Food Access in Dysart

Food Access in Dysart
Phase 1
A report of the work carried out by students
undertaking a short course with the
University of Edinburgh
On 21st & 22nd April 2004
for
Dysart Food & Health Initiative
June 2004
Contents
Page
Dysart Food & Health Initiative
2
Dysart
3
Who are we?
4
What are we doing?
5
How did we do this?
6
Display
7
Why do we want to know?
8
Where the people live
9
Places we talked to people
10
What do you think about local access to food? – Good
11
What do you think about local access to food? – Not so good
12
What do you think about local access to food? – Suggestions/Changes
14
What the children told us
15
Food children eat
16
Where the family shop
17
Food we eat at mealtimes
18
Dysart Historical Time Line
20
Where the shops are in Dysart at present
21
What next
22
Thank You
23
1
Dysart Food & Health Initiative
Dysart Food & Health Initiative aims to increase opportunities for healthy eating
choices in the Dysart regeneration area.
Partners in the initiative include Fife Council Regeneration Initiative, Health
Promotion Fife, Kirkcaldy & Levenmouth Local Health Care Co-operative, Dysart
Community Regeneration Forum, Integrated Community Schools, Fife Council
Community Services and the Scottish Community Diet Project.
The opportunity arose to work in partnership with the University of Edinburgh on this
piece of work, which forms the starting point for the Dysart Food & Health Initiative.
We chose to begin our work by gathering the views and opinions of the local
community in Dysart on “Access to Food” as it has been recognised nationally that
access to affordable healthy food is an essential aspect of improving the health of the
people of Scotland.
If you would like further information about Dysart Food & Health Initiative contact:
Linda Boodhna
Community Dietitian
Health Promotion Fife
Tel. 01592 226485
2
Dysart
Dysart is a small coastal village, overlooking the Forth with picturesque harbour,
strong local identity and rich history reflected in many of its buildings.
It has a population of approximately 2,200 people.
The village used to be a thriving and busy Royal Burgh with coal, textiles and
fishing being major employers. Dysart officially became part of Kirkcaldy in 1930.
Dysart is a designated regeneration area within the larger Kirkcaldy regeneration
area, one of four priority area initiatives in Fife.
3
Who are we?
This piece of work was carried out by a team of students on a professional
development short course in Participatory Appraisal at the University of Edinburgh.
The team, some of whom had travelled from abroad to attend the course, enjoyed
meeting local people in Dysart.
Momo, a student from Sierra Leone, was proud to be the first African that many of the
children had ever met. While Jane, a Community Worker from Oban, said on behalf
of the team:
“We’d like to thank the local people, they were so friendly, we all had fun doing this”.
4
What are we doing?
Talking to people in Dysart about their experience of accessing the food they
want to get/eat. We wanted to hear about good experiences, not so good
experiences, problems and ideas for change or improvement.
Tell us what you think
About
Local Access to Food
at
Dysart Regeneration Office
on
Wednesday 21st April 2.30pm – 6.00pm
&
nd
Thursday 22 April 10am – 4.30pm
In addition people will be out and about in the area over these two days
asking you what you think and would like to see happening
There will also be a
Display
of people’s ideas and opinions and a further opportunity to contribute
(Refreshments & Creche available)
In
Dysart Welfare Hall
Thursday 22nd April 6.30pm – 8.00pm
This work is being carried out as part of a collaboration between
Dysart Food & Health Initiative and Edinburgh University.
For further information contact Linda Boodhna Tel. 01592 226485
5
How did we do this?
By asking people to take part in activities that get them talking and expressing their
own thoughts and ideas, with no suggestions from us. We think it is important that
we use activities that don’t influence people’s thinking and really let them talk.
6
Display
Everyone who participated was invited to a display of the findings.
Come along and view the display of your
and other people’s opinions
on access to food in the Dysart area.
Dysart Welfare Hall
Thursday 22nd April 6.30 – 8.00pm
Refreshments & Creche Provided
Help spot the priorities!
What needs to be put into an action plan?
Those who came along were able to look at displays of all the information gathered
over the two days and had the opportunity to make further contributions.
7
Why do we want to know?
The Dysart Food & Health Initiative want to hear about and understand people’s
experience of getting food locally. They also want to work in partnership with community
members to discuss any issues/problems/ideas and plan how something might be done
to make changes.
Who we talked to
On Wednesday 21st and Thursday 22nd April
we spoke to
121 people in Dysart
50
male
71
female
8
Where the people live
This map shows where the people who shared their ideas and opinions live.
©
Copyright courtesy of R P A Smith
Also another 16 people from outwith the Dysart area.
9
Places we talked to people
We spoke to people as individuals and in groups in a variety of different locations in
and around Dysart.
10
What do you think about local access to
food?
Good
Post Office: good service and choice .................................................. 17
Good bus service to supermarkets ..................................................... 15
Convenient local shops ....................................................................... 13
Good supermarkets ............................................................................. 10
Can get what you need ....................................................................... 10
Good butcher friendly and good food ................................................ 10
Have a car => good access .................................................................... 7
Prices good in local shops ..................................................................... 5
Possibly opening bakery in Dysart ....................................................... 4
Free bus passes to get to Tesco/Asda ................................................... 4
Fish van comes round ........................................................................... 3
Good pub food ...................................................................................... 3
Little shops – more friendly ................................................................. 2
Supermarkets open long hours ............................................................ 2
Good deli – fresh food .......................................................................... 2
Good wine shop .................................................................................... 1
Corner shops – open early .................................................................... 1
Primary school food initiative .............................................................. 1
Chinese is good ..................................................................................... 1
Good pubs ............................................................................................. 1
11
What do you think about local access to
food?
Not so good
High prices in local shops ................................................................... 39
Lack of variety ..................................................................................... 17
Lack of fresh food locally .................................................................... 15
Transport .............................................................................................. 14
Poor quality food ................................................................................. 13
Local shops close early ........................................................................ 11
Not many shops in Dysart .................................................................. 10
Bus times not frequent .......................................................................... 6
Steep hill to access local shops and bus service ................................... 5
Local shop not hygienic ........................................................................ 5
Supermarket far away ........................................................................... 5
Don’t use local shops ............................................................................ 5
No Chemist ........................................................................................... 4
No Bakery ............................................................................................. 4
Co-op, other shops and café shut ......................................................... 4
No place to eat out/restaurant ............................................................. 3
Bus fares expensive ............................................................................... 3
Need to take taxis .................................................................................. 3
Location of shops not convenient ......................................................... 2
Can’t get meat locally ........................................................................... 2
Narrow streets in Dysart => parking poor => buggies ....................... 2
12
Shops in Kirkcaldy lack adequate parking ......................................... 2
Low income ......................................................................................... 2
Local shops not part of community .................................................... 2
No chip shop ....................................................................................... 1
Incorrect change given at local shop .................................................. 1
No room for prams on the bus ........................................................... 1
Have to go to Kirkcaldy for frozen food ............................................ 1
Long queues at Post Office ................................................................. 1
No alcohol past 10.00pm ..................................................................... 1
Supermarkets too far away for elderly ............................................... 1
No Halal meat ..................................................................................... 1
Cheaper supermarkets = unknown brands ........................................ 1
No fresh fruit ....................................................................................... 1
Shops not comfortable ......................................................................... 1
Comments from the team
“The hill seems
like a mountain
according to
local perception.”
“Lack of a car
is a barrier to
food access.”
“Location in the village
affects usage of public
transport (better access at the
top of the hill) and therefore
access to food.”
13
What do you think about local access to
food?
Suggestions/Changes
Shops
More variety of shops/encourage competition
18
Encourage small supermarkets
13
Cheaper prices in local shops
10
More fresh fruit, vegetables and meat
10
Chemist
6
Later opening times
6
Better variety and quality of products
5
Bakery
3
Community shop (not for profit)
2
Improve appearance / displays in shops
1
Free fruit and vegetables for pensioners and unemployed
1
Less sweet shops
1
Transport
Improve bus service (extend frequency and reliability)
10
Improve access onto buses (prams and for elderly people)
4
Bus service to supermarkets
2
Delivery service
2
Other ideas
Restaurant/café/sandwich shop
4
Suport/encourage local businesses
2
Cookery classes for young people
1
Café for kids (home made and cheap food)
1
More parking space to encourage shoppers
1
14
What the children told us
The Dysart Diamonds and children attending Dysart Primary School took part
in a number of activities.
They told us about:
• The food they eat
• The shops the family use
• What they eat at mealtimes
They also:
• Drew maps of where the shops are in relation to their homes.
15
Food the children eat
Pizza ................................. 13
Doughnuts ......................... 1
Chips .................................. 9
Cheese burger .................... 1
Chocolate ........................... 5
Cheese ................................ 1
Pasta ................................... 4
Fried rice ............................ 1
Pies ..................................... 3
Baked potatoes ................... 1
Sausage rolls ...................... 3
Quiche ................................ 1
McDonalds ......................... 2
Soup ................................... 1
Burger ................................ 2
Fish fingers ........................ 1
Ice cream ............................ 2
Hot dogs ............................ 1
Fish .................................... 2
Turkey burger .................... 1
Chicken .............................. 2
Beans .................................. 1
Candy floss ........................ 1
Noodles .............................. 1
16
Where the family shop
Asda .................................. 24
Tower Stores ....................... 7
Aldi ..................................... 6
Sainsbury ............................ 5
McDonalds .......................... 4
Fish & chip shop ................. 4
Tesco ................................... 2
Pizza Hut ............................ 2
Amid’s ................................ 2
Butcher ............................... 2
Marks & Spencers .............. 1
Bakers ................................. 1
Tasty Tuck .......................... 1
Spar .................................... 1
5p Shop .............................. 1
Farmers Market ................. 1
Links Market ..................... 1
17
Food we eat at mealtimes
Breakfast
Mid-day
Tea/Dinner
Supper
Snacks
Toast
7
Sandwiches
8
Chicken
5
Coco Pops
2
Crisps
3
Coco Pops
3
Soup
3
Potatoes
5
Cereal
2
Biscuits
2
Cereal
3
Flavoured
milk
2
Juice
4
Sandwiches
2
Fruit
2
Milk
3
Yogurt
2
Pie
3
Hot chocolate 2
Chocolate 1
Porridge
2
Crisps
2
Chips
2
Water
1
Sweets
1
Week end
only
2
Juice
2
Fish
2
Chocolate
1
Juice
1
Bacon on
toast/roll
2
Baked potato
1
Rice
2
Choc ice
1
Fruit salad 1
Weetabix
2
Custard
1
Vegetables
2
Cheese on toast 1
Fruit Shoot 1
Tea/coffee
2
Bacon roll
1
Yogurt
2
Ricicles
1
Chocolate
biscuit
1
Bacon & egg
1
Egg roll
1
Pasta
2
Juice
1
Sausages
1
Apple
1
Mince
2
Toast
1
Ricicles
1
Roll
1
Turkey
drummers
1
Weetabix
1
Weetos
1
Jam roll
1
Meat
1
Fresh orange
juice
1
Grapes
1
Macaroni cheese 1
18
Food we eat at mealtimes
Breakfast
Fruit Yogurt
Mid-day
1
Tea/Dinner
Supper
Fry up
1
Hot Dogs
1
Burger
1
Toffee Pudding
1
Chips
1
Meat Balls
1
Soup
1
Fish Fingers
1
Burgers
1
Sausage Rolls
1
Snacks
Chicken Nuggets 1
Roast Potatoes
1
Beans
1
Turkey Breast
1
Wine
1
Note: Some adults also participated in this activity.
19
Dysart Historical Time Line
1944/45
Dysart Co-op
Butcher
Bake house – delivered door to door
Drapers
Hardware
Grocers
Shoe shop
Painters
Tailors
This timeline was developed
from information gathered
from local poeple.
Shoemakers
Dairy
3 Chemists
Fruit Shop
Hairdresser
Carpet factory
4 Pubs – Black Bull
Rising Sun
Victoria Bar
Man I’The Rock
Fish Factory
Bank
3 Service clubs
3 Churches
Ice- cream & sweets – sold from people’s houses
Battery shop
6 Chip shops
Ladies outfitters
Gents outfitters
Several corner shops
Paper shop
Fresh fish from the boats in the harbour (except in winter)
1964
Shops started to close due to – Supermarkets
Increased incomes – cars/mobility
1978/79
Dye factory closed
1984/5
Coal pit shut
1989
Co-op closed
Dairy closed
20
Where the shops are in Dysart at present
Key
B S Barr
Tasty Tuck
Hong Kong House
Carlton Bakers
Dysart Centre
Post Office
Tower Stores
Jack’s Fresh Foods
©
Copyright courtesy of R P A Smith
21
What next
Dysart Food & Health Initiative will use this report to begin to increase opportunities
for healthy eating choices in Dysart. The plan for the coming months includes:
Continue to gather the views
of local people, including
young people, shop keepers
and local groups.
Age Gap
12-16 years – no data
Dysart Gala Day
17-24 poorly represented
Hold a display of the information
in this report.
From the Team
Gather views on access to
“healthier food choices”.
Fruit smoothies & fresh fruit
promotion.
Hold a competition for children
to design a logo for the
Dysart Food & Health Initiative.
Hold a Food Event
in September.
To explore ideas
further and develop
a local action plan
for Dysart.
Take forward the ideas
in the action plan so
as to increase the
opportunities for healthy
eating choices in Dysart.
22
Dysart Food & Health Initiative
would like to say
“Thank you”
to
Vikki Hilton and the team who carried out this work
&
the people of Dysart
Design & artwork by The Learning & Communications Service
•
Health Promotion Fife
July 2004
23