It has been identified that too many people across Northern Devon are unable to access sufficient nutritious food.

This problem has been exacerbated by the pandemic, which has increased financial hardship for many, and compounded logistical issues in a rural county.

Children and young people have been the particular focus of national debate in recent months, and provision has been made for those families with children qualifying for free school meals to access emergency food support during school holidays.

However, we know that not all families in need qualify for free school meals, that it is not just families with children at home who are struggling to feed themselves adequately, that the provision of supermarket vouchers may not guarantee access to food in some areas, and that voucher provision alone may not provide adequate levels of support.

We also know that local organisations – including foodbanks, community kitchens, holiday clubs, local business, wider charities, schools, and Council officers – have the knowledge and connections to provide an enhanced level of food support this year and going forward.

One Northern Devon have been commissioned by Devon Community Foundation to learn from our local communities about the support that is in place currently, the need over the past year and any great ideas about what could be done better!

We are ideally placed to achieve this by using the established “One’s” network across Northern Devon to deliver surveys to each of their local communities.

Links to these surveys can be found here:

One Ilfracombe – https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/One-Ilfracombe-Food-Experience-Survey/

One Barnstaple – https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/One-Barnstaple-Food-Exprience-Survey/

One Atlantic – https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/One-Atlantic-Food-Experience-Survey/

Holsworthy – https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/Holsworthy-Food-Experience-Survey/

One South Molton – https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/One-South-Molton-Food-Experience-Survey/

Live Well in Braunton – https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/Live-Well-in-Braunton-Food-Experience-Survey/

Torrington 100 – https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/T100-Food-Experience-Survey/