A PARTNERSHIP to develop and strengthen food access programmes across the Wee County was launched last week.

Clacks Good Food – a partnership between Clackmannanshire Council, NHS Forth Valley, Alloa First and Clackmannanshire Third Sector Interface (CTSI) – has secured funding from the Soil Association to take forward its plans.

It will support a commitment by the Clackmannanshire Alliance to reduce child and family poverty in the area by growing existing programmes and developing dignified food access for residents, along with helping to grow the local food economy and jobs.

The scheme, part of the Sustainable Food Places UK movement, will also look to improve teaching and learning for families around how to use less food and produce nutritious meals.

It comes as figures from the Scottish Health Survey show that six per cent of Clacks residents worry about running out of food.

Fidelma Guest, a dietitian at NHS Forth Valley's Public Health Nutrition Team, said: “Local food groups across the area, with support from volunteers, have worked incredibly hard over the last two years to provide food packs and meals to local people along with setting up a food delivery service, food pantry and developing local growing spaces.

“This work is making a significant positive difference and the new funding will allow our community partnerships to build on the great work already underway and make access to good quality, locally sourced food available to everyone.”

The project, which launched last week with an event at St Mungo’s Church Community Café and Garden, will aim to help the most vulnerable people in Wee County communities and will help feed into the council's climate action strategy, set to be launched soon, it is understood.

Clacks Good Food has appointed Forth Environment Links to deliver its plans with Stuart Guzinski selected as the co-ordinator.

Stuart, who will also take the lead on regional approaches to food systems improvements, said: “The local commitment from all partners from a strategic level right down to local community food growers and third sector groups as well as businesses has been incredible.

“We now want to work towards the Bronze award and see real change happening across our food systems to help people cope with cost of living increases and reduce our CO2 emissions at the same time.

“It is a great opportunity and everyone is behind this movement.”

The scheme will allow people to come together and look at food from all angles in partnership, looking at long-term sustainability.

Speaking to the Advertiser, Stuart added: “This is not a short term project, or a quick fix.

“This is about Clacks coming together as the council, education, NHS, third sector, businesses and as individuals, people to take a long view and decide how we want our food systems to be together.”

Visit ctsi.org.uk/clacks-good-food for more.