Key programmes of work

There are multiple streams of work to support the aims and vision of the Forum, the key ones are:

• The Childhood Obesity Trailblazer, which includes work streams on urban development / redevelopment, data on food buying habits, and embedding of food and wider health literacy into education systems.
• The Birmingham Food Conversation, which consists of two substantial pieces of primary data collection. Firstly, the Birmingham Food Survey to understand the wider Birmingham population relationships with food. And secondly, ‘Seldom Heard Food Voices’ research focus groups facilitated by community research consultants, employees of organisations serving the needs of specific target groups, and occasionally a combination of organisations matching research expertise with organisational reach.
• Development of The Birmingham Food Strategy to set the direction and vision more explicitly with the partners, and with due consideration to citizen voices and views. And as an interim measure the Emergency Food Plan to ensure coordinated response to the ongoing COVID situation and subsequent recovery phase.
• National and international partnerships managed in collaboration with The Food Foundation, which include the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact, Delice Network, Sustainable Food Places, the Birmingham and India Nutrition (BINDI) partnership, and the Commonwealth Cities / Games network.
• Linking with and representing Birmingham Public Health and /or the city council in local partnerships including the Food Justice Network, the Food Poverty Core Group, East Birmingham Corridor Redevelopment, and the Food Trails Horizons 2020 collaboration.

Lastly, we strive to engage with and support the universities within Birmingham to co-produce and facilitate primary research projects to ensure maximisation of benefits for all partners and the population of Birmingham.

Lead Public Health Team

Food System Team, Wider Determinants