Photo from Project Food of person mixing food ingredients in a bowl with a couple of people watching
Credit: Project Food

Axminster-based charity Project Food will deliver additional one-to-one and small group sessions tackling diet-related ill health through a grant awarded by East Devon District Council’s (EDDC) Environmental Health team.

Project Food already helps hundreds of people across the district, and as food prices continue to rise, more people have been approaching the charity for help.

After the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent cost-of-living crisis, food insecurity is a growing problem with households struggling to maintain nutritious eating patterns. As diet is a factor that directly impacts on a person’s health, EDDC is teaming up with voluntary community groups and social enterprise organisations in the area to help people access healthy and affordable food.

Hannah Smart, Project Food’s Project Lead, said:

 “Our initial plans are in place! The Salvation Army have invited Project Food to work from their Exmouth premises and we are going to start by doing some hands-on cooking sessions for men.

“We are arranging ‘Make & Munch’ sessions in Sidmouth and are very keen to work in Cranbrook and have just arranged to run three family cooking sessions at the EX5-Alive Community Hub starting in January. Lastly, in Honiton we would like to do some group or 1:1 sessions at Open Arms.”

Councillor Paul Arnott, Leader of East Devon District Council, added:

“The council is very grateful to Project Food for embracing this programme with such commitment and we are looking forward to this making a real difference in the district through this partnership.” 

The Devon Food Partnership launched the Devon’s Good Food Strategy 2023-28 in February 2023. This Strategy has key principles, including providing healthy food for all; tackling food poverty; alleviating diet related ill-health and providing access to affordable healthy food. This grant from EDDC will extend much-needed support to some of our most vulnerable residents to help achieve these principles. 

For more information about this programme, please contact Project Food by email info@project-food.org.uk or by calling 01297 631782.