Lambeth GP Food Coop
Organisation: Lambeth GP Food Co-op
Location: Lambeth
Populations served: We focus on 15,000 Lambeth patients with long-term health conditions. Total Lambeth population is approx 325,000.
Lambeth GP Food Co-Op builds gardens in GP surgeries and NHS hospitals so everyone who wishes to learn how to grow food can do so in a safe, secure and supported environment. Our GP garden communities provide a space and a reason for people to socialise, learn and grow food together. People who participate are improving their own health and wellbeing.
This results in people feeling less isolated and better in themselves and, as GPs are now reporting, they don't require so many appointments.
Their GP garden communities are:
Brixton Hill Surgery and Katakata Restaurant
The Corner Surgery
Gracefield Gardens∕Streatham High Practice
Grantham Practice
King's College Hospital
Lambeth Walk Group Practice
North Wood Group Practice @ Crown Dale
Pulross Intermediate Care Centre
Impact of the programme
We are creating benefits to the local community by offering food growing to local people in their GP surgeries. In particular, we benefit the Lambeth inner city community by addressing an unmet need amongst the older patient population. We are building a 'Lambeth model' of a community-led health co-operative which is aligned with Lambeth's aspiration to be a co-operative council and we work alongside other initiatives such as the Lambeth Food Partnership and Urban Growth and Progress. We are also leading the Health and Hunger work as part of the Feeding Lambeth initiative.
The Lambeth GP Food Co-op enables people to meet other people with an interest in growing vegetables together. This not only helps combat social isolation, it also builds confidence. The joy of growing your own tomatoes, or courgette, not only develops confidence, it benefits the health of the individual.
The food that is grown is distributed and sold to NHS staff as well as to NHS hospital caterers. So the GP Food Co-op not only enables and empowers local people to learn new skills, to be confident and sociable, it also makes a valuable contribution to the local economy.
The Kings Fund have published a report outlining the evidence for the positive impact gardens and gardening, as well as access to green spaces, can have on people with recommendations for NHS organisations.
What is the future of this programme?
We will be continuing to support access to green space food growing, and biodiversity in the NHS with the focus on food, diet and nutrition
Close working partnerships with NHS colleagues and organisations developing similar projects
We may shift focus towards creating community-health co-operatives in response to the Hewitt Report
For more information about the programme:
Ed Rosen
gpfoodcoop@gmail.com