter (produced and agreed in 1990) will underpin the function of the network. It encourages individuals, communities, businesses and statutory agencies to consider food issues and Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, Barnsley PCT, Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Voluntary Action Barnsley all signed up to it.
This function will be taken on by Barnsley PCT’s Food Coordinator who will deal with the network membership, administer the email list serv, the newsletter, web site information and make arrangements for the meetings keeping archive copies of meeting minutes and other relevant documentation.
The Food and Health Group will act as the steering group for the food network. This group reflects the range of partners and organisations involved in food work including health, local authority and community & voluntary sectors. The role of this group will be to oversee the running of the network, and members will be involved in liaising and working on issues between meetings as the need arises.
It is proposed that Network members will have the opportunity to nominate and vote for candidates each year and will elect the chair of the network annually. The chairs role will involve attending both the Steering group meetings (Food & Health group) and the full network meetings. She/he will chair the full network meeting liaising with the Food Coordinator and steering group over the agenda and other matters. The chair will also liaise with the minute taker from meetings to ensure accuracy and clarity in minutes. The chair cannot be re-elected for more than two years.
Members of the network will be interested in food issues of the people of Barnsley. A flyer explaining the function of the food network will be produced and circulated to attract new members.
Network meetings will be held quarterly and will last half a day. They will include lunch that will provide healthy choices and wherever possible promote local foods.
The following systems will be set up to enable Network members to communicate. These include:
v A database of contact details for people involved in food related activities in Barnsley. Barnsley PCT will manage the database, which will need to be covered by a data protection consent that allows the use of information by other members of the network. A directory will be designed within the first year of the network for people who wish to identify food projects and contacts that work within nutrition, food work and dietetics in the area. Contacts will be classified by the nature of work, for example food production, distribution or consumption, health, community or environmental work.
v A newsletter. A quarterly newsletter coordinated by the Network Coordinator will be produced and go out to all Network members. This will enable members to inform others of future events, or talk about work they have been doing as well as providing the opportunity to keep people informed of latest news on food and nutrition.
vAn email contact group where members can send out information. First and foremost this will provide an excellent networking opportunity for sharing ideas around food issues. An email contact group is similar to a discussion forum except there is no need to visit a website to be updated on latest discussion topics. Once a person has joined and given their email address they will automatically receive all the messages simultaneously and quickly.
v Website development. This will include information for members including latest news as well as Barnsley Food and Health Policy and Charter, Barnsley’s Food Strategy (when written), events, a directory of contacts and information about member’s projects and links to other useful websites.
Anyone who would like to be involved in the Food Network or would like to become a member can contact Anne Pridgeon ( 01226 770285 or email.
BARNSLEY FOOD & HEALTH POLICY CHARTER
1. We the undersigned hereby take ownership of the Barnsley Food & Health Policy and commit our organisation to implement the policy and its recommendations as and when corporate objectives are reviewed.
2. We commit ourselves to:
§ “The Balance of Good Health”. This will be the model of nutritional education to be used in Barnsley, to ensure a consistent message is provided.
§ Accepting that training will need to be provided to enable staff to implement the policy recommendations.
§ Recognising the need to consider and accept that changes will be necessary to implement the policy recommendations
§ Take every opportunity to support the implementation of the policy recommendations
§ Entering into partnerships to ensure that action and change will take place
3. Core Statements
§ No food is bad/junk as shown by the Balance of Good health, which removes the barriers and myths around food choices. It illustrates the proportions of all foods, which should be eaten to maintain health.
§ Older people may have different nutritional needs to the rest of the population. Understanding and implementing these will help to maximise their health and longevity.
§ Diet in childhood can have a profound effect on growth, development and long-term health. Efforts need to be made to empower children to make healthier food choices both through the education process and through food service and facilities provision.
§ The impact of poverty on health must be recognised and addressed by multi-agency working. Access to affordable healthy food locally will be promoted. Projects to improve basic cooking skills will be facilitate by all agencies (The Get Cooking Project)
§ All caterers/food service suppliers will be responsible for the provision of quality meals in all settings, providing wholesome and safe food, encouraging and promoting change towards healthier choices.
§ High standards of food hygiene will be maintained from the “plough to the plate”.
To download a copy of the Terms of Reference, please click on the link below.
Terms of Reference - Terms of reference - final version.pdf
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