Many people are struggling to access food through absolutely no fault of their own, and this has increased during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic. 

Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) South Locality Health Improvement Team has been a key partner in supporting Govan as a ‘Thriving Place’, leading on the co-ordination of food work through the Food for Good group. This group brings many local organisations and community members together to work to achieve better access to food for people living in the Govan area.

At the beginning of the pandemic, Food for Good developed a specific COVID-19 action plan, with the aim of ensuring those who were most vulnerable in the Govan community would have access to food and hot meals during lockdown. 

Through this action plan, Food for Good secured funding from the COVID-19 Temporary Emergency Fund – Govan to deliver on identified priorities, which included a Meals Programme, Development Fund and a post-COVID-19 Recovery Fund.

John Casey, Health Improvement Practitioner, said: “The Meals Programme was established to ensure that vulnerable individuals and families could access a healthy two course meal, twice a week, and more frequently if needed. Over 15 weeks, 1,500 two course meals were prepared and cooked by our community chefs and distributed to local people by Moogety Foods, from the Food Point, on a Wednesday evening and Saturday afternoon.”

John continued: “Our HSCP staff from Health Improvement, Health Visitors, and Homelessness and Addiction services, along with local voluntary organisations, played a key role in ensuring that we were able to reach as many vulnerable people as possible.”

The Development Fund also supported a number of partner organisations in Govan to provide food parcels to vulnerable individuals and families and continue free lunch provision to vulnerable young people. 

The Recovery Fund supported organisations and services to reopen community food services in line with COVID-19 restrictions and guidance. This allowed the Kinning Park Complex to re-open the Community Cafe, which allowed local people to access a healthy meal and to meet in a supportive environment.

If you would like to know more about accessing food support, education or activity in Govan, or would like to get involved in the Food for Good group, email John.Casey@ggc.scot.nhs.uk