BMBC 21: Barnsleys Local Area Agreement 2008-2011

Steering Group monitors and reviews the action plan and includes arange of partners based on the recognition that obesity is not just theresponsibility of individuals within health.Diet and NutritionThe Barnsley Food Strategy 2006 (which has a regularly updatedaction plan) aims to address the wide-ranging food issues fromproduction, supply and consumption to meet public health, socialeconomic and sustainability goals. It has 6 key aims of which 4 relatedirectly to diet and nutrition. These are to:-1) Reduce inequalities in diet related diseases e.g. heart disease,stroke and diabetes.2) Improve the diets of individuals at all stages of life withemphasis on children, workplace, vulnerable people under 65and older people.3) Make it easier for individuals to choose a safe, healthy diet.4) Increase awareness and understanding about the benefits of ahealthy diet.5) Develop and promote a sustainable food chain, maximising theeconomic opportunities it can provide.6) Increase partnership, co-ordination and knowledge sharing onfood related issues and initiatives between the NHS, localauthority, businesses and community/voluntary sector.There are plans to accelerate the work on diet and nutrition in 5 keyareas:-• Expansion of practical food skills programme –To increase and improve the current provision of ‘Cook and Eat’ andfood taster sessions and to improve awareness of the 5 a daymessage.• Maternal and children under 5 nutrition programme –To improve the nutrition and health status of pre-conception and antenatalwomen and their children, specifically up to the age of 5 years.• Schools, colleges and looked after children food and nutritionprogramme –To increase and improve the knowledge regarding healthy eating in theage group 5-19 years and to improve the provision of healthy choicesmade available to them in these environments.• Workplace food –71Improving the Health of the Public & Narrowing Health Inequalities Barnsley’s Local Area Agreement 2008-11