SANDWELL METROPOLITAN BOROUGH, UNITED KINGDOM
Municipal Profile
Population: 282,750
Budget: US$603 million (includes social services, education, and some specific regeneration funds)
Land Area: 210 square kilometers
Economic Activities: foundries, metalworking, chemicals, limestone and steel
Issue Addressed
Local Agenda 21/Sustainable Development Planning
Key Management Concept
Investigating a community's access to healthy food can provide valuable information to develop a sustainable health program within a municipality.
Program Name
Sandwell Food Access Project
Program Goals
The program goals are to:
Population: 282,750
Budget: US$603 million (includes social services, education, and some specific regeneration funds)
Land Area: 210 square kilometers
Economic Activities: foundries, metalworking, chemicals, limestone and steel
Issue Addressed
Local Agenda 21/Sustainable Development Planning
Key Management Concept
Investigating a community's access to healthy food can provide valuable information to develop a sustainable health program within a municipality.
Program Name
Sandwell Food Access Project
Program Goals
The program goals are to:
- produce indices of access to healthy food (such as distance to shops, cost and availability of healthy food) in a low-income area of Sandwell and, using systematic quantitative and qualitative survey instruments and Geographic Information System (GIS) software, generate maps of food access;
- contribute to local health promotion and anti-poverty strategies; work with local retailers to improve access to healthy food in low-income areas of Sandwell.
Program Abstract
Sandwell is an urban area whose economy is focused on manufacturing, particularly metal manufacturing and the automotive supply industry. As the seventh most deprived local authority in England, many Sandwell residents are facing health and financial problems. Approximately 25% of the population is dependent on social benefits, and 22% of the population has a limiting, long-term illness.
Like the rest of United Kingdom, Sandwell has experienced a major shift in food retailing with the growth of large superstores located in suburban areas. People without access to cars must choose between using limited public transport to get to superstores or buying from increasingly inadequate local shops. The kinds of food that cause the most illnesses in Britain (foods high in fat, sugar, and salt) tend to be very good commodities because of their long shelf life but poor from a nutritional perspective. There are large numbers of people who live a short distance from a shop selling chocolate and cookies, while fruit, vegetables and fresh meat are often located a great distance away or on the other side of a busy road.
A geographically-defined area in Sandwell was selected to coincide with areas of high socio-economic deprivation and poor health. Lists of basic foods that are typically consumed by the five ethnic groups in the area and meet current guidelines for healthy eating (known as "Community Shopping Lists") were drawn up using participatory methods. A census of all retail outlets selling food was carried out over a three-month period. In each shop, a survey of availability (112 items), full range (14 items) and price (46 items) was carried out and recorded along with the shop's postcode, address, and information on food quality and shop conditions. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were carried out in each shop with the main retailer to capture his/her work experiences and business conditions, problems, and potential solutions. The collected data was entered into a software program and shop-based indices of availability, and mean cost price for items on the healthy food list were calculated. The data was used to generate maps of:
- availability and price for items on the Community Shopping Lists (particularly fresh fruits and vegetables);
- roads within 500 meters of a postcode containing one or more shops selling either items on the full Community Shopping List or at least eight items of fresh fruit and/or vegetables;
- roads within 500 meters of postcodes containing one or more shops selling food at lower than average area prices.
The research found that
- there are large networks of streets and neighborhoods in Sandwell where no shops selling fresh fruit and/or vegetables exist;
- there are large networks of streets and neighborhoods in Sandwell where the fruit and vegetables that are available in local shops are expensive;
- inexpensive, good quality food, including fresh fruit and vegetables, is available in Sandwell shops in small, concentrated shopping areas, to which the majority of the population would have to travel by car or public transport;
- small retailers struggle to survive in Sandwell, especially if they try to offer "healthy" food and perishable goods, against competition from larger stores, and crime.
The results of the research are contributing to local baseline indicators of conditions and needs, and to the development of strategies to address inadequate access to healthy foods, and the development of local food policy.
Financing
The Food Access Project cost approximately US$94,000 included the mapping and research work, and employing a Healthy Catering Projects Officer and Food Access Worker. The project was funded by the Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, Warwick University, Health Action Zone, the Department of Health, and the Primary Health Care Trusts.
Staff
The project was developed by the Sandwell Environment Forum, which consists of officers from Sandwell Council, Sandwell Primary Health Care Trusts, and a partnership of other public, private and voluntary groups and individuals. Three staff were involved in the project: a Food Policy Advisor, a Food Access Worker and Healthy Catering Projects Officer.
Lessons Learned
To implement this project it was important that the partners understood why they need to improve food access and create a healthy, sustainable food system for the city and its residents (consider the socio-cultural aspects of food to develop an appropriate approach first). It was necessary to seek out stakeholders to help positively influence policy and structural change for the future (e.g Agenda 21, traders associations, media). Caterers, schools, retailers, growers and other food and health project workers all had a part to play.
Key Publications
Sandwell Health Authority's Food Policy Team. 2001. Measuring Access to Healthy Food in Sandwell.
Contact
Terry Jones, Sustainable Development Team
Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council
Sandwell Council House
PO Box 2374, Freeth Street
Oldbury, West Midlands
B69 3DE
United Kingdom
Tel: +44-121/569-4004
Email: terry_jones@sandwell.gov.uk
Website
www.smbc.sandwell.gov.uk
